LIII
Warning: if you haven't already noticed I have changed the rating of my story from T to M. Now, it may not be an entirely neccessary change, but better safe than sorry, no? Yeah so, "why has she done this?" you might be asking, adn the answer is simple: sexual content. Perhaps not good sexual content or particualrly explicit sexual content. But it is there. If you are uncomfortabel with this then skip the chapter, you won't miss too much, so don't worry.
Christine slumped onto the bench in the change room and started to untie the ribbons of her shoes. Meg flopped down beside her with a heavy sigh and started to do the same.
"Good performance, I'd say," Meg said cheerfully, shoving her shoes into her satchel, "wouldn't you?"
"Yeah," Christine agreed, tugging her churls back into a ponytail.
"I'm tired though," Meg added a bit dramatically.
"Me too," Christine agreed, "come on, let's go home and get something to eat."
"Sounds great," Meg said, pulling her hair back and wrapping it up into a bun, "I'm starved, let's go!"
Christine laughed and quickly followed her friend out of the dressing room while shoving her thin gauze shirt into the satchel, "Meg, wait up."
"Oh, you're so slow," Meg teased, "come on."
Christine jogged to catch up to her friend, still trying to stuff the shirt from her costume into the bag, "Oh…wait, Meg I forgot something. Go ahead, I'll just go back and get it."
"Sure," Meg said, "but hurry up, or I'll leave without you."
Christine just shook her head as her friend pushed out of the small hall and into the crowd of people beyond. She then turned and started back down the hall to the dressing room; she was nearly there too, when a pair of cold hands grabbed her and pulled her into a dark side-hall. For a moment fear coursed through her, quickly replaced by a thrill when warm lips grazed her neck and a sultry voice filled her ears.
"You were beautiful tonight," Erik whispered.
She turned around to face him and saw the smirk playing on his lips in the darkness. With a smile of her own she kissed those lips, "You frightened me."
"I apologise," he said, leaning in for another kiss.
"I have to get going," Christine said, placing a hand on his chest, "Meg is waiting for me."
He made a small noise of disappointment, "Very well then, you should not keep her waiting."
"Come with me," she said, taking his hand and leading him back into the hall, "I just need to get something."
Erik waited in the hall while she dashed into the change room and retrieved the shoes that she had forgotten. She then came out and started to walk down the hall, taking his hand gently and leading him to the large crowd in the front. Once there she released him, allowing him to follow her through the crowd to where Meg was waiting by the door.
"Ah, good evening, Monsieur," Meg greeted him, "did you enjoy the performance?"
"Very much so," Erik replied, "it was splendid, I am glad that I was able to attend."
"And why wouldn't you have been able to come?" Christine asked.
"Armand," Erik answered flatly, "he has been haunting my house for the past two days. The man is truly a nuisance."
"Why has he been at your house?" Christine asked, furrowing her brow in thought.
"He claims that it is for business. He has purchased some new land and wants me to design a house for him, that and he wishes to avoid his own home."
"Why would he want to do that?" Christine asked, "He and Danielle aren't fighting, are they?"
"He says that she has been disagreeable as of late…temperamental or some such thing," he gave a wry chuckle, "he claims that she has been acting like me."
Meg gave a small laugh, "Well, then I can see why he would wish to get away, non?"
"Amusing," Erik replied dryly, "I cannot truly see them ever having a real disagreement though. This little…whatever you would call it, will pass quickly I am certain. Until then, however, I have to suffer through Armand's company."
"It can't be all that bad," Meg offered, "I mean, he is your friend, is he not?"
"Hmm, and a devil of a friend at that," Erik sighed, "do not get me wrong, I do enjoy Armand's company, but it is best experienced in small doses."
Christine laughed and touched his arm sympathetically, "He isn't so bad. Monsieur Armand is a very kind man."
Erik nodded his head, "Yes, too kind for his own good. But I am keeping you, am I not? I should let you go; you must be tired after such a long night."
"Exhausted," Meg laughed, "but it was nice to see you again, Monsieur."
Actually…Meg, could I talk to you for a minute?" Christine asked, taking her friend a few feet away.
"What is it?" Meg asked.
"Well…I was thinking that maybe…I could go to supper with Erik," Christine said, biting her lip nervously, "unless you wouldn't feel comfortable being home alone, with Madame away and all."
"No its fine," Meg assured her.
"Are you certain, Meg?" Christine asked, "Because I don't want-"
"I'll be fine!" Meg laughed, "go out to supper if you want, I can take a cab by myself, it isn't any trouble."
"You're sure?" Christine checked.
"Positive. Go out to supper, I'll be going to bed almost the instant I get home anyways. Well, after a bite to eat myself."
"Thank you, Meg. You're a great friend," Christine said, giving her a quick hug.
"I hope you remember that when it's my birthday," Meg teased as they walked back over to Erik.
"Erik, perhaps you and I could go to supper?" Christine asked.
