Chapter 6:
Was he deceiving her? Erik was staring down at Carlynda's sleeping form. She looked so peaceful and so very beautiful. She was not another Christine. He was firm on that, but was he still deceiving her like he did Christine? Carlynda willingly came to him every night, but she didn't know who she was with. She didn't know how he felt about her. She didn't know about what lies beneath his mask, if she knew about that at all. She never asked, but she must have felt the edge of the mask scrap her once or twice. He tried to be careful, but in the throes of passion it was hard to think straight.
He reached down and traced the outline of her face with the back of his fingers. She was so different then when he first met her. Back then he felt nothing but annoyance towards her. She seemed to be throwing all her problems at his feet as if she was trying to get him to fix it for her. She seemed a little spoil and childish, but she grew from that. Lord, did she grow since then. He wasn't expecting to fall for her at all. The first time there was any indication that there was something there was when she kissed him at the corner of his mouth. Since that moment, she was on his mind and she kept showing up at the opera house. The attraction he had felt since she first kissed him grew stronger at each passing day. The more she came, the stronger he felt for her until there was no denying his love for Carlynda McBeth.
"Oh, Carlynda," he whispered, "my love." He kissed her temple. Was it deceptive to use their loneliness to get her into his bed when all he wanted to do was love her? The last woman he loved left him heartbroken and abandoned him to the bloodthirsty mob. He feared this love he had for Carlynda, as much as he relished in it. He didn't know how to tell her he loved her. He only hoped she would eventually be able to see it through his actions. Surely she knew by now, right? He always thought he was too obvious with his feelings. He wanted to give Carlynda her dream, to be loved despite her past, her background. To be equal to him, not a possession. That was where he went wrong with Christine all those years ago. He wanted her like a possession. He would not make the same mistake. He learned from it and he did see Carlynda as equal to him. He was showing that by talking to her about the opera house, seeking advice.
He settled back down on his pillow, pulling Carlynda into his embrace. She moaned but settled against him, her hand resting on his bare chest. He kissed the top of her head and glanced at the window. Light was trying to enter, but the thick curtains was doing its job at holding it back. He could see the faint outline of the light around the curtains, but not enough for a normal person to see the room clearly. He was confidant she wouldn't see him when she woke. He was usually gone by now, doing his rounds around the opera house, but he had already sent a note to Jules that he was taking a day off. This would be his first time being there when she woke.
Carlynda McBeth. That was such an English name for a French woman. Did she think she was fooling him with that name? He couldn't blame her for living with a false name. Putting herself into prostitution all those years ago surely would make anyone change their name to hide their identity. He knew she must be someone entitled. Who else would think to change their names before entering the service of prostitution? She was hiding from someone, her parents? Her husband? Her fiancé? A sibling? The law? There were many possible people she could be hiding from. He could only hope it was not a husband. For some day he would love to marry her. A wish he was sure would not come true. She would certainly not want to marry anyone without looking at their face and, once she did that, she would never marry him. Who would want to marry a man who looked like a monster? Who had a monstrous past?
"Erik?"
He glanced down at the woman in his arms. She was rubbing her sleepy eyes before lifting up her head. "Erik?" she questioned again.
"I'm here."
She glanced around, but her eyes was unfocused. He knew she couldn't see anything in the dark. "What time is it? Is it early?"
"It must be a little passed eight, my dear."
Her head whipped in his direction, her wide eyes searching for his without success. "Eight?"
"Yes."
"Don't you have work today, Erik? You're never here when I wake up."
A strand of brown hair went into her face and he couldn't help but reach out and push it back, his fingertips stroking her cheek and earlobe as he did so. "Today is a special day, is it not? I thought we lie in today and enjoy the day of your birth."
A smile spread across her face. It was a beautiful smile that grabbed the attention of his eyes and held them captive. Her smile always brightened his day. No, it wasn't just her smile. It was her presence that brightened his day. Her smile gave him his only glimpse of heaven. "I would enjoy that very much."
Hours later, found them sitting up in bed. She was in her white nightgown and he was only in his long drawers. She sat between his legs with her back leaning against his bare chest and a blindfold covered her eyes. He had opened the curtains a little to let her feel the rays of the warm sun and in front of them on the bed was a tray of an assortment of fruits and chocolates he got from his storage in his lair.
He reached around her to grab a fruit from the tray. He placed the fruit to her lips. "Open, my dear," he said in her ear.
She opened her mouth and took a bit. Juice squirted out and she moaned in surprised. "My word," she said over her bites. She swallowed and turned her head in Erik's direction. "A strawberry." Her smile showed him her delight. "I haven't had a strawberry in years. But how do you have strawberries? The season for strawberries were over months ago."
He placed the calyx of the strawberry back on the tray. "I have my ways." Her head was still facing him and he glanced down at her mouth. The corner of her mouth showed a hint of left over strawberry juice. It was so tempting, he couldn't help but bend down and kiss her. She responded to his kiss eagerly. He could taste the strawberry she had just ate and it made her even more delicious. He pulled back. "You ready for your next taste, my dear?"
