Silence followed, which Christine felt was awkward. Looking at him inevitably brought back memories of him from the Opera. How this man had terrified the corps de ballet, made girls and men alike scream for their lives, not coming out of rooms for days. How he had appeared in her mirror, horrifying her as well as entrancing her. All those people he had…murdered…

Christine felt a wave of nerves run through her body, and a tiny flash of doubt past over her face. How could she not have thought that this moment should have belonged to Raoul? Guilt made an angry pang in her heart. Erik watched her silently, breathing heavy.

"Is this what you want?" He rasped, his voice a lot deeper and horse than usual. "Decide, Christine, before…before…"

His last word were uttered through a kiss which Christine had pulled him passionately into. Her doubts had been floundered as soon as she heard his voice. She had waited to long for this. Erik held her tenderly, caressing her curves and pulling her in closer. He leaned forward, pushing her toward the wall. He hitched her up none to gently as she wrapped her legs around his waist, moaning little noises of pleasure as he moved his kisses down to her neck.

Being so close to her mind Erik's mind go senseless. She wanted him! She was here, giving herself to him. Never once had he pitied anyone but himself, but for this moment, he pitied any man who did not have what he had now. At this moment, he forgot his disfigurement, forgot his past and became…was it happiness? He had been right to mourn for it so, it was such an overwhelming emotion, he thought it may not be real, and this would all be just a dream. But here Christine was! She was so real, so warm to touch, so wonderfully soft. No, he was not dreaming. Dreams had been a cruel joke compared to this. Never, when he had dreamed of Christine in his arms, had he ever come close to this feeling.

Christine had her hands entangled in his hair, pulling him closer to her. She gasped at every passion filled kiss he placed on her skin, causing her skin to tingle and her body to shudder. She began to run her hand over his collar bone, and down toward his chest, where the beginning of his shirt was buttoned. She undid one timidly amidst their embrace, and began slowly removing it. She was sick with nerves, as she had never been in an embrace quite like this. At her time at the Opera, the ballet girls would talk of suitors would they would spend nights with, and give all the small details away in a proud manner. Christine had been shocked, and hoped she would never have to do things that they so proudly claimed to do. But at this moment, it all seemed so natural, and so right, that her nerves turned to impatience. When his chest was finally revealed to her, she felt a race of excitement, as what had cursed him in features had not been bestowed on his body, apart from…

She saw a long line running from inside the rest of his shirt, and across to his abdomen. She slid down the wall as he backed away slowly, once again revealing his height over her. She traced a finger across the line, feeling that it indented slightly. It shimmered lighter than the rest of his skin, and felt smooth. A scar…

Christine pushed his shirt from his shoulders, watching the magnificent body reveal to her, but as she put her arms around him, she felt the source of the brutal scar she had seen across his front. Erik let her explore his back patiently, his eyes still burning with fire and passion, her touch causing his arousal to heighten. Christine moved around him, and to her horror, saw a mass of the scars cruelly placed on his back.

"What…?" She began, tears welling in her eyes. She whispered softly, " …Oh Erik." He turned and stroked her tear away.

"It doesn't matter now. Those scars are not something I care about. Don't pity me."

That seemed more of an aggressive command than a request. He hoped to God it had not frightened her enough for her to be repulsed by his body, but his self consciousness was quickly dismissed by another loving, world altering kiss. This time he felt his urges become more desperate, and he could feel the aching desire begging to be released. He spun Christine around, so she had her back to him. He placed kisses along her shoulder, as he brought his caress over her thighs and waist. She let her head fall back on his chest, letting him explore her. She pulled an arm back to hold his face as he did so, and he placed his lips and the tip of his tongue on her finger tips.

Slowly he had made it to her ribbons on her nightgown. His fingers trembled as pulled one loose, and another…and another.

Soon her gown had fallen to the ground, and he was seeing her stood in her under garments. She looked like a goddess. Her lips were swollen and rouge from her kisses, her chest was rising and falling, and her sun kissed skin looked intoxicating in the candlelight.

This time she walked up to him, and skimmed her fingers teasingly over his body. Her hand soon stopped as she came to the edge of his trouser line. She felt that wave of nerves come over her once again. She knew what was beneath, as the young women of the corps de ballet had so graphically explained, and it scared her somewhat. What scared her was that this was Erik. A man who had watched her grow up, a man she had took comfort as a friend and guardian. This had not been betrayed, yet she had been introduced to the other side of things, to the more raw side to their feelings, that now some of her feelings where being explained.

