-1Disclaimer: We own none of the characters from Phantom of the Opera. Author's Note: Attention Kiddies, the ending of this chapter is rated R for sexual situations. If you think your parents wouldn't approve, skip the ending. The two of us together wouldn't be able to come up with enough money to pay if someone sued us, and we warned you in the first place!

Chapter Three

Christine moved from the bed and idly scanned through their bags. She made sure Erik was in her peripheral vision, and as she saw him so dedicatedly pet Ayesha, jealousy churned in her stomach. Yes, she was his wife, but what devotion! What she would give to be in the body of that cat at times! The way he seemed to be focused only upon her when he was caressing her, the way he held her so gently... She would daresay that cat received more attention than she did!

Gently Erik scratched Ayesha behind her ears, smiling as the cat began to purr contentedly. Once he was sure the cat was completely relaxed, he laid her on the bed, and glanced to Christine. He could sense the hostility from where he sat, and he frowned. "Christine...? My dear, what is it?" Christine jumped and looked up into his eyes, and hurriedly forced herself to smile. "Whatever do you mean, my love?" she asked innocently, shrugging and once again pretending to go through their things.

Erik's eyes narrowed, and he stood with only a little difficulty to move and stand in front of her. "Something is bothering you, and I insist you tell me right now." He said gently but with a note of seriousness. "Come now, tell me what it is."

Christine huffed a few pitiful laughs and shook her head. "Erik, sit down, before you hurt yourself." She put a hand on his arm to move him back to the bed, ignoring his previous words. He'll think me a child if I tell him of how I envy her.

Erik refused to move back, and an edge of danger crept up. Reaching out, he grasped her face and tilted it up, bringing himself against her and lowering his face so his lips were only inches away from hers. "Tell me what it is, Christine." He commanded, his voice developing a bit of an edge. Why won't she talk to me...?

Christine raised an eyebrow, as if taunting him to make her tell him, but she shook her head. Grasping his hands, she pulled him forward and persisted in trying to get him to the bed. "You really need your rest, mon amour," she told him for a distraction. She glared at Ayesha on the bed. Damn cat.

"Christine!" He boomed, towering over her with an extreme amount of frustration in his eyes. He had to force himself to calm then, and after a few deep breaths backed her against the wall just by advancing on her. "Stop evading my questions and tell me what it is that has you so upset or I will not sleep all night!" His eyes danced then, and he hoped he hadn't frightened her too much... I need to know what is bothering her.

Christine's heart leapt up into her throat and her face contorted in terror. "I... I was..." She stumbled foolishly on her words and looked down at the ground, knowing that if she looked into his eyes he would see her lie. "I was just thinking on how the managers kidnapped me. I fainted like an idiot." She giggled and pressed her rear against the wall, as if bracing herself.

Erik sighed. This didn't seem at all right. She had seemed so upset.. so angry... He turned away without a word, retreating to the bed and sitting on the edge. Ayesha looked up at him when he sat down and sensed he was upset, so she hopped into his lap, rubbing against his chest. Erik sighed, petting her gently, and she looked over at Christine, then put her nose in the air.

Christine watched, sure she was completely green with envy. "Argh!" she cried, and threw her hands up in the air. Realizing what she had done, she giggled fakely and moved towards the door. "I hope Nadir has tea," she said aloud, before placing her hand on the doorknob. "Would you like some tea, Erik? And shall I bring some for your queen, as well?" She nodded towards Ayesha and opened the door, walking out with frustration at the sight of Ayesha on his lap.

Erik gaped after her, and stood up, forgetting that Ayesha was on his lap and letting her hop to the floor. Quickly he moved after his wife, catching up with her in the hall.

"Christine? What on earth are you so upset about? I asked you what was wrong, and you obviously didn't want to tell me... but apparently I'm doing something wrong. My dear, you must tell me what! And what do you mean, 'my queen'?"

Christine groaned and turned to him, throwing her hands in the air and emphasizing her words with them. "Ayesha! Ayesha, Erik's little feline queen! She's given such care, I thought that maybe she would like some tea, as well. But, perhaps queens drink better things than tea!" She was seething, and her whole body shook in her fury.

