This is a REAL short chapter…I'm writing a love scene as the next chapter, and I want to be able to separate that chapter from others in case people don't want to read the smut.
I'm taking my time with the next chap, which is about halfway done…so I will prolly post it today…if not today, then tomorrow…
Enjoy!
-Nico
"Christine, put that down," Erik said calmly, moving towards the woman with the fire poker in her hand.
"No!" Christine said, brandishing the poker while topless and frightened. "What happened to your face?"
"Remember, Christine, I don't want you to think I have an ulterior motive to wanting you nearby," Erik said, moving closer.
Christine backed up another step. "I remember," she said quickly. "Just tell me what the fuck is going on!"
Erik sighed. "When you are close enough to touch, this is what I look like," Erik said, gesturing to his perfectly formed face. "When you leave, it returns to as it was before."
"Excuse me?" Christine asked, lowering the poker slightly.
"Christine, put the poker down," Erik repeated.
Christine looked down at the weapon she had grabbed hastily when Erik's mask had been removed. She hadn't actually intended on harming him, but the sight of him frightened her to the point of rash decision-making.
She laid the poker on the floor and simultaneously picked up her discarded tank top, pulling it on quickly and inside-out.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner," Christine asked quietly.
Erik sighed. "I didn't want you to think that I only wanted you around because of the effect your presence has on my face," he replied.
Christine nodded. "You realize that I can't help but assume that anyway," she said.
"I understand how this seems, Christine," Erik acknowledged. "But I swear to you, on whatever soul I have, that my want of you extends further than my appearance."
Christine regarded him, moving closer, determined to inspect his now perfect face.
She stood before him, her eyes scanning the perfectly smooth surface, his noble nose, dimpled chin, thick hairline.
Both eyes were now framed by dark lashes, the blue of his eyes standing out against the darkness of his brows and hair.
He watched as Christine's hand came up timidly, resting on the newly restored check, caressing gently. Erik could not stop his eyelids from sliding closed against the sensation.
She allowed her fingertips to graze through his hair, down the back of his neck, and finally to rest on his broad, bare shoulder.
"This is a miracle," Christine said.
Erik nodded slowly. "Perhaps God saw fit to reward me…first by bringing you back into my life, and second by giving me the face you deserve to gaze upon."
"Erik," Christine breathed. "Your face was never an obstacle," she said earnestly. "You have always been beautiful to me…even in your darkest moments."
Erik's heart swelled at the confession.
In reality, he was hesitant to show her his face for two reasons…the first being Christine's assumptions, the second was a much more painful possibility…
What if he had showed her his face, only to have her fall in love with his repaired appearance…
And then what if it went back to the way it was?
"Christine," Erik rasped. "I don't know how long this will last…I don't know if…"
"Shhh…" Christine replied, pulling him down towards her. "It doesn't matter."
Kissing Erik now had an entirely different feel.
Where the mask had once bumped and rubbed her face, now Christine could feel the lushness of his lips…the fullness of his cheek…the ease of his jaw as it moved slowly against hers.
He pulled away, resting his forehead against hers, a knot thick in his throat. "Why is this happening, Christine?" He asked softly, sounding more vulnerable than she had ever heard him before. "Why now, after all this time, am I suddenly receiving everything I asked for…everything I prayed for? Why now?"
Christine shook her head against his. "I don't know, Erik." She replied honestly.
"Will it all be ripped away again?" He continued. "Is this the set up for some elaborate punishment…the likes of which I surely deserve?"
"Don't say that…don't even think it," Christine whispered.
"How could I not?" Erik asked, lifting his head and gazing down at her. "Do you realize the devastation I experienced when I lost you the last time?"
Christine bit her lip. "There is a difference this time," she said.
"What difference?"
She looked up at him, her eyes glazing with unpreventable tears. "Last time, I was never yours to lose," she said.
"And this time?" Erik asked hopefully.
Christine smiled, caressing his face once more. "This time, it would seem that I belong with you, Erik."
"How can you be sure?" He asked, tears threatening to overcome him as well.
Christine took his hand silently and led him to a mirror on the far wall of his bedroom…a mirror that had undoubtedly been shattered by a fist.
She turned him to face it, standing just behind him. "Look at what you see, Erik," she said, watching as his eyes gazed at the reflection of his faultless face. "What more proof do you need?"
He regarded her in the mirror.
"Christine," he addressed her. "Do you love me?"
Christine met his burning eyes in the reflection. "From the moment I first heard your voice," she replied.
