To Love a Monster

Chapter Three

XXXX

Breathing heavily against her neck, Erik slowly rolled to his side, pulling Christine with him and cradling her in his arms, not yet willing to let their bodies be parted. He knew what had just happened, he wasn't that innocent, but he was confused as to how such a thing had happened to him without the penetration he knew came with the act. Lifting his head, Erik looked down at Christine with a worshipful gaze, and brushed a sweet kiss to her lips. "Oh, Christine... how I love you..." he breathed, tears filling his eyes.

Christine burst into tears, sobbing hysterically at his declaration. She curled into herself, crying for all that she was worth. Too much had happened, and she wasn't strong enough to take it.

Erik's eyes flew wide open, and he gaped, not sure what had brought on such a display of grief. Quickly sitting up and gathering Christine into his arms, he cradled her close and stroked her hair and back. "Shhh... Christine, please... it pains me so to see you cry... what is it, my dear?"

"I've betrayed my faith," Christine whimpered. "I didn't even think! I am surely a harlot now, what you must think of me!" she cried out, sobbing.

"Christine! How could you think such a thing?" he asked, aghast. "My dear, you are an angel, I think no less of you..." he breathed, kissing her cheek sweetly. "Please, do not cry..."

Christine looked up into his face, despite the fact that her nose was red and her eyes were puffy. "How can you?" she sniffled. She pressed her face into his chest. "We... we have to move slower than that. I'm not- I'm not ready. I need time."

Erik nodded, kissing her forehead sweetly and smoothing her hair. "I'm sorry, I couldn't stop, I didn't...I didn't want to hurt you, Christine." he breathed, feeling utterly heartbroken. Gently he stood, scooping her into his arms and carrying her slowly to the bedchamber. He was gentle as he laid her on the bed and pulled the covers over her body. "Rest, my dear. I am so very sorry..." Taking a few steps back, he quickly retreated to the bathroom to clean himself up and hide from the grief he felt at causing Christine discomfort.

Christine rested in the bed, her emotional spell making her feel woozy and tired. She waited for Erik to get back, softly singing to herself as she waited.

Erik quickly slid his trousers down and cleaned himself up, flushing in embarrassment at the excessive amount of fluid he'd spilled, and he quickly realized that he'd need to change into a fresh pair of pants. Hoping that Christine had fallen asleep, he slid his trousers off completely and wrapped a towel around his waist, then slipped from the bathroom and scampered across the floor to his closet, fishing around for some clean pants to wear, not realizing that Christine was awake.

Christine flushed bright red as Erik came into the room in only a shirt and... a towel. "Erik?" she whispered, confused.

Erik jumped and looked at her with wide eyes, lips parting in shock. "Oh, I... don't look, for goodness sake Christine!" he gasped out, cheeks flaming beneath his mask. as he quickly found a pair of trousers and pulled them on beneath the towel so he was not exposed. Tossing the towel aside then, he moved to the bed, completely embarrassed. "I... I thought you would be asleep." he whispered, horridly embarrassed.

"I am not," Christine said, her voice wandering. She looked at him, trembling. Her body still longed for his, for the sensations they evoked. "I wish for you to hold me," she said quietly. "But I fear... we will lose control again."

"I promise you Christine, such a thing will never happen again." he murmured, moving to crawl into the bed. "I shall hold you, and nothing more." Gathering her close into his arms beneath the covers, he gave a happy sigh, and kissed her cheek. Of course, he could have informed her that even if she did want for them to "loose control" it would have been quite impossible as he was exhausted from his previous release, but he did not think that such a thing would be... appropriate, to say the least. "Are you comfortable?"

She snuggled closer to him, moving to rest her head on his chest and laying a hand over his heart. "Now I am," she said quietly. She tilted her head back and kissed him softly and chastely on the lips before she snuggled back into him. "I owe you two now," she said quietly.

Erik blinked down at her, eyebrows furrowing. "What do you mean?" he breathed, stroking his fingertips over her cheek sweetly.

"When I can bring myself to say it and mean it, I owe you two "I love you's." Christine said. "Tell me you love me, Erik. Speak softly to me."

Tears filled his eyes, and Erik nodded and pulled her a bit tighter into his arms. "I love you." he whispered, nuzzling her neck sweetly. "My beautiful Christine, having you here in my arms... this is a dream I never thought could possibly come true..." a tear slid down his masked cheek, and he took in a deep, shuddering breath. "You are truly an angel, to lay here with me like you are, to not fear me..."

Christine kissed him again, just as gentle and loving. "Shall we sleep?" she said.

"If you wish, then of course." he murmured, looking at her lovingly. "I.. am so very sorry, Christine." he breathed, still absolutely woeful at the pain he'd caused her with his advances.

