Chapter Twenty-five
Phantom Fantasies

They had only gone a short distance when Erik approached the subject that was beating around his head to be heard. "Nadir I wish to know which room is Trinity's."

"Erik my friend what is going on in that scheming mind of yours? You do realize that if you are caught anywhere near her bedroom, her family will show you no quarter? They may well seek your demise then question whether or not it was proper to do so."

"I am well aware of the risks. I need to be with her. It has been too long. I...I ache for her Nadir. I have never wanted anything...anyone, the way I want her. I love her as I have not loved anyone before. Even what I felt for Christine, though passionate does not equal what I feel for Trinity. With Christine I was so desperate. I thought she was the only one I could love. She was the only one I had ever had the opportunity to even show a small measure of tenderness to in my life of nothing but pain and humiliation.

With Trinity I feel more connected than I did with Christine. Christine and I had a very fragile connection to one another. Music was the basis for our relationship. I have come to realize that the music was more important to me than even being intimate with Christine. If she had come to me willing only to share my music I think I would have accepted that if it had been offered to me. I even think I would have been content. Not happy, but content.

Trinity and I have so much more than mere music. You know Nadir I had not even asked if she could sing or play an instrument. I did not even know if she liked music at all. I did not care. For me not to think of music first is unusual is it not? Christine and I only ever spoke about music. Once in a while she would tell me her problems or dreams, but we never really spoke about anything important. With Trinity I do not feel we need to speak at all. Just being with her fills me with joy. The whole time we were together I cannot remember there ever once being an uncomfortable silence." Erik smiled as he recalled how he had first compared her to a magpie. He had grown to love that about her. She could speak of things without seeming to become boring. She made the telling of the time of day sound interesting. At least for him.

"Do not worry my friend. I shall assist you in this. If you are killed I will ensure that you have a wonderful funeral. I, perhaps, may even shed a tear." Nadir laughed at his own attempt at wit.

"Seriously though Erik, I wish to urge that you show caution. I know I would have better luck moving a mountain than persuading you to desist in this endeavor. All I can do is hope you have the success you want without ending up beaten or worse. Although meeting Trinity's family I dare say a little physical discomfort is inevitable. Honor alone would dictate they thrash you soundly. They love her dearly so I imagine you are indeed headed for some sort of confrontation whether or not you seek it out."

Nadir shuddered when he thought of those three men approaching Erik to discuss what his intentions were toward Trinity. Nadir could only deduce that he would rather have three circling vultures over his head than those three men of the rough American west. In Nadir's mind anyone coming from America was a wild untamed cowboy, just short of being a gun slinging outlaw.

Trinity's family members were somewhat wild. They could be considered cowboys as they did herd cattle and horses. They did not carry a gun all the time, well at least not on Sundays. Their fists were known to connect quite often with the jaws and eyes of other gentlemen who showed disrespect to the ones they loved. They were above all honorable men.

When Erik arrived home he told Nadir to have the stable boy put away the carriage and saddle his horse. He was going upstairs to bathe then make his way to Trinity. Within an hour of returning home Erik was riding back to the de Chagny estate. The closer he came to the estate the faster the rhythm of his heart became. What if she rejected him? What is she screamed alerting everyone to his presence? It had seemed like a good plan when he first thought of it, now he had doubts. Shaking off his doubts he brought forth the memory of her hand caressing his thigh. She would not do that unless she wanted him. That was her way of letting him know she remembered and welcomed him back.

He would not let any of his old insecurities stand in his way. Tonight he would tell Trinity in no uncertain terms he loved her and only her. If his courage did not desert him he would ask her to marry him.

Erik left his horse in a stand of trees. The clouds had cooperated by blocking out the light of the moon. Even if it had not that would not have hampered Erik much. He had been a ghost for some twenty years after all. A little thing like bright light would not deter him from anything he wished to do.

Slipping across the lawn he made his way to the trellis that lead to the upper balcony shared by Trinity and the room Antoinette had been given. Skills he had used in the opera house to climb high above the stage came in useful as he climbed the trellis then leaped over to grab the balcony railing. Once his feet were firmly planted on the balcony he then made his way to Trinity's room. Grasping the doorknob firmly he cautiously turned the knob, not wanting any unplanned noise to awaken anyone.

