-1Thanks everyone for all the kind reviews! Maybe soon I'll get the nerve to actually let Claire know that I've put this up here, she's so shyyyy…

Here we go, some hot EC action. Yum!

To Love a Monster

Chapter Four

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Erik looked up at Christine, eyes wide and slightly unfocused. "It happened again..." he murmured, feeling quite guilty.

Christine nodded, blushing. "Maybe I should go get undressed," she said. Her eyes widened as she rushed to correct herself. "I mean, dressed! I should go get dressed!" Quickly, she ran to the armoire, grabbed a new dress, and dashed from the room blushing. When she ran into the bathroom, she didn't hear the door bounce back open a tiny bit, but just enough so that someone might take a peek…

Erik stood slowly to smooth his clothing and make himself a bit more presentable, and he faltered when he looked to the bathroom door and saw that it was open a bit.

Don't.

But he couldn't help himself, and he slowly inched forward, peeking through the crack and watching Christine very carefully. Oh, you sick, sick man.

Christine just stood in front of the mirror for a moment and berated herself, her mouth moving without sound. Finally, she let out a frustrated sigh and roughly ran her hand through her hair. She snagged on a few knots, but the pain gave her clarity. She reached for the brush and began to pull it through her hair. It was rough at first, still angry at herself for the lack of control. Finally, she relaxed and gently ran the brush through her hair, making it shine.

Erik's fingers trembled, and he longed to take the brush from her fingers and run it through her locks himself, but he didn't dare move, or even breathe too loudly, lest she turned and caught him watching her. So beautiful...

Christine sighed, the brush against her scalp had relaxed her immensely. Putting down the brush, she pulled her hair around her neck and off her back. Reaching behind her, she began to unbutton her dress. She had to struggle a bit, arching her body into strange positions to reach the buttons between her shoulder blades.

Erik's eyes became darker as he watched Christine, enjoying the squirming of her body to reach the back of her dress. Fighting back a moan, he leaned against the doorframe for support. His lips were parted and he was breathing quickly through them, mouth going dry.

With a sigh, the dress gave way and fell to the floor about her ankles. She observed herself in the mirror for a moment, her skinny frame not requiring a corset. Her shift was flimsy and slightly see through, but her undermost garments protected her from too much exposure. She bent at the waist to pick it up, not realizing that she was giving Erik a lovely view of her backside.

Eyes flying wide open, Erik felt his trousers become painfully tight in one quick flash, and he fought to keep from making any noise as he watched her closely. If she catches you, she'll never trust you again. Guilt rose up within him, and he closed his eyes for a moment, rubbing a hand over his face. Backing up a few steps, he turned to face the wall, and let out a slow breath. "Christine, my dear? Are you almost finished?" he called, hoping his voice wasn't nearly as strained and thick as he thought it sounded.

Christine jumped, the clean dress falling from her hands. She picked it up quickly before standing, holding it to her chest. "Nearly," she called back. She quickly stepped into the dress and reached behind herself to button it. But struggle all she may, she couldn't seem to get the last couple of buttons. She bit her lip and stepped out of the bathroom. "Erik?" she asked softly. "Do you think you could... finish it?"

He jumped at the sound of Christine's voice so close, and turned to her, quickly realizing what she meant. "Oh... of course." He moved shyly behind her, and grasped her hair, moving it over her shoulder and fumbling with the small buttons, his usually dexterous fingers now clumsy and trembling. "There, how is that?"

Christine attempted to keep from trembling at Erik's fingers on her back. She was caught between disappointment and relief when he didn't unbutton her dress, but decided she wouldn't have known what to do if he had. She looked over her shoulder at him, some of her hair slipping and falling back into his hand. She smiled softly, "Wonderful, thank you."

Erik happily returned her smile, before wrapping his arms around her from behind and placing a sweet kiss at her cheek. "I suppose you want to go back now..." he murmured, disappointment tingeing his voice.

Christine tucked herself into his embrace, sighing. "I suppose I must," she said. "Everyone must be so worried." Suddenly she pulled away, "Oh no! Phillipe! He must be worried sick! Oh... he probably has half the gendarmes looking for me."

Erik went rigid. "Ah yes. Then we must return you most quickly. We would not want dear Phillipe to worry, now would we." He knew he was being childish, but he'd hoped she would ask to stay longer, or at the very least, be considerate enough not to mention the foolish Count in his presence. The very sound of that hot-blooded, spoiled fool's name sent Erik into near-insanity.

