Chapter 5

No matter how I persuade it, slumber would not come to me. My mind raced over thoughts of Erik. He kissed me! He kissed me and didn't turn away. He must truly care, but am I worth his time? Fear overtook my mind. What if I am not good enough for him? After all, I'm just a low Ballerina, a whore in the public eye. How could I disgrace such a genius by thinking he could love someone like me? I am nothing.

The sound of raised voices snapped my mind out of it's debate. The two voices sounded familiar, but they spoke in tones I had never heard. Curiously I sat up, and concentrated on the voices.

"I Have done nothing wrong Antoinette." Erik's voice reached my ears.

"Really? You don't find kidnapping wrong?" The second voice belonged to a stern, and fierce Women, Madame Giry.

What is she doing here? My mind couldn't fathomed a reason.

"She comes and goes as she pleases, I do not keep her bound here."

"Erik, Don't lie to yourself. She comes in fear, just like Christine did." A cryptic pause followed, it seemed to last forever, until Erik's grim voice ended it's existence.

"She is not Christine, nor you." Never before had I hear his voice turn so cold and lifeless, it scares me. What could cause him speak to her like that? What had she done?

"Don't bring that up Erik." She threatened. "I had no choice, It had to be done, for Meg's sake."

"You could have told her, or even tell them!" His voice seemed to crack, as if he was holding back tears.

"Instead of denying me, not telling her about me."

"Tell her?" She practically screamed.

"Tell her that the man I married wasn't her father? That he was some disfigured freak who lives in shadows? No, my Meg deserves better than that."

Without my knowledge, somewhere in the conversation tears began to stream down my face. Little Meg! My closest friend, his daughter? I knew he was older than me, but to have a child two years my senior? Is that why he can't love me? My age?

"I...I am sorry Erik. I shouldn't have spoken like that. It's not my place." She paused.

"Would you have told her?" Erik didn't respond.

"You should get some rest. I will leave you." Erik began to sob, as does me heart, if only my body would go to him, but it won't, no matter how I will it, it stays immobile. He needs me to comfort him, yet I can not. All I can to is sit here, listening to him. I could hear his heavy steps as he made his way to his own room.

I don't know how long I sat there, unable to go to my love, wanting to, but not being able to. Finally, I was able to rise from the soft bed, and slowly walked to his door. after arguing with myself for God knows how long, I opened the door, and peered in. nothing was visible, but his white mask. As I approached him, his entire body came in view, well, what wasn't hidden under the sheets. He had taken off his usual jacket and vest, and was only wearing a shirt similar to the one I am, showing of his chest. His chest! Never have I seen a man so well sculpted before, but , then again, I have never seen a man fully. It slowly rose and fell with his peaceful slumber, making it all the more appetizing. I have never seen him so calm, and relaxed.

I stood there for what seemed like ages, just watching his chest rise and fall peacefully. With each breath, my need for him increase, till I couldn't stand the felling any longer. Slowly I sat beside him. His lips were parted, his hot breath hit my bare arm. Lightly I glided the tips of my fingers along his jaw, and over his soft lips. He roused with my touch, and opened his beautiful, mysterious eyes, and focused them on mine. His lips formed a simile beneath my fingers.

"What are you doing awake? You need your rest." I moved my finger down to the cleft of his chin.

"I couldn't sleep." He sat up, pulled the blanked away from his body, revealing his tight brown pants, and leaned over towards me.

"Would you like me to make you some tea? Or something else to help you sleep?" He asked kindly, but I shook my head, and placed my hand on his arm.

"No, I'm fine Erik, it's just... I am lonely I guess." I smiled, but I could feel my face start to blush. I turned my face away, to hide the redness, but he gently touched the bottom of my chin, and turned my face towards his.

"What's wrong?" He asked with concern. I could feel the tears start to form in my eyes.

"I heard Madame Giry." I sighed, and lowered my gaze.

"Oh." his gaze also fell to the floor.

"You were right, I am not them." Without the slightest thought, I leaned over to him and gently let my lips meet his.

" I... I... I love you Erik." I whispered to him. His eyes widened with shock. I dare say not many people have said such words to him, and none have every truly meant it like I do. I placed my hand on the back of his neck,

"I love you." I repeated, this time louder, with more passion.

"Love?" His eyes glistened with the thought of someone caring about him. I smiled, then bent to kiss him. When my lips met his, a shock pulsed through my body, making it tingle with bliss. When I pulled away from him, his eyes began to water.

"I love you too." It pained him to admit his love, but he couldn't hid it, not from me.

I lowered my face to him again, but instead of kissing him, I pulled his mask off instead. He leapt up off the bed, and and buried his face in his hands.

"Erik" I pleaded with him, but he just turned from me with shame.

"How... How could you?" He chocked out, hurt by my betrayal.

"Erik." I slowly approached him, and placed my hand on his arms.

"I love you."

I pulled his hands away from his face, and looked into the thing he hated the most, his deformed face. He tried to turn from me, but I wrapped my arms around his neck, and pulled him into me. My lips met his with a fierce passion. He tried to pull away at first, then gave into my kiss. My tongue skimmed his teeth, giving a the signal to him to open up to me. It circle his mouth wildly, as his explored mine. He ran his hands down my face, then over the sides of my chest, to my torso. With great ease, he guided me back to the the bed, and laid me down. He looked into my eyes, his tears of joy falling onto my cheek.

"How can you love someone who looks like this, a monster?" I smiled, and kissed his deform cheek, then let my lips meet every inch of his face.

"I love an amazing, beautiful man." His lips met mine once more, as I began to relief him of is apparel. His nimble fingers moved down my back, taking the shirt with them. He finished shedding my cloths, as I had him, dropping them carelessly to the floor. He placed butterfly kisses down my neck, to my heart. Oh the feeling just his kisses instilled! A feeling too great for words.

All thoughts fled when I was with him, only him and me, as one. I have dreamed about this since the moment I met him, but dreams lie. I could never have imagined it would feel like this, so heavenly pleasing, and yet, seductively painful. I know the others commit this act all the time, with so many men, but this is special, they could not feel the way I do with Erik. Not every man has as intoxicating touch as he does, as sensational aroma, as blissful movement. No, only Erik could make me feel this way, Only an angel could create such a feeling.