Christine smiled into him. "I am not," she whispered quietly, more to herself than to him.

He started, shocked at her words. "But... you said it was too fast... I upset you.." he was absolutely confused, but felt a stab of fleeting hope, as well.

Christine sat up slightly, running a hand through her blonde hair with a sigh. "I am upset at the timing, Erik. Not at the act itself," she explained. "I want you, Erik. I very well may need you to survive," she blushed at her sudden outburst.

Blinking a few times in surprise, Erik's face lit up with complete joy, and he leaned in to kiss her sweetly. "Oh Christine, that is precisely how I feel for you.."

Christine leaned in, kissing him back. "You must stop kissing me before I become drunk," she said, leaning her forehead against his and smiling at him.

Laughing richly, Erik leaned back on the bed, smiling. "I cannot help it, you are a temptress." he teased, eyes twinkling with mischief.

Christine leaned over him, her hair curtaining her face. "You would have me be a drunkard then?" she asked, smiling.

"You have already turned me into one, my dear. It seems fitting that you join me." then he leaned up, sealing their lips together quite happily.

Christine cupped his face, deepening the kiss slightly, before running her fingers through his hair.

Erik contentedly returned the kiss for a few more moments, then broke it reluctantly. "You wanted to sleep." he reminded her, eyes a bit fuzzy with impending desire.

She quirked a smile. "As did you, Monsieur," she purred. Her smile faded slightly as she reached for him. "Kiss me?"

"That may be not be an entirely good idea." he warned, taking her hand in his own and bringing it to his lips. " You know how self-control eludes me, my dear." he murmured, smirking.

"Perhaps we should sleep then," she murmured back. "For it was calm your desires."

"Indeed." he breathed, leaning in to kiss her forehead. Gathering her close against his chest, he closed his eyes and tried mightily to sleep.

Christine closed her eyes to sleep, and let her hands slowly trace patterns on his chest. She wrote her name several times, almost as thought claiming him

Erik sighed softly in comfort, catching Christine hand in his own and kissing her fingertips one by one. "Sleep, my dear. You're driving me mad." he teased, voice soft and relaxed.

"Mmm, that was my intention," she hummed, grinning widely. "Goodnight." She twined her fingers with his before closing her eyes and drifting to sleep.

Chuckling, Erik let his eyes slip closed as well, and within a few moments he was sound asleep, a smile on his lips.

XXXX

Christine woke first, pleased with the feeling of warmth. In the night, Erik's hands had become more possessive. One hand slid up to rest just under her breast, the other slid down to cup the small of her back, pressing her to him. Not only that, she could feel his desire pressing into the soft of her belly. Christine opened her eyes and stared at Erik for a moment before leaning forward and kissing his lips.

Erik jerked awake at the feel of lips against his own, and melted against Christine, returning the kiss happily and giving a pleased sigh. "Good morning." he murmured, lips still against hers.

"Very good," she murmured, kissing him again, deeper still. She had dreamed of him, finished what they had not in her mind. She blushed at the thought of what had occurred in her dreams, but knew now that the decision to be with him was not for society to make, but for her.

Erik groaned softly, cupping Christine's face in his hands and returning her kisses eagerly. "What has gotten into you?" he murmured teasingly, before trailing his lips down her neck.

Christine tilted her head to the side, smiling. "A dream, a most glorious dream," she said, her body already beginning to tremble with need. She whispered his name, feeling his desire throbbing against her.

Erik smiled broadly, leaning in to kiss her passionately. "You shall have to dream more often, then." he purred, moving his hands along her back, then shyly running them over her bottom.

Christine met his kiss with her own passion, their tongues swirling and twisting. She pressed closer to him, delighted by the feel of his hand running over her.

"Christine, things will progress most quickly if we do not stop now. I am afraid I will not be able to control myself much longer." he warned, drawing back to look at her with a serious gaze. "I do not wish to frighten or hurt you. If you do not wish to.." he faltered for a moment, "to lie with me, you must put a stop to this now."

Christine sighed and nodded, moving to get up. She ran her hand through her blonde hair as she growled with frustration. "You are right. I'm sorry, I'm teasing you..."

Reaching out, he gathered her close for a moment. "When you are ready, Christine..." he left the statement open, choosing to press several loving kisses along her neck and across her jaw line. "Beautiful Christine..."

Christine turned her head so that their lips met, her hands quickly moving to cup his face. She pulled him close to her as she kissed him deeply. She felt herself begin to crawl onto the bed before she wrenched herself away with a cry, standing from the bed.

XXXX

Eeep, cliffhanger! More will be added as soon as Claire and I get off our lazy arses and write it.