He did not know he was being observed by an ex-ballet mistress. Antoinette smiled. She had thought he might come one night. She had waited each night until she could hold her eyes open no longer. Tonight she had been certain was the night. Trinity had not been able to keep the love from her eyes whenever she gazed in Erik's direction. Whether by design or luck Erik had been by Trinity's side all evening. Antoinette rather thought it had been by Erik's ingenuity that the couple had spent so much of the evening together. Watching as she hid behind the draperies, she saw Erik enter Trinity's room. Contented she left her place where she had held vigil, then went to her bed to fall into dreams where everyone received the happiness they deserved. It somewhat shocked her that a certain American cowboy showed up in her dreams. When she remembered in the morning that in her dream the man had worn naught but a gun belt slung low over his hips she blushed like a school girl.

Erik stepped into Trinity's room. Letting his eyes adjust, he then made his way quietly to her bed. She looked peaceful in her sleep. She had a contented smile on her face. He hoped he held some part in her dreams that gave her so much pleasure. She was featured in his dreams every night. Even his daydreams centered around her.

Reaching for the matches he struck one then lit the candle beside the bed. She did not even stir. Bending down slightly he covered her mouth. Immediately her eyes popped open and she began to struggle and try to scream past his hand. He used his skill as a ventriloquist to send a soft caressing tone to her ear, "Do not be afraid mademoiselle. I mean you no harm. I am only here to pleasure you. I wish to hear your cries as I bring you to that highest of pinnacles to reach your climatic end. Promise not to scream and I will take my hand away. There are far more pleasing ways I could use my hand than to quiet any noise you might make. Do I have your promise to be quiet?"

At her quick jerky nod he added just before he moved his hand, "I will not bind you if you do not try to escape. Make one move to alert anyone or leave the room then I shall have to make use of the rope in my cloak. We do not want that now do we?" Erik's voice was a purr in her ear. At least she thought it was Erik. The lips beneath the mask were his. She would know that seductive, fuller lower lip anywhere. The eyes, what she could tell in the dim light were Erik's. She could not see his deep emerald green eye color, but the shape of the brow was the same. The forehead above the mask was Erik's high browed forehead. The fragrance that filled her nose as she breathed was Erik's own intoxicating mixture of man and some exotic concoction he most likely conjured up on his own.

She could not help but be in awe of his ability to speak without moving his lips. She had heard there were people who could do this, but had never witnessed it until now. The thought immediately shot into her head that their child would have the most amazing father. Her eyes softened to a degree that brought his brows rising in question. He wondered what he had done to bring that soft welcoming look into her eyes.

Slowly he removed his hand. Before he could demand she do anything she put her hands around his head bringing him down for a kiss. The immediate jolt of heat that shot through him hardened his flesh so that he was barely restrained by the fabric of his trousers. For one moment he had the insane idea to pull away and demand she let him have control of this encounter. Her tongue caressing his lips drove the insanity back from whence it came. Groaning he lay down beside her.

With his left arm around her waist he let his right hand stroke the hair from her brow. Gliding his fingertips down Erik traced the line of her jaw. Perfect. Had there ever been anything so perfect? He could not bring anything to mind at the moment. His whole being was filled with her essence. He inhaled deeply of her fragrance. If it were possible he wanted to hold her very essence deeply within his lungs to savor in the hours they were apart. Perhaps he would take one of her dainty handkerchiefs with him when he left.

Erik slid his hand down over her neck following his hand with his lips. He heard her sigh. He arrived at her breast. His teeth nipped at the nipple through the thin cloth of the gown. She groaned in response. Gaining courage from this sound of pleasure he trailed his hand down over the curves of her body. Bunching the material in his hand, he gathered it all the way to the hem. Coming to the hem he slipped his hand underneath letting his hand slide up over her thigh to her hip. Once his hand was on her hip he pulled her closer to his body, letting her feel his arousal press into her abdomen.

"Erik." Her voice held all the seduction of a siren's call. Erik felt the pull deep in his center. Heat began to radiate outward from deep within him. This warmth always spread throughout his body whenever Trinity was near. The feeling was beginning to be familiar, like the comfort of a warm blanket. One touch of her lips or hands would bring another dimension to the level of the intensity of warmth. Slowly an inferno would build, drawing all his focus to joining with her. Only when they were one would the heat reach its full power then gradually dissipate when they both reached their climatic end of the journey for lovers.

Erik put his finger across her lips. Raising his finger he replaced it with his lips. He stroked her lips with the moist tip of his tongue. Greedily she opened her mouth to allow him entrance to her own moist seeking tongue. Erik caressed his way to the warm wetness between her thighs. One touch, one caress, set the blaze alight within Trinity. Her body felt the call of his to hers. She wanted desperately to heed that call.