Christine turned to Erik, glaring at him. "Phillipe is a good man, just as you are. I care for him and I'd hate to worry him if it were not necessary. I am not in danger here."

"No, you are not. But he does not understand that." Moving to stand before her, Erik took Christine's hands in his own, bringing them against his chest. "He does not love you." Erik said simply. "He thinks you are beautiful and wants to lie with you, just the same as every other woman of the Populaire. I've lived here many years, Christine, and I see what happens. This is my domain, after all. He sends girls here just as he sent you, and then he comes, and seduces them, and uses this place as his own bordello. I will not have him turn you into another one of his whores!"

Christine pulled her hands away. "How dare you! I've known for Phillipe since we were children. He taught me how to play piano... he... He was always a GENTLEMAN around me, which you, monsieur cannot say the same."

"A man may act a gentleman, but that hardly means he is one. At least I have never pretended to be something I am not." Erik folded is arms across his chest, looking down at her with an arched eyebrow. "I am telling you this for your own good, I do not want you to be hurt by him, nor do I want to see your innocent beauty tainted by a spoiled, sexually-driven Count who is used to getting his way."

Christine's eyes narrowed. "You are just jealous because I think he's charming and sweet and never locked me up in a cage," Christine growled at him. "I care for him and he cares for me."
Erik smirked suddenly, a thoughtful look coming to his face. "My dear, is today Tuesday?" he asked, looking at her with intense eyes.

"Yes, why?" she asked, still glaring at him. "Would you like to lock me in a cage every day of the week?"

"No no, I just realized that I can prove to you that your beloved Count is a lying bastard." he said simply, grabbing her wrist tightly and beginning to drag her from the room and toward his gondola. "You will be quite surprised, but I assure you, what you are about to see is weekly occurrence, and he's a good enough man to pay, as well." he said simply, ushering her to sit in the gondola and beginning to poll them out of his home.

Christine clenched her teeth, crossing her arms. "If you are insinuating that Phillipe is with a... a... prostitute, I-I refuse to believe it!" she said. Her mind however, was telling her otherwise. Doubts crept in on her as she recalled the women she had met upon arriving here.

"Oh no, not a prostitute at all. One of your co-workers, actually." He looked down at her, eyebrows narrowed. "In fact, he sees you off in your dressing room every Tuesday afternoon and tells you that he has a business arrangement, gives you a kiss, then goes to this woman's room and... well, I'm sure you know what I'm alluding to without my spelling it out." They had reached the other side of the lake, and Erik helped Christine out, then continued to pull her by her wrist up the stairs, then out of the passage. "Keep quiet, unless you want me caught and hanged." he murmured softly into her ear, then continued to tug her along, through a few corridors.

Christine's eyes widened as she began to struggle against him. "No, I don't want to go up there," she whispered.

"Well, we are. What's wrong, are you afraid to see your beloved in the arms of another?" he murmured, dragging her up the stairs and down another hall. "If you're worried about this, you should see what he does every Sunday while you're at church..."

Christine pulled harder, her mouth open in shock. "No! I.. I believe you, I swear. Please, don't make me go," she whimpered. But she was no match for his strength and she found herself following him.

"You will never be completely sure that I am telling the truth unless you see." he hissed, before stopping in front of a door. All was silent within the room, and Erik put a finger to his lips, then very carefully pulled her to a linen closet just a few feet away. Closing the door once they were both inside, he pulled away a pile of towels and sheets, set them down, and moved a board. "Look." he whispered, guiding her head toward the opening. Inside was a member of the chorus, naked as the day she was born and laying alone on her small bed. "Aren't you coming to bed?" she called, and a voice that was surely very familiar to Christine called out from out of their line of vision. "In a moment, you insatiable woman, you."

The naked woman laughed and stretched out, yawning softly, then squeaked in surprise when the Patron of the Opera, the Count de Chagny, and Christine's beloved, pounced on her and began voraciously kissing down her neck and over her chest. "I'm ready for you again, ma amour." he groaned. Erik looked down at Christine, leaned close, and whispered softly into her ear. "I told you, did I not?"

