There would be no sleep for me this night.
My mind and body had betrayed me completely. After nearly forty years of ruthlessly quashed desire every muscle and nerve was in rebellion. I had kissed her, held her in my arms; and her soft gasp and surrendering mouth told me I could have done more, so much more…
I stood behind the mirror in her dressing room and waited breathlessly for her to return. I knew it was foolish to seek her out and yet I had an almost visceral need to see her, to make sure that she was really mine. I had taken the Boy's ring from around her neck as we danced but I had not replaced it with my own. Her heated response to my kiss had proven that her body knew it was mine. But her heart still believed in her shining white Viscount.
I considered this as I saw her enter the room. Her Boy stood at the door but said nothing. His very silence spoke volumes, as did hers. He reached out for her hand but she did not see it. She moved to stand behind the door. There was a flash of hurt in his eyes and I suppressed a gleeful laugh.
"Goodnight." Christine said perfunctorily and closed the door, seeming eager to be alone. But then she stood, staring off into space for a long time. Was she thinking of me? Did the memory of our kiss draw that rosy blush to her cheeks? Her eyes rose to the mirror and I could see her wondering if I was behind it even now, watching her. Her hands went to the front of her costume. She loosened the buckles that held the iridescent wings in place and shrugged them off, setting them on her dressing table. The crown of roses came off next as she slowly unpinned her hair, letting the blond length fall down her back and combing through it with her fingers. The long waves curled softly around her face and caressed her breasts like a lover. Her eyes once more strayed to the mirror and the pink tinge in her cheeks was back. She reached for the fastenings on her bodice and slowly untied it, her eyes never leaving the mirror.
What is she playing at? I wondered.
Christine pushed the gold-shot garment off her shoulders, letting her fingertips glide over her collarbone and down her arms as she shrugged it off. I followed her hands with my hungry gaze. I had never done this; I had never watched her undress. I always turned away in deference to her innocence, but tonight her movements were slow and languorous. She was seducing me with her hands. She unbuttoned the skirt next and pushed it over her hips, letting the white silk pool at her feet before she stepped out of it. She drew in a long shuddering breath as she unfastened her corset and let that too drop to the floor. Finally she stood before me in nothing but her thin lawn chemise. My cock hardened as I saw her body outlined under the gauzy cloth. Did she know what she was doing to me? Her eyes were still on the mirror, daring me to watch her. Her hand went to the loose knot at her throat and untied it. The collar of her chemise opened, slipped past her shoulders and slithering over her body and onto the floor.
I feasted my eyes on her naked flesh. Her breasts were high and full, her stomach flat and her arms and legs lithely muscled from years of dancing. Her skin was creamy white, whiter than the silk at her feet and I knew it was softer as well. Her fingers trailed up her body to her breasts, tracing little circled on her nipples until they jutted out, taut and expectant.
"Erik." She murmured. For the second time that night her voice speaking my name unraveled me.
"Christine." I whispered to her. "Let me show you what to do. Let me teach you."
I ordered her to lie on the bed. She obeyed immediately, closer her eyes as her hands skimmed over her body, teasing her nipples torturously. My own body surged in response and I flung back my cloak and ran my hands over my hard length. I freed myself from the constraint of clothing and closed my hand over my cock, running my fingers down the throbbing length.
"Now move your hands lower." I ordered her. I could see her hips rising in response to the movement of her fingers. I matched the rhythm of my hand to hers. I was close, so close…my hand was moving faster and faster, plunging me into a tightening spiral of pleasure.
"Put your fingers inside yourself Christine." I said raggedly. She did so and the sight of her gratifying herself was overwhelming. I couldn't move, couldn't breath, couldn't do anything but watch her as her back arched and she came, crying out my name. I was right behind her, pleasure overtaking me. I gasped out her name but I was sure she did not hear me over her own moan. I sat for a long while, shaking as little shivers of sensation ran through me. My desire had abated but not disappeared. I longed to cross the barrier that separated us, to take her into my arms and show her what pleasure mouth and hands could give. But I had promised her tomorrow night and she deserved the time in between to decide, to be sure that she really wanted me.
And so I stood and straightened my clothes, making my way slowly back to my cold house. I shucked off my clothes and left them on the floor, falling into bed. And for the first time in years I slept peacefully.
