Chapter Five
Christine was extremely grateful that her servants were not in today. Stumbling up the stairs as though she were tipsy, she paused at the landing to regain what she could of her breath. Her hand on her chest, she felt her heart beat madly. Mother of Mercy! In that kiss, Erik had completely exposed her soul to his view. Dazed, she wondered if her confusion and exultation could possibly match his own. For she knew that if their embrace affected her so soundly, he must be in torment. Shaking, she made for her bedroom.
Changing into a nightgown, she was very aware of the arousal of her body. She had responded wantonly to him and exulted in it. Christine was no longer an innocent maiden and had known a man's touch. But she could never have imagined the hot fever that still burned within her. Absently, her fingertips went up to her mouth which still tingled from him. She was certain that if he had chosen to take her right there in the foyer that she would have given herself gladly. What insanity was this that he ignited in her?
It was decidedly warm in her room so she opened the doors to allow the cool air in with the hopes that it would calm her. Her gas lamp flame blew in the breeze from the cold autumn air casting huge shadows along her walls. Breathing deeply, Christine strove to regain control of her body. Erik had once taught her that breathing deeply from the abdomen could calm her nerves before she went onstage. Funny that she should use the very technique he taught her to quiet her response to his kiss!
Thinking the wind was playing tricks on her, she ignored what she believed she heard from outside the balcony. It was the song that Erik had first sung to her when he revealed himself as her Angel of Music so long ago. Alertly, her head came up. No one could possibly know that song but... Rising, she ran to the balcony, heedless of the cold and peered into the darkness over the stone railing.
"Christine."
Looking below her, she saw Erik standing with his cape billowing behind him. He looked rakishly tempting standing there below her. He gazed up at her and apologized. "I did not wish to leave you that way but I feel it is somewhat safer for us to say adieu if I am down here."
She grinned, both at him and at the notion that Erik would seek safety from her.
"Now I feel like Juliet looking over shoulder in case her nurse should appear!" Christine replied laughingly. Her heart thrilled that he had returned.
Erik felt that he must surely be dreaming as he gorged himself on the sight of her. Her long hair was down, blowing in the breeze. The opaque nightgown she wore whipped around her ferociously. Such ethereal torture. "Christine, you must get inside. You'll catch a chill." he called out.
Brazenly, she retorted, "Monsieur, I could use a good chill about now, thank you." Erik's heart stopped and he had the insane urge to climb up her balcony. His thoughts made him feel foolish. Yet, she had confirmed his greatest hope to him. He had not repelled her with his ardor. The thought was heady and incited his desire anew.
"I must go." he ruefully told her. 'I must' he repeated to his disobedient body sternly. Christine decided her best response would be to remain speechless. The fact could not be denied that she did not want him to leave but to come to her and to her bed.
She continued to look down at him vaguely grasping that her toes were going to freeze but not concerned. As far below as he was from her, she could perceive the exquisite tension in his posture. She felt her insides tighten in response to his unspoken promises. No words passed between them and no words were needed.
As he had gestured to her previously, Christine placed her fingertips to her lips to blow him a kiss. Teasingly, his arm shot out to grab her kiss and he then placed his hand over his heart. The simple, yet poignant, gesture touched her deeply.
"Go inside!" he called to her, concerned about the cold but quite willing to stand there the entire night looking upon her. "I don't want to!" Christine replied. "Make me a promise and I will go in!"
"Anything." He answered, meaning it with all his heart. He knew for the first time in his life how a lovesick boy suffered as he looked up longingly at her.
"Come play for me again. Tomorrow." She was obviously shivering. Erik vacillated for mere moments before deciding her health was more important than his unease.
"Tomorrow!" he promised. Resolutely, he turned from her forcing one foot in front of the other. This time he did not look back - he could not.
Treacherously close to frostbite, Erik firmly shut the door behind him, slamming it against the bitter wind. Removing his cloak and hat, he dropped both heedlessly onto a chair. Knowing he must warm himself, he built up the fire in the hearth and exhausted, sank into his armchair. Frigid though he was, he blessed the cold that numbed him temporarily. He pulled off his wet boots and tossed them aside.
Now, he could leisurely replay each and every moment of the perfect day he had spent with his beloved. He sat with his chin in his hand and reflected. For a time, they had sincerely and easily enjoyed each other's company. He smiled at the memory of Christine's theatrics at the piano. He sobered at the fierce recollection of her body responding to him. In that moment, he could have made love to her right there. Erik knew she would have been unresisting, even willing. For those sweet, precious minutes, Christine had belonged to him. As completely as he belonged to her. His own trepidation had risen in him and he had broken their embrace. Whatever was he thinking - going with her into her home knowing they would be in complete solitude? Erik tried to get angry at the hold she still had over him and his own powerlessness over it. Oh, his fear that she would once again abandon him prodded his consciousness. Despite the danger, he knew that he was helpless against resisting her. Now that he had found her again, he was irreversibly hers. Shoving such depressing thoughts away, he determined to relive the flawless day again in his mind.
