True to my word, I have received ten reviews, therefore here is an update. I dedicate this chapter to phantomann who has been a faithful reviewer and has to leave for nine days. So here is a chapter to make you hold on just a little longer. ;) Chapter Thirty-Two

Opera Night

Christine seemed to have a smile that lasted her all day. By the time they finished the video for the day and Antoinette took off her make-up, Christine was on cloud nine. As the saying goes, confession is good for the soul.

It seemed as if nothing could rain on her parade as she left the dark studio and out into the Paris summer. She inhaled the scent with a smile, that was when one of the people that had been present during the video ran up to her and told her that she had to go back to the hotel alone because Erik had a press conference.

Christine followed the man to a waiting car that took her from Orly to Paris.

She reached the hotel at about six when familiar face greeted her in the lobby.

He took her hand and kissed it like the first time. "Mademoiselle Daaé."

"Jacques, what are you doing here? I thought you said we wouldn't see each other again."

Jacques smiled. "I waz eenformed that 'ou weel be having dinnerrr by 'ouself to-night. I thought zat perrrhaps, I might drop by."

She hugged Jacques. "Thank you, Erik called you?"

He nodded. "I particularlee enjoy ze restaurant of zis hotel." He looped his arm and Christine took it. "Would 'ou like to come?"

Christine smiled as he led her to another part of the hotel which happened to be a five-star restaurant. Christine ate brazenly until she thought she would burst. Jacques would talk about his studies in the university and asked Christine what the United States was like because he had never been there.

Christine answered all his questions and he, in turn, would answer her's.

Around seven-thirty, they finished dinner and Jacques bid his farewell to her and she went up to her room.

Once she was in her room, she threw everything on her bed and started a hot bath when the phone in her room rang. She ran to it in her bathrobe and put the white handset to her ear. "Hello?"

"Hello, Christine," the smooth voice said.

She smiled upon recognizing his voice. "Erik."

"Are you well, my dear?"

Christine smiled. "Yes, thank you for asking. And you?"

"Restless," he said.

She could hear cars in the background and she knew that he was calling her from his limo.

"Are you tired?" he asked her.

"No," she answered earnestly, looking at the roses from the other day and smiling.

"Would you like to accompany me to the Opera?"

Christine resisted all urge to jump on the bed from excitement. "Tonight?"

"Yes, unless you are too tired to go."

"Of course not," She said smiling. "I'd love to go the Opera with you, Erik." Mainly because you'll be there.

"I took the liberty of buying a dress for you, it should be there in a couple of minutes."

Christine had a smile from ear to ear, smiling from excitement. "Oh, really?"

"Yes, I shall pick you up at eight-thirty."

"I'll be ready by then," Christine told him.

"Great, I'll see you then." Was all that Erik said before he hung up.

Christine took her bath and by the time she was out someone was at the door. Christine opened it and Louis, the concierge held a box for her. Christine thanked him and took it and put it on the bed.

She took out the dress and put it to her body. It had to be a designer name. It was just too perfect. It silky, hung over one shoulder and black. When she put it on, she loved it even more because it fit her perfectly, like it was made especially for her.

She put on eyeliner, lip gloss, a scented oil that Maria had given her that smelled of vanilla and put her hair in a sort of bun that let some curls of the day hang.

At least she had brought her black heels with her, which she was thankful for.

She was watching the busy street below her balcony when she heard someone knock on her door. She walked to it and opened it and was met with Erik's smiling gaze.

He took her hand and kissed her knuckles just as before. "Christine, you are a vision."

She smiled. "And you Erik…I don't think I've ever seen you in a tux."

Not that he looked bad in it, not at all. He looked so polish and clean and devilishly handsome. Mask free.

He extended his hand to her's. "Shall we?

The opera, she had to admit, was spectacular. They had arrived early and were directed to the best seat of Palais Garnier. The view from Box Five was stunning, she could see everything.

There were opera glasses in their box but she found no need for them. She loved everything inside, it was decorated richly with wood and golden accents. There were lights around the chandelier which accented the painted ceiling. The ceiling had watercolors and different scenery and in the middle, the centerpiece was the large chandelier.

"This place is so beautiful."

Erik answered her behind her. "Yes, it is."

She smiled as the lights flashed, the third and final warning before the opera began. She looked at her program and read over the French script. The only thing she recognized was the name of the opera, which was in Italian.

She had heard good things of the opera and was going to ask Erik if it was one of his favorite's when she felt his lips on her neck. She closed her eyes in delight as his fingers brushed the hair away from her neck and continued to kiss her bare shoulder.

She smiled softly and kissed him back when he kissed her lips. She enjoyed being with him, feeling him so close to her but there was a little part of her that nagged at her.

"Erik," she said softly. "Not that I don't enjoy this but can we do this when we're not in public?"

He felt him smile against her skin. "Afraid that you will be embarrassed again, my angel?"

She shrugged. "Only a little."

He kissed her once more and sat back in his chair, taking her hand. "You're right. I shall keep my hands to myself."

They held hands throughout the whole production, even when Christine moved up in her chair to watch the performers closely. She had seen an opera before but never like this.

The ballerinas danced with such grace and the women and men sang with perfection. It was so beautiful. She loved it. Turning from the scenery, she looked at Erik, who didn't watch the opera, but instead gazed at her. She hid her blushing cheeks, wondering how long he had been watching her.

She continued watching it, knowing that at the end of the opera Erik was going to say a few things about the mediocrity of their performance. She knew that Erik only saw the flaws of their performance. If he was watching the opera, she told herself smiling.

True to his word, he kept his hands to himself all night. That was until they reached her hotel room door. She had successfully opened the door an inch when Erik pushed her against the hallway wall and pressed his lips against her's.

After a couple of minutes, Christine pulled away to take a breath.

"Forgive me, Christine," he breathed against her. "I couldn't help myself."

Christine smiled at him and kissed him softly on the lips, showing him that he didn't need to be rough to enjoy a simple kiss.

He pulled back and looked at her shoulder as he slid the sleeve off. "Do you know what it is that you do to me?"

Christine bit her lip as he gracefully touched her other bare shoulder, it was as if her skin was tingling wherever he touched. "Christine, my Christine…" Then he kissed her again and her arms wrapped around his neck as his hands roamed up her back. At that moment she felt the zipper on the back of her dress slowly come undone.

She pulled back and placed her hands in front of him. "Erik, wait."

She looked at his face and saw his half opened eyes. Desire written all over his handsome face. His lovely blue eyes were clouded over with longing as if he were craving to have her.

"Erik, I'm sorry," she said as she gripped the doorknob. She apologized again before she shut the door.

Inside she threw her purse on the bed and leaned her back against the closed door touching her lips. She couldn't forget the lustful look in his eyes, the need, the yearning to make her his. She hated herself for leaving him like that.

But I had to, he was practically undressing me in the middle of the hallway!

She sighed thinking about what almost happened. She had never thought about it before. Was she ready? For a second she imagined being in Erik's embrace as he undressed her but dismissed it with a coy blush.

Sighing, she finished unzipping her dress and went to shower and rest for the night.

I'm a cruel little author. Muahaha, anyways (ahem) More is still to come.
Chapter Thirty-Three: Meg's Proposition