Christine was shocked at the sight of Giselle, a brunette woman that had helped her out every now and then. She blushed and wondered how she was going to look the woman in the eyes ever again. She glanced at the woman's breasts and blushed again, suddenly feeling self conscious. Were hers too small? She turned her face away until... Phillipe's voice rang out. The second he came into her line of vision, she turned away, seeing all she needed to. He was only naked from the waist up, but she needn't see anymore. She heard the rest of the events, but refused to look again.

Erik put his hand on Christine's shoulder and gently helped her up, then led her from the closet. "Shall I take you to your room, or would you like to come back down with me?" he murmured, tipping her chin up.

Christine turned to him, tears in her eyes. She beat her fists against his chest, sobbing for all she was worth. "How could you do that to me? How could you show me that! Why? I hate you! I hate you..."

Erik grabbed her upper arms, holding her away from him. "I showed you that so you wouldn't continue to be lied to by him. Don't be angry with me, be angry with him, he's the one who kissed you one minute and had sex with someone else the next!" He took a deep breath, calming himself. "I know you're upset, but there is no reason to take that out on me, I was only trying to help you."

"I'm such a fool," Christine sobbed. "I thought he loved me and I-I believed him! I wanted to..." she paused, sniffling. "I wanted to love him so much. He was the last thing left of my father..."

Erik gathered her tightly into his arms, a bit nervous about being in the middle of the halls in the opera house with a wailing woman in his arms, but he tried to keep calm as he rubbed her back. "Ssshhh... I know, but your father, he's... still watching over you, and you always have your memories of him. You don't need anything more, as long as you can remember." he murmured, kissing the top of her head. "Come, you need to rest, let me take you back to my home. I'll get you something warm to drink, and you can lay down and have a good cry, you'll feel better for it." Gently, he scooped her into his arms and began to carry her down the stairs.

Christine nodded, letting herself be carried down to the boat and placed gently inside. She was tired from her outburst, and wanted nothing more than to cuddle up with Erik and go to sleep.

Gently, Erik placed Christine into the gondola, and kissed her unresisting lips briefly. "Rest, my love." he purred, then began to poll them across, singing softly to her all the way.

Christine smiled weakly at him, his voice cheering her up considerably. She softly began to harmonize with him, her high soprano soaring over his sensual tenor voice.

Reaching his home once again, Erik slowly ended their song, then lifted Christine into his arms once again and carried her to the bedroom. Gently he settled her onto the mattress, then pulled the blankets up and over her. "Do you need anything?" he asked, voice soft.

Christine leaned up, pressing a kiss against his lips. It started off as innocent, but quickly became full of passion. She pulled away, her hands still cupping his face. "I think that just about covers it."

Laughing softly, Erik settled himself to lay at Christine's side, and he leaned in quickly for another kiss. "Mmm... I think I rather needed that as well." he purred, before nuzzling her neck for a moment.

"It's not just because I'm beautiful, is it?" she asked, worriedly. "Or because of my voice?" She grasped his hands. "Please tell me you love me for more than that..."

Erik drew back to look at Christine with serious eyes. "I would love you if you were as hideous as I am, and if you could not sing a note. I love you because of who you are. Please do not ever doubt that again."

Christine smiled shakily at him, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "I think I may be falling in love with you," she whispered. She kissed him again, pulling him closer to her, seeking solace for the pain she had experienced earlier.

Erik trembled, grinning against Christine's lips and returning her kiss eagerly. "Oh, Christine..." he breathed, drawing back to look at her with teary eyes. "My angel..."

"And you, M. Phantom, are surely a devil," she whispered. "How often do you watch the chorus girl change?" she teased, a smirk tugging at her lips.

Erik turned pink. "I d-don't watch the chorus girls change!" he insisted, hoping she didn't include herself under the heading of 'chorus girl'.

Christine looked at him suspiciously. "Then what were those holes there for? Decoration?" She raised an eyebrow at him, crossing her arms.
Erik winced. "No, I.." he sighed. "How do you think I knew that the Count was being so atrocious? I've been following him, watching him. I made the hole when I first saw him go into her dressing room." he said simply. "I wanted to be sure that he was good enough for you. And sure enough, he wasn't."

Christine smiled at him, the ache she had felt before slowly dulling. "And I suppose you think you are, Maestro?" she purred. She leaned into him, her mouth inches from his. "How often have you watched me? Thought about us like this?"

