Another week passed with ruthless slowness. Torn between wanting to run to
Christine and dreading that her response would destroy him, Erik suffered
intolerably. Uncertainty was the hardest penance. He was not sufficiently
assured of her affection, especially after he lost his temper in front of
her. Knowing that Christine's decision had the power to either set him
free or ruin him, Erik cursed himself for forcing her hand. Standing at his
window, he looked unseeingly at the darkness. Raking his hands through his
hair, he wished he could undo the explosion of fury he'd released in her
presence. In thinking of her calm conduct in the face of his anger,
Christine's honest remarks stung him. She had been right; regardless of
how much the memory pained him, she had been young. He had known even then
that he overwhelmed her. Desperate to make her see the man behind his
monstrous face, he had inundated her with his passionate love.
Suddenly, he understood he had fulfilled his greatest aspiration. He saw clearly that Christine had indeed seen beyond his face. It was obvious in her receptive kiss, her touch and the ease with which she looked at him. Awaiting the beginning of the week, he could only hope that she would condone his behavior. When he reminded himself of her previous choice, he felt sickened.
Dejectedly, Erik resigned himself to sleeplessness. God, how would he deal with the pain if she rejected him again? What had he done?
Appropriately, Sunday dawned dark and stormy. The light snow flurried to the ground daintily but foretold of more to come. Erik purposely did not go to the cathedral that morning. He would wait until the afternoon to call upon Christine. Disturbed by trepidation, he tried to play but even music could not console him. Before leaving to go to her, he attempted to calm his nerves by drinking a stiff brandy. Ultimately, he could wait no longer. The time had come.
After stabling his horse, Erik made his way through snow with his head down. Knowing how a criminal must feel going to his death, he walked slowly. All of a sudden, Christine's voice rang out in the stillness.
"Hello Erik! Would you mind showing yourself inside? I foolishly twisted my ankle but I'll be down momentarily." Christine stood on the balcony in her cloak looking down at him.
Immediately concerned, Erik questioned her, "What happened? Are you hurt badly?"
"No I don't believe so. Just give me a few minutes." She answered evasively.
Anxious now, Erik hurried through the door without stopping to remove his hat or cloak. He purposely climbed the stairs two at a time until he reached the top. "Christine, where are you?" he called out, unsure which room was hers.
"I'm in the last room down the hall." He could hear the angst in her voice.
Striding down the hall, he entered her room but he did not see her immediately. As the door shut behind him, he spun but stopped short at what he saw.
Christine stood beside the closed door in a very transparent, white robe that left very little to the imagination. She blushed violently while she said, "I am sorry to deceive you, Erik. But I wanted you to be aware of my answer right away."
Unbelieving, he stared at her. Her perfume reached him as he gazed at her from head to foot. Her hair was down curling riotously almost to her waist. Her gossamer robe was meant more to tantalize than to warm and the view of her body beneath it jarred him. Gradually, he became aware that she had lit candles strategically placed around her room.
He had literally walked into a seduction. His seduction.
Flabbergasted and almost light-headed with relief, Erik turned his back and walked toward her window. He needed a minute to realize that she was not injured but also that she wanted him. Leaning with both arms on the window casing, he stood stock still.
Christine incorrectly interpreted his actions to mean he was still upset with her. "Erik, please. I could not stand to exchange pleasantries with you in my parlor when I have waited the entire week to love you. I felt we had waited long enough." she entreated carefully.
Almost menacingly, he whirled and ordered brusquely, "Tell me that you want me, Christine."
"Oh, Erik, I want you so desperately.."
His eyes on her powerfully, he asked her in a low, feral tone, "Want me to do what, Christine?"
Weak from longing and his ardent stare, she implored him, "Erik, I want you to make love to me. Please..I love you." Trembling from head to foot, she waited as an eternity elapsed.
Stealthily, he came toward her with a ferocious grace which belied the throbbing desire darkening his vision. Still several paces from her, Erik paused, his eyes raping her own. So softly she could barely hear him, he murmured hypnotically, "This is the point of no return, Christine. Make your choice."
Her chin went up swiftly as she returned his stare with all her need for him shown without shame. "No, Erik. That point was passed long ago. This is merely consummation of what our hearts knew the second your hand touched mine."
His mind cleared momentarily within the clarity of her statement. A rush of the familiar fear flickered inside him and must have shown on his face. Thinking he meant to refuse her, Christine gave in to tears of pure frustration. "Erik, if you don't take me now, I will die. Must I beg you?"
Fixing his glare upon her again, he recognized the pain raging within her. Erik watched her grapple with an agony she herself had meted out to him on more than several occasions. Unable to allow it for another moment, he flew to her with a cry. Hungrily, he devoured her lips, ravishing her mouth as she held on to him for dear life. Pressing her closely to him with one strong arm, his other hand reached inside her flimsy robe and he gasped at the satin which was her skin. Longing nearly crushed him as he lifted her in his arms. Not once separating their mouths, he laid her on the bed and tore her robe from her. Smoothly, Erik gently ended their kiss and stood over her.
