Author's Note: Hello my lovely readers! I want to thank you all for reading and reviewing! It's wonderful! Also, I want to apologize for the delay in updates. Between the holidays and work and writing, life has been quite hectic! And I hate that I have only been able to update once a week or so and am hoping that will change once the holidays have passed :] Anyhow, please enjoy this chapter! And, of course, review! Thanks very much :]
Chapter Thirty-Four: Through the Mirror
"Mmm," Christine sighed as she stretched her extremely sore naked body, her eyes fluttering open, as she succumbed to a blissful wakefulness, her cloak upon her body, Erik's beneath her on the floor.
Christine dazedly reached her arm out, wanting to touch the man who fell asleep beside her, wanting nothing more than to become enfolded in the strong and loving arms of her angel.
"Erik?" Christine proclaimed, jolting upright when she found herself alone.
She furrowed her brows as she looked upon the empty spot beside her on the floor then sighed with relief as she suddenly remembered Erik's soft whisper in her ear as he caressed her back and told her he would return within the hour. Where he'd gone, Christine hadn't a clue. She hadn't any idea how long he'd been gone either. She'd been too enthralled with her dreamy slumber to remember. But now she wanted him here with her. She needed him.
She looked about the dimly lit room from a candle Erik had left behind but found her eyes unable to adjust to the darkness. She hadn't a clue as to where she was.
She wrapped the cloak about her body and set her feet beneath her to stand, wanting to pursue and find Erik, to discover which room within the Opera House she was in. Her mind was incredibly befuddled.
"Oh," she groaned as she attempted to stand, ultimately unsuccessful as she fell on her bottom back onto the floor. "Well, then."
She slipped the cloak off her shoulders and began to massage her very sore thighs, her womanhood so incredibly sensitive from the night's exertions she felt as if more than Erik's insatiable passion, his erotically violent passion, had erupted inside her body, her soul. He'd been most powerful with her.
Christine slowly grinned, wrapping her arms about her now goose fleshed body, as she remembered Erik's ravenous possession of her body and soul, of her distraught mind. He'd truly been a man possessed, a fierce yet loving man wanting to purge his lover of the evil that had been wrought upon her petite body, her broken soul. A man who had saved her through his passion, through his love, a man who'd brought her within an everlasting sanctuary through his every caress, through his breathless whispers of desire and love, of completion. He'd given her everything.
He'd taken her roughly yet devotedly throughout the night upon the table on the stage, upon the stage floor, bent over the long bench, on the grand staircase, within the labyrinth of hallways, on her knees as he took her from behind, his hands upon her breasts, his throbbing erection and deft hands invading her soul as he slipped inside her slick folds between her legs.
He'd been ferocious, animalistic. He'd taken her with such vigor, such desperation, until her voice had become hoarse with her cries of passion, her sobs of wanton abandon. He'd taken her until her body had become so stimulated that his every touch, every thrust, his every impassioned breath made her quake and shiver with desire.
She'd been a woman possessed and had yearned, had burned, for every moment of it.
Christine laughed then sighed deeply as she thought of her fervently devoted angel. It had been a truly divine night, an amorously erotic night.
Christine began sensuously touching herself, her eyes closed, her head thrown back, as she began her own journey upon her body, touching every crevice, every mound, every valley. She groaned with a bittersweet pain as she succumbed to the aftermath of her and Erik's lovemaking, bruises upon her thighs, waist and hips, upon her arms, her lower backside.
"Oh, my," she sighed as she then looked upon her chest and breasts, her stomach, and discovered more evidence of their passionate lovemaking. She had various love bites upon her alabaster skin. She shook her head. "I can only wonder what marks I left on him. Now, if I only had a mirror…" she said amusedly to herself aloud as she looked about the room.
Christine suddenly drew in a sharp breath as she turned her head, only to find herself staring at her own reflection.
"The mirror," she breathed incredulously.
Christine suddenly felt very alone, her body chilled, as she looked upon the majestic mirror that had irrevocably bound her and Erik for eternity. She tremulously smiled as she recalled that impassioned night as she wrapped her cloak about her body and slowly stood upon her wobbly legs, wincing along the way, as she walked toward the mirror.
"Where are you, angel?" she quietly asked as she stood before the grand mirror, reaching her hand out to touch the clear, cold glass. "I need you with me."