Erik trembled, licking his lips. Deciding to ignore the first question, he jumped right to the second. "I... I've thought about us like this... so much, Christine." he panted, his trousers once again growing tight. "E-every night.."

"I've thought about us too," she confessed. She blushed. "Do you remember when I went to church almost every day one week?" she whispered. "I kept... having these dreams that... were so real." She blushed deeper. "The priest must have thought I was very loose."
Erik chuckled, nuzzling her neck and moving his hands to her back. "You're so beautiful Christine..." he purred, nibbling at her shoulder.

Christine leaned into him, a low hum coming out of her when he nipped at an especially sensitive spot. "And you are teasing me," she whispered. She moved her hands to his chest, lightly caressing.

Groaning, Erik nodded. "Yes, I am... what are you going to do about it?" he asked, before nibbling at her ear sensually.

Her leg came up of its own violation, wrapping around his waist. "Tell you that this may not be a very good idea," she panted, her fingers playing with the buttons on his shirt.

Erik looked down at her with a smile. "And why would you say that? Are you not enjoying yourself?" he murmured, pressing his palms to her breasts teasingly.

Christine bit her lip to avoid letting another embarrassing noise slip from her lips. Her back arched slightly before she could stop, all ready feeling her nipples begin to harden under his hands. "We should stop," she whimpered, her voice trembling.

"Why?" he countered, slipping his hands to her back and beginning to unbutton her dress. "You're enjoying this, why stop?"
"Erik," she warned, reaching behind her to still his hands. Unfortunately, the movement also brought her breasts a lot closer to Erik's face.

Moaning, Erik leaned his face down, nuzzling Christine's breasts and running his tongue over the tops of them, then dipping it down into the bodice of her dress. "Do you like this...?" he panted, glancing up at her.

Christine's hands flew to the back of Erik's head. She meant to ease him away from her body, but only managed to pull him closer. "Please," she whimpered, unsure whether she was begging him to stop or continue.

Erik lifted his head, moving his lips to Christine's and kissing her eagerly. "I-I need you.." he panted, wrapping his arms tightly around her and holding her close. "Please, Christine... let me make love to you..."

Christine shook. "I can't. My religion... if I were to.. lie with you, I would be not better than one of Phillipe's whores," she said, wincing at her own language.

Erik shook his head. "They lie with the Count for money, you would be doing so out of love... how can love be sinful?" he asked, eyes full of worship for her.

"But I have not told you yet..." she whispered. "Would you want to make love to me when you are unsure if the love is reciprocated?" she asked.

Erik faltered. "I..." Fool, she doesn't even love you, and here you are being an idiot. Moving away, he nodded. "You're right, of course. I apologize, I... became carried away." That's right, lie to her, that makes everything so much better.

Christine ached, realizing what kind of pain she had put him in. She quickly moved on top of him, kissing him deeply. She finally broke free nearly a minute later, gasping for air. She leaned her forehead into his. "You all ready own me, Erik. Voice and soul. Can you blame me for being frightened of giving you my heart as well?"

He shook his head mutely, gathering Christine tightly into his arms and closing his eyes.

"I want you," she admitted, blushing. "I want you so badly. Those dreams... of you and me... I-I..." Christine trailed off unsure how to continue.

Erik placed a finger to her lips. "Shhh... plenty of time for that when I convince you to love me." he murmured, a teasing note to his voice. "I refuse to pressure you into doing something you are not comfortable with."

Christine kissed his fingers, smiling against them. "I think that the rest of the world is missing out on you, Erik. But that is good for me, I suppose. I can keep you all to myself,"

Erik smiled broadly and kissed her forehead, closing his eyes. "Oh, Christine... I love you so much, it's almost painful." he murmured, a smile on his lips.

Christine giggled. "Or it could be the fact that I am crushing your chest," she said, referring to her position on top of him.

Erik laughed outright, nuzzling her neck a bit. "No, you are nearly weightless, my dear." he murmured, before pressing his lips to hers.

Christine lovingly caressed his mask, before slanting her mouth over his, deepening the kiss. Her fingers slipped under the bottom of the mask, meeting the rougher skin there as she cupped his face to hers.

Erik jumped, pulling back and pressing a hand to his mask to make sure it was still in place. "What are you doing?" he demanded, face burning where her fingers touched.