Erik's eyes widened and he took a step back in light of Christine's fury, before he had to smile. "You're jealous of... of my cat?" He shook his head slowly, moving toward Christine and scooping her into his arms to carry back into the bedroom. Once inside, he sat down on the bed and held her in his lap much like he did with Ayesha. Absently he began to rub her behind her own ears and pet her down her head and back. "Christine... who have I married? Who have I made love to? Who have I worshiped since I first saw her?" He tilted her chin up, looking into her eyes. "Certainly not my cat, ange." He brushed his lips over her forehead. "Would you like me to treat you as I treat Ayesha? Shove you from my presence when I am composing? Feed you on the floor and slap you when you misbehave? Christine, my dear... you are my whole life. Ayesha is merely my pet. Never confuse the two again." He breathed, before bringing his lips against hers, still rubbing her behind her ears affectionately.

Christine smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. She pressed her upper body into him and kissed him deeper, more urgently. She noted that Erik had lifted her with ease, and she passionately hoped that it meant he was getting healthier even as they kissed. She pulled back and grinned up at him. "We have to stop because she'll claw my eyes out." She winced at the nightmare she'd had a few weeks ago. "She'll definitely try to hurt me." She pecked him on the lips and then moved from his lap, and turned to push him onto the bed.

Erik glanced over to Ayesha, who was watching them both with quite a bit of curiosity, and he stood up, striding to her and scooping her into his arms. Walking to the door and pulling it open, he sat her outside and closed the door swiftly behind himself. "Problem solved, my dear." He breathed, sweeping to the bed and climbing over her.

Christine giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck once more, and pulled his head down to meet her lips. She kissed him ardently and wrapped her legs around his middle, as well. Stupid cat actually brought us to this. She grinned into their kiss and squeezed him tighter to her.

Erik pulled his lips from hers, brushing his fingers over her cheek and smiling down at her. "Are you sufficiently reassured that I love you more than Ayesha, my dear?" He asked, placing his hands at her sides and slid then down to her hips, lowering his mouth to taste the column of her throat

. Christine released a pleased moan and smiled as she held the back of his head. "Sufficiently," she purred, and leant her head back further. All this time, she'd been jealous of Ayesha, for no reason! Well, actually, for good reason. Ayesha would be brave enough to slash her to death, and probably feel no remorse. Of course she'd feel no remorse! She's a cat! She smiled wider, realizing Ayesha was out of the room, and she could do whatever she wanted.

Erik chuckled, reaching up to brush a lock of hair from her face. His lips lowered then, and he kissed her with a bruising force, opening his mouth against hers and brushing his tongue against her lips. I could kiss her all day...

Christine sighed contentedly into their kiss, her hands moving to rest on Erik's shoulders. She trailed her right hand down his side and to his pants, but pulled back as if she'd touched a hot stove. She pulled her lips away from Erik's and stared up, flushed, into his eyes. Nadir's words were still there, in the forefront of her mind. They couldn't do this while he was still trying to recover...

Erik looked at her curiously, taking her hand in his and guiding it again to rest at his hip. "I feel fine, mon ange. I feel absolutely fine. Amazing, even." His eyes glinted dangerously as he trailed his hand up to brush from her hip up to the edge of her breast, and further to rest on her cheek. "Please don't deny me again, Christine..." He breathed, his voice almost a groan.

Christine's body screamed approval at Erik's actions, and she closed her eyes. "You must rest," she persisted, but fingered his waistband. What an evil temptation! Surely she shouldn't let him, after his head injury. What if he became dizzy? What if he had a heart attack while exerting himself so completely? She mewed, much like her feline rival, and kept her eyes closed to those puppy dog eyes Erik could so easily display.

"Please... Christine, I beg you..." Erik kissed at her chest and neck, then cheek. "I promise you, Christine... if I feel unwell I will stop... please let me love you..." His entire body was trembling with desire, and he didn't know if he could stop himself from taking advantage of his delicate wife if he didn't do something very soon.

Christine's eyes opened and she laughed in his face. "If you feel unwell, you'll stop!" She gripped his shoulders. "What's the point when you might not be able to go through with it and leave us both unsatisfied! I won't give you a reason to be so upset with yourself again." She made to slip from beneath him, but found him too heavy. She laid back and closed her eyes, taking her hands off him and resting them beside her head on the pillow.

Erik sighed heavily, and rolled from atop her laying on his side facing from her, and let her move away. "I know how I feel... and I am fine. As if nothing was ever wrong with me. I've told you before, Christine... having you with me makes me feel so much better..." His eyes slid closed with defeat, and he ran a hand over his face, squashing a rising cry of frustration. Damn my heart, damn those managers and damn me for not finding a better way to show her I am well!