She leaned her head back against his shoulder and smiled enticingly. "That wasn't it?"
He wanted to kiss her again, so he did. The kiss was quick though. He pulled back a little. His lips brushed against hers as he spoke. "No, my dear, it was not." He reached for one of the chocolates this time. "Open," he said as he pressed the chocolate against her lips.
"Hmm," she hummed as the chocolate melted into her mouth. "Strawberries and chocolate." She shifted around so she was kneeling in front of him. "That is an enchanting combination."
He pulled her to him and gave her a deep kiss, exploring her mouth and tasting the chocolate. "It is a very enchanting combination," he whispered against her lips.
She pulled back from him with a coy smile. "I do believe, monsieur, that is your turn."
"My turn, mademoiselle?" He leaned back casually against the bedpost and just stared the charming sight. The light from the window gave her this divine look. The sun's rays outlined her body, as if she was an angel descending from heaven. It gave her dark brown hair a glow and made her pale skin shine. He wished he could reach up and take that blindfold off of her, to see her whole face become radiant in the sun, to see the sparkle in her eyes. His heart craved it, but he dared not reach for the blindfold. She may be the angel, but he was the demon. He didn't wish for her to see him. He wouldn't be able to handle it if she so much as flinches away from him. If she knew who he was, if she knew what he had done…no, there would be no showing or telling her of his past and who he truly was.
"Yes, your turn." She placed and hand down on his thigh as her other's reached towards his face. "Where is your mouth?"
He guide her hand to his lips, kissing her fingertips. She giggled. "Now, closed your eyes." She waited a second. "Are your eyes closed?"
"Yes," he lied. He couldn't seem to look away from her. She was so enchanting, more enchanting then strawberries and chocolates. He hadn't been this relaxed since…well, he couldn't seem to think of a time when he had ever been this relaxed.
"You lie!"
"How do you know? Can you see through that blindfold?" he asked, a brief flicker of panic seizing him.
She laughed and shook her head, unknowingly calming him. "No, but you just revealed you were lying. Now, close them."
He smiled, but did as he was told.
"Are they closed?"
"Yes."
"Are they?" she asked again.
He chuckled and nodded. "I promise, Carlynda. My eyes are shut."
He heard her fingertips click against the metal tray, looking blindly for a fruit. Her fingers on her other hand remained at his mouth. He opened his mouth and captured one of her digits. He swirled his tongue around it as she pulled it out. "Behave, monsieur," she ordered, but he could hear the amusement in her tone.
"It is not my fault that I am, at this moment, very, very hard." He heard a breathy chuckle and didn't need to look to know her face was bright red. Despite the fact she was no longer naïve or innocent, such talk always made her blush. He found it very endearing.
He felt something wet and cold against his lips. "Open. After you eat this I'll help you with your hard problem," she whispered, not at all sounding innocent.
With her promise, he quickly opened his mouth and ate the offered fruit. His teeth sank into the soft, juicy fruit easily. It was a watermelon. He opened his eyes after he swallowed. "Watermelon," he answered before flipping her down on the bed and going on top of her. She smiled up at him. "Now, you promised to help me out."
"So I did."
He bent down and captured her lips.
Several more hours later, Erik was eyeing Carlynda from the other side of the bed. "Don't make this any harder than it has to be, my dear."
Her lips twitched as she tried to hold back her laughter. "Never. Though, it is hardly fair that you can see and I can't."
"You can see well enough." He had let the curtains close again and the blindfold was no longer wrapped around her eyes. He knew she should be able to see dark shapes, if nothing else. He started to creep around the bed, but she was carefully trying to keep the distance between them, by slowly getting on the bed, getting ready to jump on the other side the moment he got too close.
He rushed to her just as she let out a startled laugh and jumped to the other side of the bed. The bed once again stood between them. "You have to be quicker than that, Erik," she teased.
"Trust me, I will." This time he lunged across the bed. She tried to escape, but he quickly had her in his embrace, her back against his chest. She wiggled around while laughing, trying to break his hold, but he was much stronger. His hand held one of her arms up. She tried to hold her arm down, but wasn't successful. His other arm reached across her body and his fingers found her armpit.
"No…no…stop…stop…" Her words lost effect through her laughter. She continued to struggle, but he had a tight hold on her. "Erik…Erik…" She wiggled, trying to escape his fingers. She couldn't stop the laughter as he tickled her.
"You should never have told me you were ticklish. You must have known I would be very curious." The feeling of her body against his was most certainly alerting his body to her feminine charms.
She pushed against his chest, no doubt feeling his reaction to her. They fell back on the bed and he broke his hold of her. She turned and reached between his legs. "Again, monsieur?" she asked coyly.
