Chapter 2

May to October 1874

As the days went by, he gradually regained his strength; he was a poor patient, fretting because he was too weak to get up and do things for himself, short tempered when I refused to let him try to get up, and embarrassed I think for the things I had to do for him that he could not. Needing something to keep him occupied while he was recuperating, he started woodcarving. What he was making I wasn't sure but it kept him from fretting. At times while I was sewing and resizing one of his shirts so that I could wear it, I would catch him looking at me oddly, as if I was a puzzle he was trying to figure out.

He began asking questions about my past, why we had come to Paris and I told him of how my mother had died a slow lingering death from an illness my father was unable to do anything for, and his overwhelming grief at her passing, it was decided that we would move a continent away so he could start anew.

"I am sorry; I didn't mean to remind you of your sorrows." He said gently as I began to weep.

"It's alright, sometimes it helps to talk." I said and I smiled at him wiping my tears away. "He's happy now, he's with my mother. Caring for you took my mind off of myself and I am very grateful to you, I am just sorry you were injured."

The days passed and gradually he started getting around, weakly at first but with growing strength. Each day he would make a circuit around the chamber, building up his strength. The number of circuits he made increasing, as he grew stronger.

As the days passed our food supplies gradually dwindled. When I told him we were growing short of food, he made a map so that I could find my out and gave me a coin purse that held some money. I was pleased that he trusted me to do this chore for him.

"How long?" he asked hesitantly as he handed the purse to me, frowning slightly.

"I shouldn't be gone more than a few hours." I told him as I picked up an empty basket.

"That's not what I meant. How much longer are you going to stay?" My heart skipped, for a moment I thought that he wanted me to leave. I turned my face away so that he wouldn't see the sudden fear I knew would be written there.

"I have no place to go. I will stay until you send me away." I said in a small voice. He was quiet for a moment.

"Here you need more clothing. You cannot go around wearing my shirts all the time. Do not let anyone follow you." He said gruffly as he handed me more money and abruptly walked away.

Several hours later when I returned with the supplies and the much needed clothing, I found a change in the chamber. He had been busy while I was gone. To the left of the kitchen area there now was a section screened off from the rest of the room, his bedroom area also screened.

"You will be sleeping here from now on." He said as he led me to the area near the kitchen. Inside was the settee I had been sleeping on. It had a pale blue velvet comforter on it. Against the wall was a light oak desk and chair. On the desk was an elaborate candelabrum. More tapestries in a pale blue theme lined the walls of the cubicle and on the floor around the settee were skins of white wolves. I was at a loss for words. It was beautiful and proper yet somehow I felt as if I had lost something. How had I come to care so deeply for someone in just a few weeks? I didn't know I only knew that there was an unexplainable connection and I would stay with him for as long as he wished it.

The next few months went by in a blur. Many I nights I would lie unable to sleep and he began playing the piano at night after I retired for bed, as he played, his gentle music would lull me to sleep. It was as if he was aware of my inability to sleep and he knew his music would help.

There were times, either while we ate or while at work on our own chores that he would pause, looking at me curiously, with an unreadable expression in his eyes. I was different from anything he had experienced, someone who accepted him, as he was, flaws and all and did not flinch at the sight of his distorted face.

One night in August, as I lay sleepless, tossing and turning he began playing softly and I eventually nodded off. I don't know how long it was that I had slept before something woke me with a start. My heart was pounding as I sat listening in the silence. I lit the candle on my bedside and looked around. There on the desk sat a small mahogany music box. I got up and went to look at it. It was a delicately carved oblong shape and had beautifully painted yellow and white butterflies inlaid on the lid. I opened the box and a delicate little tuned played. There was a note inside that simply said "Thank you my angel of light" Tears came to my eyes. Closing the music box I sat it back down on the desk, I hesitated a moment. Did I dare do what I was thinking of? I had been arguing with myself about it ever since he brought me to this room. Finally, I came to a decision. Slowly I made my way to his side of the chamber and stood at the doorway of his room. He was dressed in a black velvet robe sitting at his desk doing some paperwork.

"It's beautiful Erik." I said softly. He turned to me without surprise a frown wrinkling his brow.