Christine sighed and turned to him, propping her head up on her hand. "Erik, when you're fully healed, we can make love all the time." She blushed, but continued shyly, "Constantly, if that's your wish." She moved closer to him and nuzzled his shoulder. "You think I'm not aching with need right now? I'm only trying to look out for your best interests." She let her head rest beside his on the pillow. Knowing his pain, she turned her face toward his. "Do you want me to go?"

"Of course not!" He exclaimed, pulling Christine to him. "At least let me hold you..." He whispered, reaching down to pull the blankets around their bodies. Gently he wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling his face into her neck he placed a few gentle kisses there, before brushing his lips over hers. "I feel fully healed..." He mumbled as he burrowed his face into her hair lovingly. Christine rolled her eyes and slapped his arm playfully. "I'm sure you feel that way." She hugged him to her and breathed into his chest before accidentally saying aloud, "You'd have to prove to me you're well before I ever consider making love." Realizing her mistake, she squeezed her eyes shut tightly, willing it to stop echoing in the small room.

Erik perked up at Christine's words, and he smiled deviantly down at her. "Prove it? Ooooh... how shall I do that, my dear?" He asked, smiling so broadly now. Shall I do pushups?" He teased, smirking now with an eyebrow raised.

Christine groaned and then smiled slyly. She nodded and pointed to the floor. "Go ahead!" If he did these things now, he'd be too tired to persist with anything else! Wait, what am I saying! She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Please don't hurt yourself," she told him, and realized that perhaps a healthy amount of exercise would do him well.

Erik laughed, throwing back his head at the thought of doing pushups to prove his ability to love his wife, and smiled. "How about instead I lift you up and swing you about a bit, hmmm?" He teased as he stood, pulling Christine into his arms and twirling about with her quickly. He couldn't remember ever playing like this, even as a child... it felt good, actually. I missed so much of life...

Christine yelped but allowed herself to be pulled and twirled about. She laughed and over-dramatically twirled, and swung back to him. "So the gentleman asks the lady for a dance?" she questioned, both eyebrows raised with a playful smirk. "Ah yes! What better way to prove to me you're healthy than to polka!" She started jumping around, shouting, "1, 2, 3... 1, 2, 3!" She took his hands in encouragement for him to follow her.

Erik could only laugh as he took Christine's hands, humoring her in the strange dance and shouting the counts along with her. Swiftly he pulled her against him, leading her into a dramatic tango, providing the wordless music for the two of them with his perfectly pitched voice. After a few strokes across the floor, he spun her around and dipped her back dangerously low to the ground, then snapped her back up and continued the dance. This is what I wrote that song for... He thought to himself, recalling that night that seemed so long ago, and the fateful performance of Don Juan Triumphant... that song that eventually lead to his own demise...

Christine laughed and held on tightly to him, trusting him when he dipped her and twirled her about. She loved this. They'd never had this kind of fun before, and she reveled in the fact that he was playful in return, and seemed to have no trouble doing it. She followed Erik's confident movements, grinning up at him when she caught his eye.

Erik stalked about the small bedroom floor with Christine held tight against him, humming so sensually, and he looked down, meeting her eyes for a split second before leaning back dramatically and moving his leg in just such a way that Christine's slid around his hips in a very complex-yet well known- tango move. Their lips were inches a part, one hand holding the small of her back for balance, the other holding her hand, he held the position for a moment, then grinned and swung her out and continued to move. His mind went through other dances they could try, but couldn't really think of any other that were as wonderful as this one.

Christine felt as though she were floating. He spun her so easily, and their bodies fit together perfectly. She didn't ever want this to end, though, she knew now that they could be together all the time, this perfect sense of love would never end. She reached up during the dance and touched his mask lightly, fingering it as she held Erik's gaze, posing a silent question she dared not ask aloud for fear of ruining his good mood and their wonderful dance.

His answer was a brief nod, before he spun her around and executed the most romantic of the dance moves. Twirling her out, he pulled her in with such a way that her back was against his front, his hand still holding hers, and his arm was drawn around her middle. He held still then, using his free hand to tilt her face up and back to look into his eyes.

