The reviews seem a little mixed on this story. I hope the content will improve and everyone will learn to enjoy it more; if there is an idea you have for a more interesting storyline, I can ditch this one and try to expound on ideas you may have. Let me know.
I do read my reviews and take them to heart, thank you.
I understand about the jeans. I studied a little bit on the subject, but chose to exercise my "writer's prerogative" with the use of them. I am unfamiliar with the casual dress of the 1870s and could not really find a descent source. I apologize for any mishaps with the timeline and the use of certain items that may not have existed during these times.
Disclaimer: The only things that are mine are the storyline and any characters not created by GL, SK, or ALW.
Always tell the truth and you won't have to remember what you said.
God's Best for Your Success
I Surrender All
CHAPTER 14
He needed to exercise. The weeks of no physical activity, other than walking, were taking their toll and Erik needed to keep his physical strength. He changed into a pair of jeans and a plain, white cotton shirt.
He one-handedly climbed ropes, walked balusters, did some ninja exercises and then sat down behind the stage to relax. It was 9:30 on Sunday night and everyone was gone. He removed his sweaty shirt and stretched out on the floor, looking up at the ceiling.
He was lost in thought, when he heard a sound that alerted him to someone's presence. His senses were immediately on guard and he sat up straight. He heard it again…a repetitive thumping sound that resembled a ballerina's steps.
Erik deftly and silently stood up and peered through the slit in the curtain. It was a ballerina, and not just any ballerina, but an exceptional one.
He watched, transfixed by the gracefulness and elegance of her movements. He had never witnessed such perfection, not even from Madam Giry in her earlier days. This girl…no, her figure was too curvy to be a girl…this woman was superb.
Erik was in awe of the beauty he saw fluttering across the stage. He had not even seen the woman's face, but he knew she was exquisite. Even if she resembled a cow in the face, her movements made her beautiful.
Erik was startled out of his admiring stare by her playful tone, "Are you a coward, hiding in the sanctuary of the curtain, observing my every move but not willing to make your presence known?"
The woman was astute, Erik would give her that; she had gumption as well as being the most gifted ballerina he had ever seen. Erik deemed this a good time to use the gentle prodding that Demi had given him about being more flirtatious and friendly.
"From my vantage point, it was you who disturbed me." Erik did not recognize his own voice with its playful, smiling tone. He was suddenly in a very good mood.
"Unless 'lurking' is considered an occupation…how could I possibly be disturbing you?" Karlie chided. She realized she was talking to the man who was in her room the other night; but she also knew that this man and Erik Clairvaux were the same.
Erik took a sweep of her lithe, curvaceous form and lightheartedly replied, "Believe me; there are many things about you that disturb me."
He was amused by her inimitable tenacity and sharp wit and the way she seemed to encourage verbal bartering with him. Erik found he enjoyed this. He wondered if she would be as flirtatious with him if she knew what he looked like.
Karlie enjoyed this side of him. She had witnessed the dark, brooding man whose life had been turned upside down by circumstances he had no control over; and now, she was experiencing the other side of him.
Just in case she could see him in the shadows, Erik had turned and bent down to retrieve his discarded shirt, when he stood back up and turned around; she was peering into the darkness to find him.
"Do you always keep yourself hidden, Mr. Clairvaux?" Her tone was teasing and Erik responded in turn.
"Only when I am half dressed, unmasked or there are other people in the area." Erik stated, without moving.
Karlie considered his answer, and responded with a smile, "Sooo, that means…most of the time."
"That would be correct," the melodious, disembodied voice answered.
Karlie wanted to see him again, but she did not wish to offend. He had little experience around people, and especially around women.
"Please sir, I have not had a chance to formally meet you, please forgive my impertinence and allow me to introduce myself." She pleaded.
His face was still bandaged in areas and Erik did not wish to come forward and meet her.
"I have suffered some minor injuries and must be without my mask at this time, so I will not be moving into the light; and since it seems that you know who I am, I assume you understand the reason for the mask." He stressed, leaving no room for discussion.
"Fine then, I will come to you." She chirped and stepped into the shadows. "Hello Mr. Clairvaux, I am Karlie Bordeaux, dance instructor and choreographer."
Why did that name seem so familiar? Her hand extended toward him and he finally, hesitantly, gently took it in his. Her tiny, soft hand in his was almost more than he could endure. Searing heat radiated through his body, scorching his senses with her essence. Erik had felt desire before, but nothing this wild and passionate.
He bowed over her hand, turned it over with the palm facing up, and placed a kiss on the sensitive skin of her wrist. He caught a passing whiff of vanilla and magnolia and he immediately knew this was the woman from his bed.
He should have recognized the strength in her voice; she had faced a man whom she knew nothing about, in a very compromising position, and had not panicked…Erik admired her character. He had had the same intense reaction to her that night; her curves pressed against his back and warming his neglected body.
Erik's first reaction was to make an immediate exit, his senses were already too wrapped up in this woman and he was headed for heartbreak; but he heard Demi's voice in his head, urging him to be the man he wanted so desperately to be.
"Ah, the fair maiden from my bed…tell me…did you recover from the shock of my body being next to yours?" Erik's voice was low and sexy, "I'm not sure that I have." The last phrase was whispered more for his hearing than hers.