"Why do you stay? You know who I am, what I've done. Why?" He sincerely wanted to know, his eyes demanding the truth and not allowing me to look away.

"That person doesn't exist for me. I never knew him, the person sitting before me is the man who rescued me and gave me shelter. The man I know is kind and generous with such a sad soul. And I have come to love that man. I know that you still love her and probably always will but I hope that a small part of you has come to care for me, and perhaps I can bring you a small measure of happiness. If nothing else I can be the companion you've never had. You never need to be lonely again." I paused for a moment, what I was about to do would forever change my life, knowing it would mark me, but after months alone with him here my reputation was ruined anyway.

"There is something that I can give you that she never could or would." I said and before I could change my mind, I let my gown slide to the ground. He looked at me with a shocked and troubled expression. I suddenly felt uncertain and turned from him wrapping my arms around myself, shivering, but not from the cold.

"Unless you don't want me." I whispered. There was complete silence and I was about to flee from the room in mortification when his warm hands gently touched my shoulders.

"How could I not want you? You are as beautiful and delicate as a butterfly. You have shown me a friendship and companionship that no one ever has before. You are the only one who looked upon my unmasked face without a hint of disgust, fear or pity. I never dared imagine someone like you existed." He turned me to him and I looked up into his eyes. "Why do you think I moved you from this room? Even that was not far enough. Do you know how many nights I poured myself into my music to take my mind off of you sleeping just on the other side of the room?" he asked softly. He put his hand to my cheek.

I slowly reached up and gently removed his mask and wig and sat them aside; he flinched slightly but then relaxed as our eyes met. I reached up and pulled his head down to me. Gently I kissed his poor misshapen face and then lightly brushed his lips with mine. He pulled back and looked at me, wonderingly. "Are you sure you want a monster such as me to touch you?" he whispered.

"You are no monster. You are the man that I love more than anything." I reached up to him and again kissed him, smiling. He pulled back again and looked at me a moment, uncertainty in his eyes but then he slowly leaned over and gently kissed me back. Hesitantly at first, his mouth open, his tongue lightly tasting my lips. I opened my mouth to his questing tongue, wrapping my arms around his neck. Finally he reached down, lifting me; he carried me to the bed. Gently he laid me down and lay down next to me, propped up on one elbow as he ran his hand down my cheek. I put my hand to his face and he captured my hand in his own and turned his face to kiss my palm. I leaned over to him and softly kissed his brow, his eyes, and the corner of his mouth. He pulled back gazing at me intently, barely contained passion smoldering in his eyes and then hungrily his mouth claimed mine, his tongue demanding entrance. My tongue greeted his and they twined together in a delicate dance of exploration. He again pulled back and stood up, his eyes slowly traveling the length of my body as he removed his robe and trousers. Suddenly embarrassed I closed my eyes and turned my face away. He returned to the bed and gently caressed my cheek, turning my face to him.

"The bold little butterfly blushes, is she sure that she wants this?" He asked softly, his hand gently playing with my curls. "If you want to change your mind, do it now before there is no turning back."

"For me there is no turning back. This is what I want." I said and then our mouths met. His hand slid down to my breast gently caressing it, thumb gently circling its tip. I gasped as it tightened under his touch, and I arched toward his caressing touch. His tongue danced with mine, my hand slid across his chest caressing him as he did me. Slowly his mouth left mine, trailing a series of small kisses and nips down my throat to the base of my neck, across my shoulder until finally his mouth found my breast, slowly tracing my nipple with his tongue then flicking it then gently sucking, his hand exploring softly down across my stomach. Warmth suffused my body and my hand echoed his, tracing down his stomach. Caressing, searching, stroking. His hand caught mine and he kissed my palm then guided it down to his hard length, wrapping my hand around it. I gently stroked its throbbing length, he hissed and muffled a groan at my touch and then his hand continued its own exploration until he found my moist warmth, his fingers stroking exploring, sending small sensations that had me gasping. Then his mouth claimed mine again, tongue demanding entrance, his hand grasping my breast, squeezing, he poised his body over mine and slid slowly in, stretching and filling me, thrusting at the resistance that met him. As he broke through, I cried out at the sharp, burning pain. He paused.