He sucked in a breath and nodded. "Always, mademoiselle." She bent down and kissed him as his hands went to the tie of her nightgown.
Another hour or two later, they were laying on the ground with the blankets twisted around their legs. Erik was bending over her with several small round fruits in his hands. "Open up and be careful. They are small. I don't want you to choke."
She opened her mouth and he let three of the red fruits drop. She moaned as she chewed. "That was good. What was that?" she asked after she swallowed. "I never had it before."
"Pomegranate," he answered.
Her eyes widened. "Pomegranate?" She smiled. "The fruit that bond Persephone to Hades forever."
"Yes, I find it quite fitting."
"Fitting? How so?"
He shook his head, not willing to answer. In his mind, she was Persephone and he was Hades. He wanted nothing more than to bond her to him forever, but, unlike the Greek myth, pomegranate did not bind her to him and he didn't want to force her. He wasn't that cruel, not anymore. Never again would he attempt to force a woman to love him. He liked to believe he learned from his mistakes of years ago. To distract her, he bent down and kissed her. She moaned into the kiss. He pulled back and ran a hand down her smooth cheek tenderly. So soft and tempting. She put Aphrodite, Hathor, Venus, and all those other goddesses of love and beauty to shame.
She smiled and stretched. "What time is it?"
"I would say it is close to four."
She groaned. "I should go. Madame Giry will be wondering where I am. She knew I didn't plan to open the bakery today."
"Yes, I should probably let her say happy birthday to the birthday girl." He stood and helped her up. "I'll help you dress," he said, knowing it would be hard for her to do it in the dark.
A few minutes later, she was dressed. She stood in front of him and gave him a smile. "I had fun today, Erik. Thank you. It was the best birthday I had in years."
"I have something for you, my dear." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the necklace he had been carrying around for months. He had been waiting for the best time give it to her. Today seemed to be the perfect time.
Her smile widened. "Really, Erik, you didn't need to."
"I know, but I wanted to."
She bit her lip in excitement. "What is it?"
"Turn around." He waited until her back was to him before placing the necklace around her neck.
Her hands went to it the moment he had it on. "Thank you so much, Erik. I may not be able to see it right now, but I know it's beautiful. I'll treasure it." She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss. "I'll return tonight," she promised before slipping out of the room.
He stared at the closed door with a heavy heart. Surely after today she knew he loved her.
Carlynda stepped out of the opera house before looking down at the necklace around her neck. Her breath got caught in her throat. The necklace was on a simple silver chain with a familiar petite emerald pedant in the shape of a teardrop. It was the necklace she had eyed months ago. The necklace that had disappeared from the jewelry shop. How did Erik…? How did he even know?
She glanced back at the opera house and let out a pleased giggle. It didn't matter. What did matter was that he noticed and that he got it for her. He must care for her. She was helping him with his loneliness, just as much as he was helping her with her loneliness. With a pleased smile, she headed off to Madame Giry's house. Thoughts of love never entered her mind.
She entered the house to find Madame Giry waiting for her in the kitchen, finishing up dinner. Meg was there, waiting for her in the sitting room.
"Carlynda!" The blonde rushed to give her a hug. "It's been so long since I saw you last!"
Carlynda smiled at the enthusiastic younger girl. "I'm sorry, Meg. I've been spending a lot of time at the bakery. Besides, I saw you only a week ago."
Meg gave her a knowing grin. "Only at the bakery?" Basically living at the opera house, she would have most certainly heard whatever rumors were there about Carlynda's relationship with Erik. Carlynda hoped Madame Giry hadn't picked up any whispers. Leaning in so her mother wouldn't hear, Meg whispered, "I know you don't go to the opera house only to visit me. You should just move in with him. It's not like you're ever home anyway. And did you know that most people believe you're married to him?"
Carlynda eyes widened. "Is that the rumor?"
Meg nodded. "I, of course, know the truth because I know you, but I didn't feel it necessary to correct them. And why wouldn't people think that. They don't know him or you all that well, if at all."
"Thank you, Meg." She prefer letting people think she was married to Erik, then them knowing what was truly going on.
Meg suddenly grinned and grabbed her arm. "But I want to know. Is he any good?"
Carlynda felt her cheeks burn red and her mouth flew opened. "Meg!"
Meg shrugged innocently. "A girl could wonder."
The conversation was thankfully put to a halt when Madame Giry came over to greet her, but that didn't stop Meg's childish giggle at Carlynda's embarrassment. However, something Meg said did catch her attention. Maybe she should move out. She could take up only so much of Madame Giry's hospitality. That wasn't the only thing that started to form in her mind. What if she hired more people at the bakery? Then she wouldn't have to be there herself all the time, giving her more time to herself or to Erik. She no longer had to worry about saving up money. She got the opera house. She could now use her money to hire people.
The idea jingled around in her mind all through her birthday dinner and her walk back to the opera house a few hours later.
This was such a sweet chapter to write!
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