Christine dazedly sat upon the floor in front of the mirror, her knees bent, her arms wrapped around them underneath her cloak. She rested her chin upon her knees and sighed.
She stared at the mirror for a long while as she recollected that haunting night, a night that had forever changed her life. It had haunted her dreams, her soul, for always. It had touched her so deeply, so profoundly, that she had feared then devoured the dark truth of her Angel of Music being nothing more than a man, and not the fantastical spirit her father had so animatedly spoken of when she was a child.
Her angel had been Erik, a man whom she felt everything with, a man who'd given her everything.
A man she would forever love and adore, a man whose passion and devotion promised an everlasting peace that she hadn't truly ever known.
***
Erik entered the dressing room with food for breakfast to find a naked Christine sitting before the majestic mirror that had been the final threshold into their erotic journey of music and passion, her cloak wrapped about her body.
He slowly walked toward Christine, setting the bundle of food he'd furtively received this morning aside along with her bundle of clothes they'd abandoned on the stage from the night before, which he'd retrieved when he'd left to dress this morning. He stood behind her, his hands thrust in his pockets.
"I brought breakfast," he murmured, intently watching her as she stared distractedly at the mirror, as if she could see through it.
Christine inattentively nodded, wrapping her cloak closer about her body. Erik noticed she was trembling.
He walked toward his abandoned cloak upon the floor and wrapped it about her body over her cloak.
"You're cold," he said inanely as he sat behind her and wrapped his arms about her body, caressing her arms and waist.
He held her tightly after a moment as she leaned her head against his chest. Erik leaned against her, taking in the scent of her, her soft curls enveloping his senses. They were silent for a long while as Christine continued to stare at the mirror, Erik's hands caressing her gently for some time.
He laid his chin upon her shoulder and lightly bit her ear.
"Are you hungry?" he whispered, not wishing for her to dwell upon whatever thoughts had taken her away from him momentarily.
Christine shrugged her shoulders as their eyes met in the mirror. Her impassioned yet sad eyes worried Erik. Last night had been frighteningly powerful. He'd known he was being too aggressive, too passionately violent with Christine, but he couldn't help himself. He'd been a man possessed. His primal male need had turned into an animalistic ravishing of his innocent beauty, his divine goddess. He'd become a man obsessed with the woman who'd always possess his mind, body and soul. He'd ravaged her.
Erik softly groaned as his body succumbed to the memories of the night before, his manhood beginning to throb. Christine suddenly drew in a slow and steady breath as she obviously felt his stirring passion against her backside. She leaned closer against him and turned her head toward him.
"You're beautiful," he murmured, slipping his hands around her waist and slowly easing his deft hands beneath the cloak, her heated body pleading for his touch. "I want you."
Erik hummed pleasantly as he found her intoxicating threshold, her liquid core more than welcoming. He caressed her taut numb then slipped two fingers inside his angel as she opened to him then froze as he felt her wince.
"Did I hurt you?" he quickly asked, removing his fingers from her womanhood.
Christine turned to face him completely and laid her head upon his shoulder. She was silent for some time, wholly tormenting Erik's mind, causing him to slip their cloaks off her lithe body, evidence of their violently impassioned lovemaking from the night before upon her body now visible to him.
Erik miserably groaned.
"I did hurt you."
Christine said nothing as Erik caressed her arms. Both were covered with small bruises from his strong hold upon her as he'd vigorously took her throughout the dark night. She had a myriad of love bites upon her neck and breasts, her stomach, the inside of her thighs, and other valleys and mounds he hadn't quite remembered devoting his mouth and touch to. He'd been a madman, impassioned by her love, by her very soul.
Yet there had been more to his fierce passion. He'd wanted nothing more than to wash away the fright that the Duc de Pomeroy had implanted upon Christine. But he hadn't only wanted to cleanse away the Duc's flesh upon her, inside her, he wanted to rid her memories of Henri, though he'd never been inside her, he had still touched her mind and body, and Erik knew Christine was still haunted by it. He had seen the fear and trepidation in her eyes. It nearly destroyed him, and he wanted those men gone from her mind because of it.
She belonged with him, only him, and Erik wanted her to know that she was his and no other's, that they would forever own and possess another, that no other man, or woman, would come between their irrevocably bound souls ever again. They were one.
