Hello my fellow phans. I was on vacation, and I got only ONE review! Well then, I shall have to make this story more interesting, shouldn't I? Well... I guess I should. Fine you all win. I will keep going! Please review! and enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 11 Soft Caresses

"So will she."

Erik and April looked lovingly at each other. Then they heard a little splashing and a familiar voice.

"Christine… Christine…"

All three of them looked over at the steel gate. Raoul was standing behind it, looking a little wet. "Raoul?" Christine said rather surprised. She walked to the water's edge and looked over at Erik, who was pulling the lever to open the gate.

Raoul looked uncertainly at him and slowly walked towards his wife. Erik ignored him and turned to the woman he loved. He gently ran the back of his fingers along her cheek. She closed her eyes momentarily, in contentment.

Christine and Raoul were whispering to each other, but Erik and April didn't notice.

"That is not the man I saw an hour ago," Raoul said. "He was so unfeeling and hostile… and…" Christine silenced him with her finger. "But he is gentle and loving now," she replied looking over at the other couple.

Erik was much taller than her. Now he was delicately running his fingers through her silky curls. They were staring into each other's eyes intently.

"Please forgive me for being so cruel to you," he said in a small voice. She took his hands and said, "Don't think about that. Our tempers got the worst of us."

After some silence, Christine said, "We'll leave you two in peace." She went over to Erik and hugged him once more. Then she smiled at April.

"Take the boat," he said, and then turned towards Raoul. They stared at each other for a moment, and then Erik held his hand out. He looked at it, then shook his hand. Neither of them smiled, though Christine did. Pulling the lever, Erik watched his first love leave him with the Vicount again.

The song ran through his head, as it had done the first time she left.

"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime"

"Say the word and I will follow you…"

"Share each – "

But it disappeared when he felt April's hand touch his. He turned towards her. His lips gently kissed her forehead. She noticed how carefully and kindly he was doing everything. She reached up and put her hand on his cheek, still looking into his handsome blue eyes.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. Slowly, his hands slid up and down her back. Their cheeks were touching and her lips were right next to his ear. "I love you," she whispered into it. Her voice and the feeling of her lips sent chills down his spine. She felt him shiver, and looked up at him, smiling.

He was about to kiss her but began to sing instead.

"Night-time sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination

Silently the senses abandon their defenses…

Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendor
Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender…

Turn your face away from the garish light of day
turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to the music of the night…"

They were still holding each other, but now swaying slightly as he sang. The side of her head was on his chest.

"Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before!
Close you eyes let your spirit start to soar!

And you'll live as you've never lived before
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you
Hear it, feel it secretly possess you . . ."

He was cupping her face and let his thumbs move in small circles on her cheeks. She closed her eyes loving his voice and touch.

"Open up your mind let your fantasies unwind
in this darkness that you know you cannot fight -
the darkness of the music of the night…

Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world!
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before!
Let your soul take you where you long to be!
Only then can you belong to me…"

Unable to control herself, April leaned towards him and gently pressed her lips to his. When the kiss finished and their faces were only an inch away, he resumed singing:

"Floating, falling, sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me savor each sensation"

April had reached up and put her hand on his left cheek. A slight smile appeared on his lips as he looked down at her.

"Let the dream begin let your darker side give in
to the power of the music that I write -
the power of the music of the night…"

He turned her around, so her back was to him. And he kissed her neck softly. She turned back around to face him.

"You alone can make my song take flight -
help me make the music of the night..."

He leaned towards her and kissed her passionately. Their tongues danced upon one another. Finally, they pulled away and Erik said, "Could I….?" She looked curiously at him. He struggled for the right words to say. Then he ran his hand down her bare arms lightly.

"I need to make up for what I did to you."

Shaking her head, April said, "I told you not to think about that."

"Please, I just feel like I need to show you how gentle I am."

"I know that you're gentle, Erik," she replied.

"April, please?"

He looked longingly into her eyes. She finally nodded. Smiling, he began to caress her face and neck. Her eyes closed from intoxication. Just the feeling of his strong hands against her skin made her feel like melting.

His fingers went through her hair from time to time. Then he brought his hands down from her neck, sliding them across her shoulders. By doing this, her sleeves fell off. Even with her eyes closed, April felt him move behind her. As he did this, Erik let his hands slide across her stomach.

Then he started unfastening the buttons on the back of her dress. When he finished, her dress fell to the floor. April stayed stationary wanting him to continue. She finally opened her eyes when he hadn't done anything. He was standing in front of her, just watching. She jumped, and then blinked a few times. "Don't stop," she said longingly.

He looked at her for a while, then held her as he said, "Can I have you?"

Her finger twirled an end of a lock of his thick hair. "I'm giving myself to you; body, heart and soul," she whispered. He kissed her intensely, while still being gentle.

Quickly, she took his shirt over his head. After she had done that, Erik said chuckling, "Slow down. Let me do everything." She ran her hands up and down his chest. "I can't help myself," she told him, smiling.

He picked her up slowly, and she caressed his neck. When they reached his bed, Erik placed her on the velvety soft pillows and cushions. She just laid there looking up at him. His hands touched her legs and gradually slid upwards. Breathing deeply, April closed her eyes.

He took off her panty hose and a garter. Then he carefully crawled on top of her, with his hands and knees on either side of her. She opened her eyes to see his blue ones staring back at her. He removed a stray curl from her face.

Then he leaned down and kissed her. Whilst moving down to her neck, Erik caressed her sides and stomach. This brought a few pleasured gasps to escape her kiss swollen lips. Then he stopped, and lied down next to her.

Turning her head April whispered, "Why did you stop?" He looked over at her tiredly. "We can't go as far as we did last time." She took his hand and kissed it as she cuddled towards him. They held each other for a long time.

April was moving her fingernails across Erik's chest. His chin was on top of her head of curls, and he kissed it. The side of her head was on his chest. She could hear his heartbeat and feel his chest move up and down as he breathed.

His heartbeat was at a calm rate, making her feel relaxed. She closed her eyes and rested her hand on his chest. Then she felt the distant tingle of Erik running his fingers through her hair. Moving her head a tiny bit to the side, she kissed his chest softly. His heartbeat got a little faster. She smiled with her eyes still closed. But the beating slowly went back to normal and April drifted off to sleep. A smile went across his lips, and then he, too, closed his eyes and fell asleep.

April's eyes fluttered open. She felt a warm body next to her. When she saw what she was lying on she smiled. She tilted her head upwards to see a sleeping Erik. A distant snore was deep in his throat and barely audible. Still smiling, April leaned forward and kissed him.

As she started to pull away, he must've woken up, for his lips pressed against hers. She didn't back away, of course. When he didn't let her come up for air, however, she had to push off his chest to break the kiss. Breathing heavily, she giggled. A delighted smiled appeared on his face. He loved it when she was happy, especially when he was the one who caused her to feel that way.

She looked lovingly at him with a half smile on her face. He took her hand and sat up. "April, do you love me?"

"Of course I do," she whispered, then kissed his cheek.

"Then… then will you…"

"What?" she asked gently. He took both of her hands, looking into her eyes.

"Will you marry me?"

CLIFFHANGER! maybe this will get you people to review. muwahahha. I'm so evil. sorry. I kinda had to stop right there. and this proves to you all that the story shall continue! and here is a review reply from my only reviewer for the last chapter:

Leffie: ahh! quit changing your names! lol. and thank you for being my reliable reader!

Well then... I shall go write more... oh yes, I almost forgot, I'm starting to write another phanfic. I won't post it until I'm done with this one though. can't have two stories going at once.. too hectic. well, please review!

:-) Kaitlyn