Christine should have been disconcerted by the forcefulness of his gaze as he looked upon her nudity, but instead, it made her despair for his touch. Refusing to be rushed, Erik stood and drank in the sight before him. In his thoughts of her, he had not imagined such splendor. Fantasy paled glaringly beside this reality. Hardly daring to believe, he went down on his knees as though it were a holy moment. Reaching out, his hand lightly grazed her from her face to her toes in one long, continuous movement. He watched in fascination as Christine gripped the bed sheets in order to remain still allowing him to continue his leisurely adoration.
Christine's breasts rose and fell in deep gasps for air but she could not get enough oxygen. If he did not kiss her soon, she would succumb to the dizziness that threatened her. As though reading her mind, Erik bent over her, slowly bringing his body to rest upon her. He had not yet removed his cloak and it covered them in a silky, black cocoon. Cautiously, Christine lifted both hands to tenderly remove his mask. Delight filled her as he permitted it. Unable to bear the fiery radiance in his dark eyes, she pulled him down to her.
Rapidly, Erik was losing control as her kiss fueled the blaze searing him. His strong hands touched her everywhere at once getting acquainted with her body intimately. Pausing his hand, uncertain, he softly touched her most sensitive area. Christine intensified their kiss silently encouraging him. Almost immediately, she quivered in ecstasy underneath his hand. As her trembling subsided, he looked down at her and spoke one word.
"Now."
In a swiftness that startled her, he had removed his clothes and lay with his skin against her. She moaned, undone, and let her head fall back. Holding her face in his hand, Erik commanded hoarsely, "Look at me." Christine obeyed and met Erik's consuming, powerful eyes. For an instant, time halted. Very slowly, almost tentatively, he began to move. Keeping his eyes locked on hers, he joined with her. Raggedly he whispered, "Christine, we truly are one at last." A great tear spilled from her eye and he caught it with his lips. For one more moment, their eyes met and every hurt, every pain, every sorrow mended as their bodies finally united the way their souls had done long ago. Unable to prolong his restraint, Erik plunged into her again and again. She sobbed his name and he was blinded by lust. Dimly, he was aware of her cries of bliss as she tightened around him. His last limit snapped as he gasped at the brilliance and drowned in her.
Screaming from the pleasure and the pain, his body shuddered violently as the demons were exorcised at last.
Christine held Erik's face to her breast as he sobbed against her skin. His cleansing tears ran down her sides, baptizing her in his forgiveness. She lovingly stroked his good cheek and instinctively let him heal. "My Angel, my Angel." she whispered repeatedly and in reply Erik tightened his arms around her. Tears wet her face as her heart attempted to comprehend the magnificence of what they had just shared. As fulfilling as their coming together had been physically, it was the merging of their souls that rocked her. Nearly a half hour later, his breathing was returning to normal and she felt him relax in exhaustion. Savoring the sweet aftermath, overwhelmed but content, they both slept holding tightly to the other.
Suddenly, he understood he had fulfilled his greatest aspiration. He saw clearly that Christine had indeed seen beyond his face. It was obvious in her receptive kiss, her touch and the ease with which she looked at him. Awaiting the beginning of the week, he could only hope that she would condone his behavior. When he reminded himself of her previous choice, he felt sickened.
Dejectedly, Erik resigned himself to sleeplessness. God, how would he deal with the pain if she rejected him again? What had he done?
Appropriately, Sunday dawned dark and stormy. The light snow flurried to the ground daintily but foretold of more to come. Erik purposely did not go to the cathedral that morning. He would wait until the afternoon to call upon Christine. Disturbed by trepidation, he tried to play but even music could not console him. Before leaving to go to her, he attempted to calm his nerves by drinking a stiff brandy. Ultimately, he could wait no longer. The time had come.
After stabling his horse, Erik made his way through snow with his head down. Knowing how a criminal must feel going to his death, he walked slowly. All of a sudden, Christine's voice rang out in the stillness.
"Hello Erik! Would you mind showing yourself inside? I foolishly twisted my ankle but I'll be down momentarily." Christine stood on the balcony in her cloak looking down at him.
Immediately concerned, Erik questioned her, "What happened? Are you hurt badly?"
"No I don't believe so. Just give me a few minutes." She answered evasively.
Anxious now, Erik hurried through the door without stopping to remove his hat or cloak. He purposely climbed the stairs two at a time until he reached the top. "Christine, where are you?" he called out, unsure which room was hers.
"I'm in the last room down the hall." He could hear the angst in her voice.
Striding down the hall, he entered her room but he did not see her immediately. As the door shut behind him, he spun but stopped short at what he saw.
Christine stood beside the closed door in a very transparent, white robe that left very little to the imagination. She blushed violently while she said, "I am sorry to deceive you, Erik. But I wanted you to be aware of my answer right away."
Unbelieving, he stared at her. Her perfume reached him as he gazed at her from head to foot. Her hair was down curling riotously almost to her waist. Her gossamer robe was meant more to tantalize than to warm and the view of her body beneath it jarred him. Gradually, he became aware that she had lit candles strategically placed around her room.