Erik shook his head as he rubbed Christine's arms once more and leaned his forehead against hers.
"I am so sorry, angel. I never meant to hurt you."
Christine softly laughed as she laced her fingers with his and lay upon the floor, bringing him with her. She smiled and kissed him lightly as he lay beside her.
Erik grasped her face in his hands, ending her sweet kiss to stare fixedly into her sparkling hazel eyes.
"I never meant to take you with such fierce passion, with such power and possession."
Christine pressed her finger upon his lips then sheepishly looked away from him, her face becoming flushed.
"Well, actually," she slowly murmured, "I quite liked that part." She looked at him once more and leaned toward him. "Very much," she breathed, her lips brushing his.
Erik stared incredulously at her then grinned after a moment.
"You little vixen," he jested as he kissed her once more, his tongue caressing her bottom lip as she opened to him. "God, I love you," he breathed against her mouth. "So much my heart aches. I burn for you, Christine."
Erik felt Christine smile against his mouth. He pulled away from her to look ardently into her eyes.
She smiled sweetly, her eyes beaming with love and desire. She caressed his face then gently slipped off his white leather mask, which he'd put on before he ventured out into the city to receive food for the two of them. She laid it upon the floor beside them then kissed his deformed cheek.
"I love you, Erik," she whispered into his ear.
Erik tremulously smiled then groaned. He rubbed his face in his hands as Christine pulled away from him, her brows furrowed.
"What is it?" she asked as she caressed his hair.
Erik leaned his forehead against hers.
"Oh, Christine," he murmured. "Still, I hurt you. I—" He swallowed hard as Christine lay on the floor once more, his eyes intently upon her. "I bruised you. I marked you," he said as he laid his hands on her body and began caressing her, tracing her bruises and his love bites with his hands and fingers. He glided his hands gently upon her arms, her chest and breasts, her stomach, hips and thighs.
Christine sighed as he leaned over her, his hands journeying his way back up her body. He kissed the valley between her breasts, then each breast, licking her taut nipples. He then lightly kissed her throat and nuzzled his cheek with hers.
"I hurt you, Christine," he softly repeated. "I—"
"Shh." Christine stopped him as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "You may have left your mark, Erik, but I am unhurt. I wanted you. I needed you." She slipped her hands through his opened white dress shirt and began tracing his back, her delicate fingers grazing him tenderly. "Besides, I'm not the only one left scathed. Feel what I've done to you, love," she whispered against his cheek as she traced the claw marks she'd left on his back. "See what I've done to you." She slowly sat up with him, turning their bodies toward the mirror.
Erik looked fixedly at their reflection in the mirror, smiling at what he saw, it being a man and woman in deeply and forever in love. It was hauntingly beautiful.
He swallowed hard as he bit back the tears that were beginning to eclipse his eyes.
"I enjoyed it very much, Erik," Christine purred after a moment as she leaned against his chest, causing Erik to shiver with desire.
Erik growled as he wrapped Christine in his arms, interlacing their hands.
"I have no control with you, Christine," he declared as he buried his face in her hair, never taking his eyes off her through the reflection in the mirror.
Christine smiled as she turned and kissed his cheek.
"I know this. Don't be afraid of me, Erik."
Erik kissed her briefly.
"Then you must also know I cannot deny you anything."
Christine giggled as she threw herself into his strong arms. Erik held her closely, their cloaks surrounding them in a pool of darkness around their entwined limbs, Christine's glorious nakedness enticing him.
"I know that, too." She rubbed her cheek against his. "Love me, Erik," she beautifully demanded.
"Always," he declared as he kissed her softly.
They continued loving another with lips and tongue until Christine's stomach rumbled. Erik laughed as Christine jerked away from him and laid her hands upon her stomach, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Hungry, darling," Erik teased as he laid his hand upon hers then bent down and kissed her navel as he took her hand in his.
"Very," she laughed as she kissed the top of his head.
Erik chuckled and stood as he swept Christine in his arms and walked her toward a chaise lounge, setting her down upon it. He quickly rubbed her arms when he noticed she was trembling.
"Perhaps you should dress first," he stated as he grabbed her bodice and gown and brought them to her.