Karlie smiled, liking the flirty side of him. When she pictured him in her mind, she did not remember his scars at all…but every other facet of his physical being was forever etched on her brain.
"I know the situation was distressing, and we both made assumptions we should not have made, but I never – at any time during our interlude – felt as if I was in danger." Karlie replied, with a smile in her tone.
The name finally registered, and realizing that this was the six-year-old girl he had watched practice and perfect her skills all those years ago, Erik swallowed hard and tried to quiet the raging fire that was coursing through his veins. His reaction to her was terrifiying.
Little did Erik know that Karlie was having much the same reaction to him. Uninhibited desire raced through her, making her knees go weak and her heartbeat speed up. His hand was so large and sheltering; and it had been so long since Karlie had felt sheltered and protected.
Erik was glad, at that moment; that he was not in the light, her searching eyes, and the questions that were sure to follow, were not something he was ready for. His inadequacies were so conspicuous when facing such perfection. He felt an immediate attraction to her, something with which Erik was not familiar…he was always so in control when it came to his heart.
He was going to lose this fight; the one he was waging against his past. He found he no longer wished to wallow in self-pity and hide in the dark. He wanted what Demi had assured him he could have; love, but she had to accept him for what he was – a scarred man with an equally scarred past, who wore a mask.
He really had no idea how to proceed from here. His knowledge on the workings of the heart was limited, to say the least; but he assumed he could learn along the way. Erik was able to realize, that what he had felt for Christine may not have been the pure "love" he had thought it was.
Karlie's quiet voice brought Erik's thoughts back to the present moment, "I never meant to refer to you as a monster, Mr. Clairvaux, I was just surprised. Forgive my abruptness and assumptions." Karlie imagined his eyes fixing on her, making her blush with their contact. "I should not say such things until I know someone."
Erik backed away from her; wishing to keep some air of mystery, "Then my suggestion would be that you get to know me; and please, call me Erik." With those words, he bowed low and silently slipped away.
OOOOOOOOOOOO
Karlie watched as he disappeared, seemingly into thin air. The air had been so electrified when he was there, and she found she missed his mysterious and sensual presence. No wonder he had been an effective and manipulative phantom in Paris, he presented an atmosphere of danger and dominance that few possessed. He must have been magnificent to behold as he enforced his will and demanded obedience.
He had certainly seemed a different man tonight, more confident and controlled. His voice alone had the power to consume her. Could she risk it? Could there actually be such a thing as love? Her father had told her it would come, but she had never actually touched it…
Could she take the chance and open herself up to the pull he had on her? He was a broken and wounded man whose mood swings were notorious; whose soul was torn by the shards of his broken heart, and whose eyes told the story of his personal misery without a word ever being spoken.
She did not like the idea of another broken heart of her own, or the insanity that went with it; but sometimes…everything you risk is worth the reward. "I'm willing to risk it Erik…are you?" Karlie thought to herself as she left the stage and headed for her room; an almost forgotten warmth was settling in her heart which assured her that she was already too far in to back out now.
OOOOOOOOOOOO
Erik could not get back to his room fast enough. His heart was pounding in his chest, his head felt like it was going to explode, and he was trembling all over.
Had he passed the test? Did she find him interesting or, at least, not uninteresting? Erik's mind was racing with his thoughts. "You have stared down some of the most wicked people and brought them to their knees with just a move of your eyes. You have killed with just the flick of your wrist. You have had dozens of people cowering to their knees at the mere sound of your voice…and yet, a meager five foot, one inch woman with ebony hair and the deepest blue eyes you have ever seen…has reduced you to a trembling idiot."
Erik closed his eyes and willed his nerves and heartbeat to calm. There was not going to be any sleep for the weary tonight; he had visions of smoky, blue eyes looking up at him with adoration and love, as he pulled her toward him and made them one.
He walked into the washroom and ran a warm bath. He needed to relax and calm his raging body and nerves. When had he lost control of his good sense?
He eased himself into the cocoon of warmth the tub offered and let a smile play across his lips. He could not remember a time when he had felt so alive. Every pore of his body was electrified and jumping…and the whole process petrified him.
Would he ever be free of his accursed, treacherous heart? Why did he close his eyes and see Christine's face fade away to another, completely different, but equally beautiful face? And why did his body bolt at the memory of the touch of a raven haired, midnight blue eyed woman who had suddenly and unexpectedly captured his used and abused heart?
Trying to get his mind to think in other directions, Erik thought about the opera house and all the wonderful improvements that had been implemented. He and Roland worked well together and Roland had earned Erik's trust…a rare and fortunate gift.
Erik decided that now would be a good time for him to consider the first opera that would be performed in the spring season. Roland had left the decision up to Erik, entirely, claiming that he did not have the knowledge to choose wisely.
Going through the many available operas in his mind, Erik considered all the strengths and weaknesses of his crew. The dancers and ballerinas were second to none, thanks to Ms. Bordeaux; and the prop designers, costume designers and other support staff were top notch.
Erik had not participated in a Mozart opera in years…hadn't even seen one performed. He sorted through them mentally and one kept popping up repeatedly… "The Magic Flute." That would be their first performance in the new and improved French Opera House.
To Be Continued…