Laughter rang out around the bedroom as Erik held her softly but firmly, her hands still held high above her head. Every now and again Christine would struggle playfully against his restraint but this only elicted an almost delighted chuckle from the man above her. Erik bent down and kissed her forehead before running his tongue to her ear and gently sucking her earlobe which caused Christine to moan audibly, a grin breaking out across Erik's features as quick as wildfire.

Next he ran his tongue to the sweet spot behind her ear and across her jawline almost perfectly. When he reached her lips he ran his tongue over her bottom lip before taking it into his mouth and sucking it gently, exchanging playful nibbles. Another moan escaped Christine's lips which caused Erik to growl softly at the rising tension between them both. Again he kissed her, the heat rising sharply between them, the air electric, raw passionate and contageous. He asked permission silently with his tongue and she gave it, accepting it fully as they continued the age old duel of dominence.

Erik's hands let go of her wrists suddenly and snaked round to the back of her head, gaining in confidence as time went on - all the time memorising every curve, every moan, every little noise which escaped her. He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes - his amber eyes mirroring her brown ones, the colour almost completely invaded by the blackness of their pupils. Both stared at each other, each still completely memorised by the other - their breathing shallow and ragid.

"I love you Christine" he whispered, almost inaudilby but Christine caught it, she would never forget it for as long as she lived. She was his as much as he was hers - she knew this now. God how could she have denied him? How could she have denied herself?

"...and I you Erik, my one, my only" came the reply. She placed a soft kiss onto his lips, carressing the marred side of his face. Erik closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of her on his face, such a soft touch which could inspire the fire within his soul like no other.

"Christine..." he hissed, as her hands moved lower down his chest which was still bare having foregoing his shirt earlier. She pushed against Erik lightly urging her to straighten up, following immediatly afterwards. Bending down slightly she ran her tongue across his chest until she reached his stomach before moving back up and around his right nipple. He let out a moan and growled once more as she continued to tease him. Her hands joined in now, she ran them softly across his stomach muscles as they contracted slightly in response to her cafeful, feather-like touches.

"Christine..." he said again, self control evapourating quickly as she continued downwards down his stomach. She reached down to the waistband of his trousers, his need for her obvious beneath the cotton. She hooked her fingers inside and pulled it slightly letting it go, slightly surprised to hear the moan that followed. She raised her eyebrow and looked up at Erik. His eyes were closed and he was biting his lip, his head back slightly, his breathing heavy - so unlike the man most other people knew.

She unbutton his trousers, letting them pool at his knees. Erik, with difficulty rose, divesting himself fully and placing them on the floor down by the side of the bed. In one fluid motion he had taken his shirt off Christine's body and both lay bare to one another. Taking his index finger he dragged it slowly across her jawline, down her neck and down between her breasts. Dipping his head he followed the patten with his tongue, repaying her favour of earlier and trying to regain some of his self control that with her seemed to evaporate immediately under her touch.

He guided her onto her back and covered her body with his, savouring the feel of her skin against his. Moving against her he could feel her need as she could feel his - both nearly at breaking point now. Erik's eyes were like wildfire, the candlelight catching them - the windows his very soul seemed aflame with love, desire and need for her.

He entered her slowly, both giving an almost startled gasp at being joined. Mind, body and soul seemed to blend together as they established a rhythm, Christine meeting each firm but gentle thrust almost perfectly. Christine wrapped her legs around him quickly and pushed him deeper, Erik growling almost primally in the back of his throat as she did so. Never had they ever felt so complete, never had they been so content as when they were one, and as he thrust into her he saw his future, his love, his life with the woman who had been waiting for so long for. A tear made its way slowly down his face, emotion getting the better of him as he contined, slow, steady, patient.

"I love you Christine" he choked out, laying his head on her shoulder as she pushed him further and further in, driving them both near crazy. "I love you" he reapeated, the words coming strained now as he drew near to oblivion. Christine's eyes were closed, her breathing shallow, moans issuing each time he thrust. She drove him deeper and cried out his name as he pushed her over the edge. With one last thrust he joined her, biting slightly into her shoulder to stop him from crying her name to the Opera House above.

"I love you" he whispered once more, tears coming fully now, hot as they trickled down his face and onto her chest. He pulled out and she pulled him up to her, holding him close and she wept - for him, for them, for all the time they had missed and all the time they still had. Sleep came quickly once more, safe in the knowledge that eternity awaited them, but even in the back of their mind they knew that they still had a long way to go before they could truely be free - neither of them could forget the shadow that hung over them - Raoul DeChagny.