Erik moved in for another deep kiss, and let her hand linger on his waist line. During their kiss, she grew more confident, and a little curious. Her hand moved very slowly downwards above the material, causing Erik to gasp slightly. Her hand finally found the source, and Erik moved closer to her, making his arousal painfully obvious to her.

Erik quickly spun her around once more, catching her and wrapping his powerful arms around her. He caressed her again, kissing her neck and shoulders, and letting his hand trail to her waist. He would let her know what it was like to torment.

Erik began to undo lace her bodice slowly, letting the tension overpower him. He would not let this night happen too quickly, he had waited to long for it. Both their breathing was heavy with passion and expectation. On the last ribbon, Erik's hands where trembling. The bodice finally fell away, and he went dizzy with the sight of her naked flesh. He held her waist, and then moved slowly upwards, towards her breasts. He held his breath as she moaned when he softly held her. She could feel his shaking tremendously as he now trailed his hands down towards her stomach and to her last piece of under garments. He traced the hem, as he whispered in her ear things that only she would hear, and understand. Words that would alter history if spoken aloud, words that were kept a secret in the darkest of places, hidden from all light and good, till now. Christine clung to Erik desperately. His pressed his fingers softly into her warm flesh, causing her to arch violently. She was gasping for breath, gritting her teeth slightly.

"Tell me," He whispered, his lips skimming her ear, ", tell me…that your mine!"

"I'm yours…I'm yours, I swear….oh...Erik!" She moaned, and literally dragged him on top of her on the bed. She felt his arousal pressing dangerously close to her, as the weight of his body overtook her small frame. Amidst their furious embrace, they freed themselves of their last garments of clothing. They lay for a minute, enjoying the feel of skin against skin. Their bodies were slick from the heat the evening sun had left behind, and they were heaving for breath in the intense warmth of the room.

Christine ran her hand over his face, pushing back his hair, which was clinging to his forehead. She smiled, as trembled heavy breaths escaped him. She observed his face, so passion filled and something she had seen on special occasions. It was nervousness. He had been with women before, and was a very good lover, as he had been told, yet this was Christine. This was what he lived for, and the first time with her was like facing the meaning of life. But his fear was melted away as Christine uttered words from underneath him, so loving and true.

"I love you."

Christine was sure she saw a tear fall down his cheek, and disappear into the sheets. He positioned himself over her, and stopped at her nervous expression.

"Erik…I'm…I'm scared."

He didn't reply, just smiled. She smiled back, guiding him to her entrance. After moments of hesitation, he slid into her. She cried out as he reached her barrier, pressing painfully against it. Not wanting to hurt her for long, he quickly thrust into her, breaking her quickly. She cried, clinging to his shoulders, letting tears squeeze from her eyes.

"It won't hurt for long…" He gruffed, his own passion filling his senses. Yet he ignored them for Christine, moving slowly and gently. She whimpered at his gentle thrusts for a while, her legs shaking and her arms wrapped tightly around Erik's neck as he lowered himself to her. Christine was in pain, more than she had expected. But another feeling was soothing the sharp pain inside her, a feeling that was reacting from Erik's soft thrusts. She began to let her mind concentrate on that sensuous feeling, and soon, it had blocked out all the painful sensations. She realized she was moving her hips with Erik, arching her back slightly to allow him deeper access to her. He moved more quickly in her, promising a climax that she so desperately earned for. Their moans of pleasure became louder, the light casting moving shadows against the walls, clearly visible from the outside. In their final thrusts, Erik gasped her name in her ear, and she called his into the night air. He spilt his warm seed into her, after sending her over the edge in a sea of pleasure. Erik collapsed on her, as she put her hands in his hair, curling it fondly. He rolled of her after catching his breath and lay with his arm over his eyes. He felt Christine shuffle up him and wrapping an arm around his waist, squeezing slightly. The candles burned out, as he lay for a long time awake. He sought sleep, and would not let it take him, as he feared Christine would not be here in the morning, a nightmare of pleasure and false promises. But the last thought that past his mind before he drifted into a deep sleep, was that of thanks. Thanks to the unseen power that he had cursed all his life for his deadly fate. A silent thank you he let pass over his lips, and fall into a smile.