"My angel I've hurt you." He whispered sorrowfully and began to withdraw. I recovered from the momentary flash of pain and held him to me tightly.

"Just at first, it will be better now." I said as the burning slowly subsided.

"Are you sure?" He whispered, I nodded and at my insistence, we slowly began our dance. Gently rocking, thrusting, slow at first our bodies moved together. Faster and faster, the sweet heat building and building until I thought I would explode, and then finally sweet release. He paused holding my shuddering body until finally, gasping I relaxed. His mouth came down upon mine hungrily and tightly he held me to him as he renewed his efforts, plunging deeply he pulled my hips to him as he shuddered in time to the release of his seed. Finally, slowly he gently slipped from me. His breathing slowed and, still holding me, he rolled onto his side kissing me softly. I caressed his face and returned his gentle kisses. His hand roamed down and caressed my still throbbing flesh.

"Are you sure your alright." he whispered, his eyes dark with concern.

"I feel wonderful. I never imagined it would be like this." I said softly and snuggled up against him wrapping my arms around him. He gently stroked my back, kissing me softly on top of my head, his hand coming up to wrap in my curls. He pulled my face up so that he could see into my eyes. His beautiful green eyes met my gaze wonderingly.

"What you have given me… I never dreamed that anyone would welcome my touch."

"Welcome and long for, you mean everything to me." I said softly as I brushed a strand of hair from his face and then I buried my face against his chest wrapping my arm around him. Soon a growing insistence began pressing against me. Erik's hand gently slid down my back, to my hip and back up to my breast. He sat back for a moment, his eyes traveling from my face, drinking in my body as if memorizing it.

"You are amazing." He said and he reached for my lips as we again made love. At last sated, he rolled to his side; pulling me against him, he wrapped his arms around me, one hand gently cupping my breast his other beneath my sidelightly touching my stomach. He brushed my head with his lips. I fit my body against his my hand resting on his arm. It felt like I belonged here, with him holding me. Lying like this we fell asleep.

When I awoke the next morning, I found him gazing at me in wonder.

"It wasn't a dream, you are still here." He said looking at me in amazement and wonder.

"For as long as you wish." I cupped his face. "You are so beautiful." I told him as I kissed him tenderly, my hands gently tracing the deformities and then I kissed first the eye, then the cheek, the ear and back to his mouth. I lay back and smiled at him as he softly played with my hair, a growing insistence pressing against me. His hands cupped my face then gently traced down my throat, my shoulders then with his finger, he gently traced the outline of my breast, down my stomach, and then he leaned over and placed his lips at the base of my throat. I gasped at the sudden heat his touch brought on. Softly his kisses followed the path that his hands had traveled. His right hand stroked the outside of my thigh and then worked its way up the inside. His mouth following. I hissed and squirmed, pushing out to his seeking touch. He sat back, slow hunger in his eyes as he looked at me. Slowly his mouth met mine, barely touching he brushed his lips to mine, his tongue barely entering my mouth. My tongue touched his and they began a careful exploration. His fingers carefully exploring the secret places below until he had me writhing in delicious agony. Then spreading my thighs apart, he slowly slid into me, filling me. His hand slowly traveled back up to cup my breast, squeezing, rubbing as we rocked slowly at first, our movements perfectly timed. Moaning and whimpering, I wrapped my hands behind his neck. My mouth becoming more insistent, his movements increasing as the spreading warmth coursed through my body until at last clutching at him, nails biting into his back, exquisite release. Erik held me tight for a moment and then again began his movements deeper and deeper until with a gasp and a groan he filled me with his warm release. He rained kisses down my neck, across my cheek and found my mouth, holding himself deeply within until, he could no longer. We lay entwined in each other's arms Erik lightly running his fingers through my hair, occasionally kissing my forehead. Contented, I relaxed within his arms.

Much later, we finally got up and went about the business of the day. Hegave me a letter of introduction instructing his accountant to deal with me as he would with him.I was also to do the shopping while I was above. When I returned, I discovered that my things were back in his room.