Christine was extremely grateful that her servants were not in today. Stumbling up the stairs as though she were tipsy, she paused at the landing to regain what she could of her breath. Her hand on her chest, she felt her heart beat madly. Mother of Mercy! In that kiss, Erik had completely exposed her soul to his view. Dazed, she wondered if her confusion and exultation could possibly match his own. For she knew that if their embrace affected her so soundly, he must be in torment. Shaking, she made for her bedroom.
Changing into a nightgown, she was very aware of the arousal of her body. She had responded wantonly to him and exulted in it. Christine was no longer an innocent maiden and had known a man's touch. But she could never have imagined the hot fever that still burned within her. Absently, her fingertips went up to her mouth which still tingled from him. She was certain that if he had chosen to take her right there in the foyer that she would have given herself gladly. What insanity was this that he ignited in her?
It was decidedly warm in her room so she opened the doors to allow the cool air in with the hopes that it would calm her. Her gas lamp flame blew in the breeze from the cold autumn air casting huge shadows along her walls. Breathing deeply, Christine strove to regain control of her body. Erik had once taught her that breathing deeply from the abdomen could calm her nerves before she went onstage. Funny that she should use the very technique he taught her to quiet her response to his kiss!
Thinking the wind was playing tricks on her, she ignored what she believed she heard from outside the balcony. It was the song that Erik had first sung to her when he revealed himself as her Angel of Music so long ago. Alertly, her head came up. No one could possibly know that song but... Rising, she ran to the balcony, heedless of the cold and peered into the darkness over the stone railing.
"Christine."
Looking below her, she saw Erik standing with his cape billowing behind him. He looked rakishly tempting standing there below her. He gazed up at her and apologized. "I did not wish to leave you that way but I feel it is somewhat safer for us to say adieu if I am down here."
She grinned, both at him and at the notion that Erik would seek safety from her.
"Now I feel like Juliet looking over shoulder in case her nurse should appear!" Christine replied laughingly. Her heart thrilled that he had returned.
Erik felt that he must surely be dreaming as he gorged himself on the sight of her. Her long hair was down, blowing in the breeze. The opaque nightgown she wore whipped around her ferociously. Such ethereal torture. "Christine, you must get inside. You'll catch a chill." he called out.
Brazenly, she retorted, "Monsieur, I could use a good chill about now, thank you." Erik's heart stopped and he had the insane urge to climb up her balcony. His thoughts made him feel foolish. Yet, she had confirmed his greatest hope to him. He had not repelled her with his ardor. The thought was heady and incited his desire anew.
"I must go." he ruefully told her. 'I must' he repeated to his disobedient body sternly. Christine decided her best response would be to remain speechless. The fact could not be denied that she did not want him to leave but to come to her and to her bed.
She continued to look down at him vaguely grasping that her toes were going to freeze but not concerned. As far below as he was from her, she could perceive the exquisite tension in his posture. She felt her insides tighten in response to his unspoken promises. No words passed between them and no words were needed.
As he had gestured to her previously, Christine placed her fingertips to her lips to blow him a kiss. Teasingly, his arm shot out to grab her kiss and he then placed his hand over his heart. The simple, yet poignant, gesture touched her deeply.
"Go inside!" he called to her, concerned about the cold but quite willing to stand there the entire night looking upon her. "I don't want to!" Christine replied. "Make me a promise and I will go in!"
"Anything." He answered, meaning it with all his heart. He knew for the first time in his life how a lovesick boy suffered as he looked up longingly at her.
"Come play for me again. Tomorrow." She was obviously shivering. Erik vacillated for mere moments before deciding her health was more important than his unease.
"Tomorrow!" he promised. Resolutely, he turned from her forcing one foot in front of the other. This time he did not look back - he could not.
Treacherously close to frostbite, Erik firmly shut the door behind him, slamming it against the bitter wind. Removing his cloak and hat, he dropped both heedlessly onto a chair. Knowing he must warm himself, he built up the fire in the hearth and exhausted, sank into his armchair. Frigid though he was, he blessed the cold that numbed him temporarily. He pulled off his wet boots and tossed them aside.
Now, he could leisurely replay each and every moment of the perfect day he had spent with his beloved. He sat with his chin in his hand and reflected. For a time, they had sincerely and easily enjoyed each other's company. He smiled at the memory of Christine's theatrics at the piano. He sobered at the fierce recollection of her body responding to him. In that moment, he could have made love to her right there. Erik knew she would have been unresisting, even willing. For those sweet, precious minutes, Christine had belonged to him. As completely as he belonged to her. His own trepidation had risen in him and he had broken their embrace. Whatever was he thinking - going with her into her home knowing they would be in complete solitude? Erik tried to get angry at the hold she still had over him and his own powerlessness over it. Oh, his fear that she would once again abandon him prodded his consciousness. Despite the danger, he knew that he was helpless against resisting her. Now that he had found her again, he was irreversibly hers. Shoving such depressing thoughts away, he determined to relive the flawless day again in his mind.