""No, Helene, you don't mean that," he said, bowing his head against her as his fingers ran along the edge of her bodice where cloth met skin.
"Erik, I have no reason to lie to you," she told him, rising and pulling him up to face her, "and I swear now that I will never deceive you."
She found the edge of the mask and slowly eased it from his face. Then she drew off his wig.
"Tonight, Erik," she said, running her hands through his hair, "there must be nothing between us."
"Come to me, Helene. Come to me now."
The desire in his voice was heavy, almost tangible in the stillness of the room, and she wondered that she did not melt like a waxen doll in his arms.
Her gown spread out across the floor like a silk flower, his clothes tossed carelessly beside it.
They knelt facing each other in the crimson luxury of the swan bed and she let her lips wander over his chest, savoring the smooth skin beneath the dark curls.
Her palms skimmed up over his shoulders, feeling his muscles tense as she found the thick scars that crossed his back.
"Tell me what to do, Helene," he said, his voice strangely plaintive.
"Just touch me, Erik," she whispered against his ruined cheek, "just touch me."
He did as she asked, his hands seeming to envelope her entire body.
Trembling almost beyond all control, she grasped his wrist and guided his hand lower. Her moans quickly turned to hungry cries as his fingers explored her.
"Please, Erik," she pleaded him feverishly, her nails digging into his arms, "I need to feel you inside me…please."
He pushed her down against the scarlet pillows and she parted her legs beneath him, gladly accepting the crushing weight of his body on her own.
He did not enter her at first, but gently parted the soft flesh and caressed her until she screamed his name over and over, begging him for mercy.
Then, suddenly she had what she wanted as he lifted her hips and buried himself within her.
The emptiness was gone, replaced by the throbbing heat of him. She arched her body against him, encountering each thrust, trying to draw him deeper and deeper into to her.
When she opened her eyes and met his, it seemed as if the whole world was breaking around her…the shattered pieces falling away until there was nothing left but him.
She found herself resting against him and knew that she must have fainted in those last moments of passion.
He was asleep, but one of his hands lay on the curve of her inner thigh. She sighed, noticing how perfectly their bodies fit together.
So lightly, she reached up and traced the peaceful smile on his lips.
And if I let myself fall in love with him…what then?