"Perhaps," he said, nodding his head slowly, "but I would not want to seem rude to Mademoiselle Giry."
"Not at all," Meg assured him, "I'm tired anyways, I'd rather just go home and rest. Speaking of which, I could find a cab then."
"Are you sure, Meg?" Christine asked.
"Mmm hmm, I'll just go find a cab, it'll be fine," she answered.
"At least allow us to take you home," Erik said, "it isn't entirely safe to be out alone in the dark."
"Alright," Meg shrugged, "but I would be fine by myself."
"Ah, but your mother would be upset," Erik said, "and I am fairly certain that you do not want that."
"Oh, she's away for two days," Meg shrugged, leading the way outside, "something about an old friend being sick and going to visit."
"How unfortunate," Erik murmured, summoning a cab for them.
The drive from the theatre to the house took longer than usual for all the traffic after the performance, but Meg managed to keep up a cheerful conversation through it. Once there she bid Erik good night and dashed into the house. Once she was gone Christine smiled and leaned over to give Erik a quick kiss.
"Where to now?" he asked, "was there a restaurant you had in mind?"
"Hmm," she sighed, "I'm not sure if I want to go to a busy, noisy restaurant. I'm not really that hungry anymore…maybe we could go to your place?"
A smirk claimed Erik's lips and he nodded his head, "Maybe we could."
Erik had barely closed the door when Christine' arm went around his neck and she claimed his mouth in a deep, suffocating kiss. He had to pull away first, breathing heavily and giving her a somewhat perplexed look. She just smiled and kissed him again, grabbing the lapels of his jacket, pulling him closer and slowly leading him to the bedroom.
Too many layers, she decided, as she pushed off his jacket only to reveal the waistcoat beneath. She could feel his fingers on her back, working clumsily to undo her bodice, and cursed her own clumsiness at untying his cravat and unbuttoning his waistcoat.
It was all too quick again, the fumbling to remove clothes, the curing of layers, lace and frills. She pushed him towards the bed, and revelled in the low sound he made when she sat on his lap, her hands lacing in his hair as she felt his tongue slide against hers.
She felt his hands slide down to her shoulders as he moved his mouth from hers, trailing kisses down her neck and then back up to her mouth. She couldn't help but gasp when she felt his hands slide down to her hips, and then felt one slowly slip under her skirt and up to the sensitive skin of her thigh. He stopped there, dark eyes meeting hers for a moment.
"Its fine," she managed to breath, feeling a lick of heat when he moved his hand again.
There was more fumbling as he removed her corset and slid off her skirt. She tugged his shirt out of his trousers and it was quickly discarded. More fevered kisses and roaming hands. There was a desperate want that developed into a need as clothes were shed. There seemed to be a coil inside her that wound tighter and tighter as he trailed kisses down her neck. She gave a low moan when his hips brushed against hers and she slid her hand down to the hem of his trousers.
"Christine," he breathed, pulling back slightly as her fingers worked awkwardly on the button of his trousers.
She felt him shudder when she managed to undo it, and it gave her a small thrill to hear his groan when she slipped her hand inside slightly, before reaching up and grasping his shoulders, pulling his down for another kiss. She slid them back down again and, though rather clumsily, the pants were removed as well.
They were too impatient then, the barriers were gone and there seemed to be no turning back. The strange and new sensations of skin against skin, a burning desire fuelled by hot kisses and curiosity. There was something that could have been pain, but Christine could not be sure. She heard him cry out, felt his body shudder and felt the tightness inside her self finally give way.
They lay tangled in the bed after, breathing hard, the blankets twisted around them. Neither would be able to call the experience truly pleasurable, it had been too quick and desperate for that. Christine made a noise in her throat when she felt the bed shift and the warmth of Erik's body disappear. A moment later cool fabric brushed her skin, as he draped one of his shirts over her shoulders.
She rolled over slightly and smiled tiredly in the dark, slipping her arms through the sleeves. He lay down beside her again, and wrapped his arms around her, breathing into her hair. It felt right, she decided, to have his arms around her and his body pressed up against her. And it would get better, she imagined, there wouldn't always be the pain or the awkward fumbling.
"Erik?" she asked softly, wondering if he had fallen asleep.
"Hmm?"
"Never mind," she murmured, "good night."
"Good night," he mumbled his voice heavy with sleep, "I love you."
She smiled to herself at that, "I love you too."
A/N: Yeah, so hope you liked the chapter...meant to update sooner but life got in the way. Oh yeah, and I saw Phantom today...er, yesterday (as it is 3:00 a.m. now) and it was amazing! Really, I'd see it like twelve more times if I could afford it. If you ever get the chance to see it on stage do, even if you have to sell a kidney on the black market or something. Completely and totally worth it! Also, never watch ten hours straight of Phantom movies...first of all mst of them aren't that good, adn second of all they will drive you insane. So, with that wonderful advice, please review and don't criticise me too much on the chapter...please.