In desperation she began to slip buttons from button holes on his shirt. Any resistance resulted in a button being ripped from his shirt. She had no patience with clothing that restricted her from caressing Erik's bare skin. When at last the final button flew to parts unknown she placed the palms of her hands on his chest. The pounding rhythm of his heart could be felt in her hands. The beats seemed to pound into her hand even as the rhythm increased when she pressed her lips to his chest.

Kissing her way down his chest Trinity used her hands to remove the shirt from his shoulders. Once free of him she threw it carelessly aside. Her hands went next to the buttons of his trousers. One by one she widened the opening of his trousers. With every button released her hand felt more of his warm, muscled skin. She inhaled deeply of the masculine fragrance permeating from his skin.

When her hand dipped down into his trousers he grabbed her wrist to say in a dark, sultry voice, "Ah, ah. This is your Phantom's opera. I direct the performance. Do not try anything without direction from your Phantom. You may ask for permission to act, but it is at my discretion to grant or refuse your request. Is this understood?" Trinity readily nodded her head agreeing to anything he asked of her. He had her in his power. She thought he always had been guiding her even without words being spoken. He gently raised her hands above her head, holding them in one hand. She felt no threat as she could easily break free. She had no wish to be free, ever again. She would be his slave forever. He had only to ask for her complete surrender.

Erik trailed kisses down her body as he began to raise himself from the bed. His clothing had become an unwanted encumbrance. Their eyes locked as he began to remove his clothing. He heard her deep inhalation when his trousers came off. He hoped to hell he could find his boots later. He had thrown them somewhere over his shoulder. Trinity had thrown his shirt somewhere beyond the dim lighting of the candle he had lit.

He kicked free of his trousers. Her eyes devoured his proud manhood swollen with his need of her. Trinity felt the wetness between her thighs begin to seep as Erik stood before her in all his perfect glory. For her he was perfect. Whatever flaw the world saw her love blinded her to that part of him. Everywhere her eyes touched filled her with an ache to touch with her hands, her lips. She wanted to be joined with him in the most intimate way two people can share.

Erik pulled her gown over her head then lay back down beside her. He could not help but look at her beauty he had bared for his enjoyment. Running his hand from her shoulder to her hip, he marveled at the soft smooth expanse of skin displayed before him. Bending down he kissed her breast. When she lifted her shoulder he took the nipple into his mouth drawing deeply until he felt it pebble beneath his tongue. With his hand he caressed the other breast, drawing a similar response with his hand that his lips received from the breast he caressed with his tongue. Her groan pleased him. He nipped gently with his teeth. He thought Trinity might come off the mattress she reacted so intensely to that caress.

Trinity threw her arms around him pulling him close to her body so they fit together as snugly as pieces of a puzzle. "Oh Erik, I have missed you so. Do not ever let us part again. The days after I remembered what we had meant to each other were agony for me. I...I have forgiven you. We need not ever mention any of what happened after my accident. I understand, I did not like what occurred, but I can understand it. Once. This is your one error in judgment I will allow you. There had better not be another."

"Oh God, Trinity. You cannot know what agony I suffered thinking I had killed you. Then when you woke you had no memory of me, of us. Then I betrayed you. I loved you even then Trinity do not doubt that. I was so confused. Christine had only left me a week before. The feelings you and I shared had only been in existence for a week. When I saw Christine again everything that had gone on before came rushing back over me like a tidal wave. I was just as helpless to stop what I felt. I had not been able to have a proper good-bye with her. Our last parting was done hastily. I did not have time to completely accept things when you came into my life. You know I have wished many times since we meet that you had come into my life sooner. Things perhaps would have been different for me. When Christine reentered my life, I had not even acknowledged how I felt for you. I knew I felt strongly for you, but I thought I still loved Christine." Erik felt her stiffen at the mention of Christine's name. He kissed her passionately to erase the sting of Christine's name from her mind.

"When you came to me that night my world was tilted back toward its proper place. I love you Trinity Hardcastle. If you tell me you love me my world will be perfect. Could you...do you think you..." Trinity stopped his less than eloquent question by placing her fingertips over his mouth to silence him.

"I love you Erik Merlot." Trinity laughed quietly when she said his last name, then continued with laughter still in her voice, "With all your genius you could not think of a better name than Merlot?