Christine swiftly stood and held her arms above her head, causing her perfect breasts to lift, too. Erik softly groaned. His manhood began to throb once more as she innocently seduced him with her exquisite body. Erik lifted his eyebrow and stared fixedly at her, pleading with himself to stay in check. He simply couldn't take her again so soon. He could see the pain in her eyes brought on from the night before, though she tried to hide it. He felt her wince when he'd attempted to bring her upon the brink of an eternal pleasure once more, he'd felt it when he'd lifted her off the ground to bring her to the chaise lounge. He just simply couldn't hurt her anymore, no matter what she said.
"Well, aren't you going to dress me?" she pleasantly asked, invading his thoughts.
Erik chuckled as she stood closer to him. He kissed one of her breasts, betraying his mind and body completely, then pushed her long, silky tresses behind her shoulders, kissing her shoulders and throat as he did so. Christine sighed as he stood closer beside her, molding his body with hers. She laid her hands upon his thighs, caressing them. After a moment she slid her hands around and grabbed his buttocks, pressing his aching manhood against her stomach.
"Christine," Erik groaned as she continued caressing his backside. He slipped her bodice around her and stood slightly away as he began to tie its laces. "You do realize the torment you are bringing upon me?"
"I do," she simply admitted as she continued her journey, slipping her hand between her stomach and his now throbbing erection. She began rubbing him sensuously. "I want you, Erik."
Erik continued to lace her bodice as she continued her maddening ministrations upon him. She drew in a sharp breath as he began to tie the laces tighter, hoping she got the message. As much as he desired her, as much as he would always desire her, he knew her body wouldn't be able to handle his demanding flesh right now, though she continued to make it incredibly difficult to resist her unyielding temptation. At the moment he wanted nothing more than to throw her down upon the chaise lounge and bury his flesh deep within her until she cried out in a fiery passion he'd come to discover existed between them last night and throughout their myriad of trysts during the week they'd had together in the spring.
Erik groaned as Christine suddenly grasped him harder as he finished and reached for her gown.
"Christine!" he exclaimed as she fell to her knees and began untying his breeches. He grabbed her hands, stopping her.
She looked up into his eyes, her pouting lips and face weakening him. She reached up to him and laid her finger upon his lips.
"Let me do this for you," she seductively whispered.
Truly unable to deny her any longer, Erik kissed her finger then took it in his mouth as he succumbed to her passionate touch. After some time she removed her finger from between his lips then finished untying his breeches, taking his raging flesh in her hands. She looked coyly into his eyes one last time then boldly took him in her mouth, Erik moaning softly as sheer pleasure enveloped him.
***
"You haven't said a word," Erik observed as he wrapped Christine's cloak about her body. He took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. She looked curiously at him. "The mirror," he whispered as he kissed her briefly then turned her to face the majestic mirror that had inadvertently touched so many lives.
"Oh," she said simply.
They stood together in silence, both fully dressed and completely sated, in body and soul. Christine had been most attentive to his aching manhood and his release had been explosive. They'd enjoyed soft caresses and long, languorous kisses for some time after then indulged themselves in a pleasant breakfast together, teasing and talking of everything and nothing.
Christine suddenly turned in his arms and held him closely, burying her head against his chest, tearing him from his thoughts of only moments before. He wrapped his arms around her in return and rested his head upon hers.
"I want to go down there," she murmured after some time.
Erik tensed at her words then looked at their entwined bodies through the mirror. He'd returned to his Hell years ago, wanting to make peace with it, but never planning to do so again. His return had brought Berenice back into his life and a sense of peace had overcome him because of that. It'd brought him Meg, too, and then Christine. It'd been one of his wisest decisions, returning to his home of solitude and despair. But he'd promised himself he'd never return there again.
Yet, now as he stood with Christine, his arms wrapped fervently about her, he wondered if perhaps he hadn't made complete peace with it, if perhaps Christine and he should make peace with it together. He hadn't truly believed she'd want to go down there when she'd agreed to make peace with the Opera House.
You fool, Erik scoffed as he berated himself. His lair in the depths of the Opera House was what truly started everything in regard to his and Christine's physical relationship. His world of darkness and deception, of solitude and despair, had been introduced to her through him. His home was everything. It had been where he'd first seduced her with his music then lost her with his madness.