Christine bit her lip as she smiled, looking up into his beautiful eyes. This was such a magical interlude, and she could see in the depths of his eyes that they had many more times like this to come. She brought one hand up to the side of his face, leaning her back against his chest.

Erik only smiled, guiding her hand to the ties of his mask. He then rested his hand on her cheek again, stroking over her soft skin and feeling his heart racing, not in fear of her reaction to his face, or in any form of exhaustion or pain... just in joy and love... and excitement of being so close to Christine.

Christine turned and pressed her chest to his as she untied the mask and let it slip to the floor. She tilted her head up and captured his lips, pressing herself against him and entwining her fingers in his hair.

Erik gasped against her lips, resting his hands on her sides and kissing her back sweetly. All dancing was lost from his mind at the feel of her pressed against him, and her soft hands in his hair. His hands stroked up and down her back, caressing each of her feminine curves and he nearly purred into their kiss, a feeling of extreme bliss coming over him.

Christine smiled and pulled back from their kiss, looking up into his eyes innocently. "Are you sure you're... feeling better?" she questioned, idly tracing her hand down his chest and watching it as she did.

Erik's heart, if at all possible, began beating even faster, and he grinned all-too broadly. "Yes, incredibly, positively and totally sure." He breathed, his face mere inches from hers. "I've never felt better, in fact."

Christine nodded. "I knew you'd say that! So this would be the perfect time for rest, right?" She turned and hopped onto the bed, and spread out her arms and legs, into a X. She winked at him and then closed her eyes, pretending to "rest."

Erik growled, stalking toward her slowly. So she wants to play? He leapt atop her, splaying his fingers over her sides and beginning to give her the most thorough tickling she had ever had, as only a Phantom could do. "How are you resting now, my dear?"

Christine gasped and choked immediately. She squealed and blindly slapped at him. "Erik! Erik... s-stop!" She giggled uncontrollably and tried to push his hands off her waist. "Erik!" she screeched, beginning to guffaw.

Erik laughed at her squirming, and finally took pity on her and removed his hands, choosing to instead let them trace up and down her sides, over her arms, and they rested then on her cheeks. "Oh... my Christine..." He whispered, lowering his lips to her forehead. He placed a reverent kiss there, before moving his lips down to rest against her collarbone. Cautiously he moved the strap of her gown from her shoulder, displaying her creamy white skin to his gaze. He trailed a slow line of kisses and nibbles across her shoulder, moving back and up her neck, tracing her skin with his tongue as he reached her lips and kissed her tenderly.

Christine moaned and looked up into his eyes. "Erik... You're so good." She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you so much, do you know that? Every moment I think of how lucky I am to be your wife." She kissed him deeply and then touched their foreheads together. "You're the only person I think I could have this much fun with."

Erik smiled fondly down at Christine, caressing her cheek lovingly. "And you, Christine... are the only person I've ever really had fun with." He chuckled at the thought, before cautiously moving his hands to the back of her dress, meeting her eyes and asking silently for permission.

Christine raised an eyebrow and grinned. "What's going to happen if I refuse?" she questioned bravely, trailing her fingers down his back teasingly. He chuckled, brushing his lips over hers for a moment. "Then I go lay on my side of the bed and leave you lay there to stew in your own private underworld of discomfort when your relief is so close, and yet so very..." A warm kiss to her neck, "very..." another kiss, a bit lower along her sternum, "very far away..."

Christine purred and grinned. "Oh, Erik, I'm sure you wouldn't last long laying there by yourself." Her fingers ghosted across the back of his neck, and she leaned her head up to kiss his jaw line. "Would you?" With a boldness she hadn't felt in her lifetime, she moved her hips against him and smiled. "No, I don't think you would."

Erik groaned then, grasping the clasps of her dress and undoing them as swiftly as he could manage, his usually deft fingers now completely clumsy and useless. Once the dress was unclasped, he gently began to pull it from her sighing at the corset that lie beneath. "I've never much cared for these." He said, brow furrowing as he plucked at it. He glanced up at her then, moving his lips over hers and kissing her strongly, showing his deep desire for her at this moment.

Christine lifted and helped him to remove the corset. "Free at last," she spoke, smiling up at him. She stretched in his face and wiggled underneath him tauntingly before grabbing the waistband of his pants.