He had literally walked into a seduction. His seduction.
Flabbergasted and almost light-headed with relief, Erik turned his back and walked toward her window. He needed a minute to realize that she was not injured but also that she wanted him. Leaning with both arms on the window casing, he stood stock still.
Christine incorrectly interpreted his actions to mean he was still upset with her. "Erik, please. I could not stand to exchange pleasantries with you in my parlor when I have waited the entire week to love you. I felt we had waited long enough." she entreated carefully.
Almost menacingly, he whirled and ordered brusquely, "Tell me that you want me, Christine."
"Oh, Erik, I want you so desperately.."
His eyes on her powerfully, he asked her in a low, feral tone, "Want me to do what, Christine?"
Weak from longing and his ardent stare, she implored him, "Erik, I want you to make love to me. Please..I love you." Trembling from head to foot, she waited as an eternity elapsed.
Stealthily, he came toward her with a ferocious grace which belied the throbbing desire darkening his vision. Still several paces from her, Erik paused, his eyes raping her own. So softly she could barely hear him, he murmured hypnotically, "This is the point of no return, Christine. Make your choice."
Her chin went up swiftly as she returned his stare with all her need for him shown without shame. "No, Erik. That point was passed long ago. This is merely consummation of what our hearts knew the second your hand touched mine."
His mind cleared momentarily within the clarity of her statement. A rush of the familiar fear flickered inside him and must have shown on his face. Thinking he meant to refuse her, Christine gave in to tears of pure frustration. "Erik, if you don't take me now, I will die. Must I beg you?"
Fixing his glare upon her again, he recognized the pain raging within her. Erik watched her grapple with an agony she herself had meted out to him on more than several occasions. Unable to allow it for another moment, he flew to her with a cry. Hungrily, he devoured her lips, ravishing her mouth as she held on to him for dear life. Pressing her closely to him with one strong arm, his other hand reached inside her flimsy robe and he gasped at the satin which was her skin. Longing nearly crushed him as he lifted her in his arms. Not once separating their mouths, he laid her on the bed and tore her robe from her. Smoothly, Erik gently ended their kiss and stood over her.
Christine should have been disconcerted by the forcefulness of his gaze as he looked upon her nudity, but instead, it made her despair for his touch. Refusing to be rushed, Erik stood and drank in the sight before him. In his thoughts of her, he had not imagined such splendor. Fantasy paled glaringly beside this reality. Hardly daring to believe, he went down on his knees as though it were a holy moment. Reaching out, his hand lightly grazed her from her face to her toes in one long, continuous movement. He watched in fascination as Christine gripped the bed sheets in order to remain still allowing him to continue his leisurely adoration.
Christine's breasts rose and fell in deep gasps for air but she could not get enough oxygen. If he did not kiss her soon, she would succumb to the dizziness that threatened her. As though reading her mind, Erik bent over her, slowly bringing his body to rest upon her. He had not yet removed his cloak and it covered them in a silky, black cocoon. Cautiously, Christine lifted both hands to tenderly remove his mask. Delight filled her as he permitted it. Unable to bear the fiery radiance in his dark eyes, she pulled him down to her.
Rapidly, Erik was losing control as her kiss fueled the blaze searing him. His strong hands touched her everywhere at once getting acquainted with her body intimately. Pausing his hand, uncertain, he softly touched her most sensitive area. Christine intensified their kiss silently encouraging him. Almost immediately, she quivered in ecstasy underneath his hand. As her trembling subsided, he looked down at her and spoke one word.
"Now."
In a swiftness that startled her, he had removed his clothes and lay with his skin against her. She moaned, undone, and let her head fall back. Holding her face in his hand, Erik commanded hoarsely, "Look at me." Christine obeyed and met Erik's consuming, powerful eyes. For an instant, time halted. Very slowly, almost tentatively, he began to move. Keeping his eyes locked on hers, he joined with her. Raggedly he whispered, "Christine, we truly are one at last." A great tear spilled from her eye and he caught it with his lips. For one more moment, their eyes met and every hurt, every pain, every sorrow mended as their bodies finally united the way their souls had done long ago. Unable to prolong his restraint, Erik plunged into her again and again. She sobbed his name and he was blinded by lust. Dimly, he was aware of her cries of bliss as she tightened around him. His last limit snapped as he gasped at the brilliance and drowned in her.
Screaming from the pleasure and the pain, his body shuddered violently as the demons were exorcised at last.
Christine held Erik's face to her breast as he sobbed against her skin. His cleansing tears ran down her sides, baptizing her in his forgiveness. She lovingly stroked his good cheek and instinctively let him heal. "My Angel, my Angel." she whispered repeatedly and in reply Erik tightened his arms around her. Tears wet her face as her heart attempted to comprehend the magnificence of what they had just shared. As fulfilling as their coming together had been physically, it was the merging of their souls that rocked her. Nearly a half hour later, his breathing was returning to normal and she felt him relax in exhaustion. Savoring the sweet aftermath, overwhelmed but content, they both slept holding tightly to the other.