Erik grimaced. There was no doubt of it. He and Christine had one last destination within this Opera House and though Erik loathed and feared the idea of bringing her down there once more, he knew it must be down.
Erik pulled away from Christine and cupped her cheek. He kissed her forehead.
"There's no going back now, Christine."
Christine grinned.
"You've been saying that a lot as of late."
Erik shrugged his shoulders and let out a long sigh.
"I suppose I just wish to remind you that you are forever mine, angel-love."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way," she simply declared as she kissed him fast and turned toward the mirror.
She stared at it fixedly for some time, her angelic face puzzled. Erik laughed as he laid his hands upon her shoulders.
"What is it?" he asked.
She peered over her shoulder at him and crinkled her nose.
"Well, aren't you going to open it?" she asked happily.
Erik stared at Christine disbelievingly. He hadn't even contemplated the idea that she'd wish to journey down to his former home through the mirror. He'd planned to take her through the catacombs and beyond the lake by an entirely different path.
"Christine, I—"
Christine vigorously shook her head as she turned to him.
"No, no, no," she laughed. "You cannot back out on this, Erik."
"No, of course not," Erik quickly defended himself. "I just thought that, well—" he stammered as she stared quizzically at him.
"You thought?" she indulged him.
"I thought perhaps I would take you down there through another way."
Christine shook her head, her mind clearly decided.
Erik cleared his throat.
"Well, then," he sighed as he squeezed her shoulders then walked past her. "Will you retrieve the candle while I open the mirror?"
Christine stared attentively at him for a moment, as if she were deciding whether she should trust him to open the mirror without her hovering over him. He knew she wanted his infamous secret.
Erik smiled charmingly at her, not quite ready to lose this battle.
"Please, sweeting."
Christine playfully bit her bottom lip then poked his chest.
"I thought we promised no secrets between us."
Erik raised his brows.
"You know you can't deny me," she harmoniously spoke. "You said so only moments ago." She stood closer to him. "And you cannot have forgotten what occurred after your amorous confession," she whispered in his ear, nibbling as she did so, her hand once more upon his sated flesh.
"No, I certainly haven't forgotten," Erik murmured, his body shivering with a newly awakened desire in which Christine could only stir. He walked toward the mirror, utterly defeated yet secretly enamored. "I implore you, my beloved, to watch me closely as I slide the mirror open."
Christine furrowed her brows and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Slide?" she dubiously asked. "It cannot be that simple."
Erik uneasily laughed as he slipped his hands behind the majestic brown and gold gilded frame about the mirror. He found the lever after searching for a moment, for he'd never actually opened the mirror from within the dressing room, and pulled it, a small click following quickly.
He heard Christine gasp as the mirror slowly slid opened. He turned to face her only to find her eyes wide with amazement and perhaps admiration, her mouth slightly open. Erik chuckled as he walked toward her and gripped her chin, gently closing her mouth. She didn't acknowledge him as he kissed her briefly then walked over to retrieve their only source of light.
When he turned toward the mirror once more Christine jumped into his arms and kissed him passionately. She pulled away after a moment, giggling profusely, then walked toward the mirror.
"Christine, wait!" Erik grasped her hand, stopping her as she walked toward the open mirror.
"What is it?" she softly asked as he set the candle aside and took her in his arms.
Erik swallowed hard and began caressing her back. Christine wrapped her arms tightly around him in return and laid her head upon his chest, their enlightened moods suddenly somber and serious.
"What is it, Erik?" she asked again after some time.
Erik gripped her chin and lifted her face until their eyes met. He drew in a sharp breath as he saw complete trust in her hazel eyes.
"Please, Christine," he murmured. "Tell me you're all right."
Christine smiled and shook her head.
"Erik, I'm all right, truly. You didn't hurt me. I promise you." She grasped his face between her hands and kissed him briefly then wrapped her arms around him once more, her head upon his chest again.
"Then—" He paused for a moment before continuing, slightly frightened of the answer to his next question. "Then, how do you feel, Christine?"
Christine softly laughed then kissed his throat. She looked up into his eyes again and smiled, her chin resting upon his chest, her face beaming, yet her eyes were filled with a deep and loving seriousness that touched Erik.
"Safe," she simply replied then kissed him once more. She entwined their hands and turned to walk with him to the mirror, Erik smiling all the while behind her.