"Isn't it obvious?" she whispered, leaning up to run her lips over his mask. Her eyes met his again. "I'm touching you, Erik," she said.

"Don't. Not there." he said, eyes filled with tears. "You'll faint again..." His lips trembled for a moment, and he quickly looked away to compose himself.

She smiled softly at him, using his words against him. "Why? You're enjoying this, why stop?" she murmured. "I can touch it without seeing it. And soon I will be able to see it and see you..." She pressed her lips to where his mask and skin met.

Trembling, he nodded and turned back to her, letting his lips fit against hers again and guiding her hand to his mask so she continue what she had been doing.

Christine's hands lingered on his mask before she stopped, pulling away. "It seems only fair that you can touch me someplace that makes me... nervous," she said. She trembled, not quite sure of what she was doing. Her dress was loose from the few buttons Erik had managed to undo before she stopped him. She took his hand and guided it inside of her shift to cup her bare breast. Then, she gently put her fingers back under his mask, lightly caressing. "Now we both are trembling," she whispered.

Erik gasped, lips remaining parted as he looked down at Christine in wonder. She was so soft under his fingers, and he gently began to stroke her skin, brushing his fingers across her nipple and feeling a sharp answering pull between his legs. "Christine..."

Her nipple hardened under his touch and Christine closed her eyes tightly in pleasure. More of her hand slipped under the mask as she caressed his skin. "Kiss me," she said, looking at him.

He did so eagerly, pressing his lips hard against Christine's and pressing his tongue deep into her mouth with a long, sensual moan. This was more than he had ever dreamed of, to be touching her so intimately, to feel her hand on his bare face...

Christine's legs parted and she shifted so she was straddling his form. She let out a low keening sound when her aching center brushed against him intimately.

"Christine!" he cried, unable to stop himself from thrusting up at her eagerly. "Please... please, Christine..." he panted, trailing his lips down her neck. "I need you..."

Christine pulled away, blushing. She leaned in and heatedly whispered in his ear, "I like it better when you are above me."

Erik didn't need to be asked twice, he quickly flipped her over, tugged a few more buttons of her dress undone, and bared her to the waist with one tug. A groan of appreciation slid from his lips as he went for the laces to her corset, fitting himself between her legs and beginning to slowly rub himself there. "I need to see you.." he gasped out, eyes nearly black with desire.

Erik was assaulting her with sensation, she could barely breathe. She wreathed beneath him, rubbing against him teasingly. She wondered now if she could stop him from taking her fully.

Breathing heavily, Erik stared down at Christine and continued to battle with the laces of her corset, finally getting it loose enough that he could draw it off of her if he dared. Looking down at Christine with cautious eyes, a bit of clarity returned to his mind. "P-please... may I..?" he gasped, still moving his hardness against Christine, though slowly now. "Please..."

Christine could barely think straight. However, she noticed that the familiar pressure on her chest was released as Erik tugged it free from her. His question pierced through her hazy mind and she bit her lip. Trembling, she nodded.

Like a man possessed, Erik pulled the corset roughly from Christine's body and was greeted by her chemise. An audible groan of frustration flew from his lips as he encountered yet another piece of useless female clothing, and he began feeling around for the ties, breathing heavily all the while. "Three layers, my God Christine..." he grumbled, before setting his lips to her neck and nibbling softly. It was if he was running completely on some sort of male instinct-suddenly everything he should do to her was so very clear.

Christine wondered if this was what a heart attack felt like. She was gasping for breath and her whole body was alive with new sensations. She could feel his every breath, every touch... Her hands clawed at his jacket as she ripped it off of him before quickly unbuttoning his vest and slipping that off too. Compared to her tiny buttons, his clothing was easy to remove. She slipped her hands underneath the collar of his shirt and clutched at his bear back, her eyes closed in awe of sensation.

Erik groaned deeply, finally finding the laces of her chemise and undoing them with ease. "Christine... take it off, let me see you.." he begged, leaning up enough that she would be able to maneuver herself. "Oh, Christine..."

Slowly, Christine detangled herself from him. Trembling, she sat up slightly and shyly pulled away the last layer that separated his gaze from her naked breasts. Her nipples were all ready hard from both his attention to them and the cold in the air. She found herself blushing and covering herself subconsciously.

Growling, Erik grabbed her wrists and pinned them to either side of her head, looking down at her with awe-struck eyes. "So beautiful..." he purred, looking over her body, then meeting her eyes again. "You are a goddess."