Let us waste no more time thinking about things we cannot change. Erik I want you. Now. Take me to the heights my love. Take me to the stars."

Erik groaned kissing her with all the love that filled his heart. He kissed every part of her he had missed kissing since he had last been allowed to freely explore her body. When he heard her groan he placed his hand between them to ready her for his possession. Within a few strokes she was begging him to join with her. He possessed her with one swift, fierce stroke. He savored her warmth surrounding him. At her urging tone he began the rhythm that took them both to the stars.

Erik brought Trinity her release before he allowed his own need to overtake him. When his moment came the intensity of it nearly stopped the breath he had taken from being released. He was gripped by such an overwhelming rush of emotions and sensations. When at last he gave in finding his release it was as if he released a part of his vitality. He slumped down against momentarily then moved to her side. Erik could barely move himself away from her he was so drained. Their lovemaking had gone into another dimension. At first it had been slow and easy. Gradually they had been driven into a frenzy to reach fulfillment.

They both lay panting not able to say a word. Slowly they regained a normal breathing rhythm. Erik turned to his side so he could trace his hand over her, marveling anyone could have such soft skin.

Trinity felt as if at any moment she might float away on a blissful cloud of satisfaction. She had just turned to Erik to return his caresses when there was a knock at the door. Erik and Trinity stiffened, frozen in mid caress. The voice of Trinity's brother Lucas brought them out of their paralysis.

"Trinity?" Lucas spoke quietly hoping he did not wake the whole household. He could not sleep. Meg had been on his mind all evening. He had never felt such an instant affinity to anyone. He had been attracted to women with just a look, but not on the level that he could not sleep because anyone special was on his mind. He needed some sisterly advice. It did not occur to him that it would be better to wait until the morning, well later this morning, as it was now after midnight.

"Oh God Erik. It's Lucas. If he finds you here he will kill you. Then Papa will have a turn the Matthew. This is not how I want my family to discover how close we are, You have to go and go quickly. Hurry." She was shoving him toward the edge of the bed. She scooted her body along after his so she could assist him in gathering his clothing.

Erik found his trousers. His, shirt, boots and socks proved elusive. Frantically Trinity snatched up her gown as she made a muffled reply through the material of her gown, "Lucas just a moment. I...I need to find my slippers." Well that would take all of three seconds. How could she delay him without him becoming suspicious?

"Erik what's wrong? Where is your shirt?" Looking down she asked, "Why did you not put on your socks and boots?"

Erik had been standing with his hands on his hips looking perplexed that his items could have gone missing in such a short time and in a small bedroom. He raised his hands to his side saying in exasperation, "I cannot find my shirt, socks or my boots. Woman you are a wild fiend when aroused. I think you have managed to lose my missing articles."

Trinity came to him and said as she placed her hands on his chest, "It was not I who removed your socks or your boots. Who is the wild fiend now?" She leaned forward to kiss his bare chest. Without conscious thought his hands went to her shoulders to pull her closer to him. With a mind of their own his hands lightly glided over her arms. His lips took hers in a searing kiss. Before things could get beyond control Lucas interrupted them again. Erik groaned leaning his forehead against Trinity's dragging in a much needed calming breath.

Lucas knocked on the door again calling to Trinity. They resumed their search. When Lucas began to rattle the knob Trinity began to panic. She pushed Erik toward the balcony doors. He resisted stating he needed to at least find his boots. Another knock and Trinity opened the door. Kissing Erik soundly she shoved him out the door, closing it very firmly behind him.

Erik stood in confusion for a moment wondering what the hell had happened. He and Trinity had just shared something monumental. They had been just about to make love again when the pounding on the door had occurred. Well perhaps Lucas had not pounded on the door, but the results were the same. Erik was now standing on Trinity's balcony in his bare feet and shirtless. He was glad he at least had his trousers. There was no way in hell he would have sat astride a saddle with his bits and pieces exposed. Mustering as much dignity as he could Erik made his way back to his horse as silently as he had come over two hours ago. If he was a little underdressed on the return trip, his dignity when he sat in the saddle did not show even the slightest unease.

He hoped Trinity had been able to conceal all evidence of his visit. He wished he had not had to leave her. Erik knew the reasoning behind such subterfuge, he did not have to like it, but he did understand it. As he rode home he sent his love on silent wings to his love in the hope he could let her feel his presence even if he was not there in the flesh.