Erik whimpered, looking down at her face with such love in his eyes as his hands reverently traced her body, starting at her feet and moving up her legs and hips, then sides. He bent his head, brushing his lips over her neck and chest, then over her stomach, trying to remember how to breathe. At the feel of her hands on the waistband of his pants, he smiled up at her, and helped to remove them. Once they had been tossed to the floor, He worked off his suit jacket and began to unbutton his stiff white shirt.
br Christine, in her big hurry to see all of Erik's sinewy goodness, tore the shirt, the buttons popping off and into her face. One hit her in the upper cheek, just underneath her eye, and she yelped in pain. "Ouch!" Her hands flew up to the welt and she looked helplessly up at her husband.

Erik chuckled, reaching out to move her hands away and examine the spot beneath her eye. "You're lucky it missed your eye, my dear." He said softly, kissing the wound lovingly. "Are you okay?"

"No," Christine said pitifully. "It hurts!" She turned her head away from him as she cradled her cheek, eyebrows furrowing as she pouted prettily.

Erik smiled, taking her chin gently in his hand and turning her face to look at him again. "Let me make you forget about the pain." He whispered seductively, kissing the pout from her lips.

Christine responded fully, and kissed him back with fearsome passion. Ironic how I should be saying that to him, she thought idly. She wrapped her arms around him under his arms, and squeezed his upper body to hers enticingly.

Erik moaned softly at the feel of her bare skin against his, and he quickly shed the button-less shirt from his back, tossing it absently to the side and pressing his entire body tightly against Christine's. "Oohh... Christine... how I love you..." He breathed, lowering his mouth to kiss her lips, then down her neck gently.

"Oh, Erik," she moaned, craning her neck to allow him better access. She brought his head back up to hers and kissed him feverishly. She shifted herself under him, pleading for him to take her. "Please be careful," she whispered, and closed her eyes as she kissed him passionately once more.

Erik took a few steadying breaths, bringing his lips down to kiss at her chest, his questing mouth finding her breast and taking her nipple into his mouth, touching his tongue to it gently. His hands rested at her hips, and he cautiously lowered one hand, positioning himself. Glancing up at Christine's face, filled with ecstasy, Erik whimpered, and thrust within her. He cried out at the feel of her body embracing him, and he held himself within for a moment, just taking in the emotions and feelings that washed over him as he looked down at Christine, the two of them one. "I love you..." He choked out, before he began to move within her frantically.

Christine clutched his shoulders, his neck, and finally set her fingers at his upper back, digging her nails into his flesh. She cried out and tried to meet his thrusts, the coils within her winding up only to release at her pending climax. She called out his name several times, and brought his head down so that she could kiss him roughly. The black desire inside her screamed approval, and she bit his earlobe as she felt herself losing control.

Erik kissed her back with every ounce of passion he felt, moaning when she bit his ear, and began to move within her faster. His hands caressed her body, gliding over her skin as his lips moved against hers, their tongues dancing together.

A series of moans and gasps issued from the young soprano, and with one last "Erik!" she climaxed and held onto him as her body shuddered. She continued to move underneath him, begging him to join her in the bliss she felt. Her hands moved to cup his neck and she looked into his eyes as she murmured, "I love you, Erik... My God, I do!" She met his every thrust and felt herself on the edge once more.

Erik felt her body tighten around him, and he cried out, throwing his head back. He could feel himself drawing nearer and nearer to that perfect bliss that seemed so close...his eyes opened to look down into Christine's flushed face, and he licked his lips, swallowing thickly. "Mon amour..." And with one more thrust, he felt everything around him shatter. He gasped, body arching and his head flew back, moisture from his exertion flying from his hair, illuminated in the candle light. His body crumpled then, and he fell against Christine, completely spent. He curled against her, gasping for breath and trembling.

Christine accepted his heavy weight, it being somewhat comforting and feeling completely right after what they had experienced. She stroked his hair and back, breathing deeply. That had been amazing, even better than the first time, and she wondered if it would get better every time. She couldn't imagine anything much better than what had just happened. She smiled and looked down her nose at him. "Well..." she breathed, "At least I know you're getting better." She let her hands glide over his shoulders and to his face, where she caressed gently.

Erik chuckled, nodding and leaning up to kiss her softly. "Thank you, Christine... you make me feel so whole..." He mumbled, already beginning to fall asleep.

Christine sighed in happy contentment. To think this is the way I'll live the rest of my days! With that jovial thought, she drifted off to sleep as well, holding her dark angel in her arms still, and knowing she'd meet him in her dreams.

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