Christine blushed deeper. She didn't know what she was more embarrassed about, her nakedness or her increased arousal at Erik's forcefulness. "They... aren't as big as the other girls," she whispered. "They are nothing... truly. I am no goddess."

Erik chuckled. "Oh, my dear... size has nothing to do with how lovely-" he cut off, realizing just what he was discussing with her, and flushed. Quickly he leaned down, kissing Christine's neck and upper chest, shy and unsure whether or not she would allow him to touch her bare chest.

Christine's thighs clenched in anticipation, her hands coming to rest on his neck, just above his collar. She gently curled her fingers in his hair, scratching at his scalp. A soft sort of whimper escaped her lips as her eyes closed and her brow furrowed.

Erik groaned softly as his lips moved nervously down to her breasts. Cautiously, unsure if Christine would react adversely, he took a nipple into his mouth and pressed his tongue to it. Shockwaves of pleasure flew through his body at the intimate act, and he shivered.

A soft "oh" left Christine's lips as her body rocked gently into his. The sensation of his lips on her breast was new to her, and she found she rather liked the feeling.

Lifting his head, Erik looked down at Christine sweetly. "Is this okay?" he breathed, cheeks pink.

Christine nodded mutely, gently lacing her fingers through his free hand. She was nervous about the whole act, but him being here with her, him being the one... soothed her. She closed her eyes, displaying her complete trust in the man before her as she squeezed tightly on his hand.

Erik smiled, leaning up to kiss her first, then returning his mouth to her breast and eagerly touching his hand to one, pressing his lips to the other. "Mmmm.."

She wondered if he could feel her heart in his mouth, pounding away in excitement and fear. She kept their entwined hands near her face, gently placing kisses on the back of his hand every so often. Her right leg slid around his waist to cradle him to her as her free hand cupped the back of his head to her breast.

Erik groaned, guiding Christine's fingers to his shirt as he began to pull at her dress. "Too much clothing." he panted, lips moving to her neck and ear.

Christine unbuttoned Erik's shirt quickly, glad when his hands got stuck behind his back as he struggled to remove it. She ran her hand over his bare chest, before pulling her dress back up to her waist where he had managed to inch it down before she could stop him.

Erik growled, grabbing her dress again and tugging it much more firmly. "Please, Christine... let me see you..."

"You can, I mean, you are... I am bared to the navel, isn't that enough?" she said, trying to distract him by peppering kissing across his chest.

Erik smirked, leaning down to kiss at her belly button. "And what a cute navel it is, my dear. But..." he tugged at the dress some more. "I'd like to see the rest of you, too." he breathed, looking up at her with dark eyes.

Christine trembled from the passion behind his gaze and the thought of giving into him was so tempting. Her death-grip on her dress would not match another tug from him and she was terribly and utterly... frightened.

Erik groaned, leaning up to kiss her passionately. "I will not hurt you..." he breathed, before drawing back a little and removing his shirt fully, then kicking off his shoes and slithering out of his pants. "You see? Being naked, it does not hurt anything, my dear." he breathed, flushing a bit.

Christine blushed, starting from the roots of her hair and traveling down to the edge of neckline. She had never seen a naked man before, except for the backside of Phillipe. But... this was everything. Christine closed her eyes before she got too much of an eye-full. "You are insatiable, aren't you? I've created a monster."

Erik's stomach dropped for a moment at the word 'monster', and he swallowed thickly. "I..." forcing himself to realize that she had meant no harm by the statement, Erik leaned up and kissed her fully. "Please, let me see you too..."

Christine kissed him back wholly, letting him know that she loved him. Breaking away, she stared straight at his face. "Erik," she said shakily. "I still don't think I am ready for this."

Growling softly, he began to kiss down her neck. "Sure you are..." he breathed, sliding his hands to her breasts again, then letting his mouth follow. "You want this just a little bit at least, don't you?"

Christine's hands left to clutch at his head, her leg tightening around him. She nearly got lost in sensation, but as a loud moan slipped from her lips, it broke the spell. Pulling away from him, she managed to sit up. She cupped his face, pressing her lips to his gently. "I want this more than anything in the world, Erik. But I'm not ready. And neither are you," she whispered, gently touching his mask to indicate what she meant.