I'm here again! I really enjoyed writing this chapter, I hope you'll like reading it:)))
As always, thanks a lot to my beta! Hollie, I love ya:))))))
Chapter fourteen
Erik was satisfied. The opera was perfect for the opening night. Finally the orchestra played the notes correctly, the dancers didn't take wrong steps, the chorus sang clearly and even Carlotta didn't mess up her role. It was a sunny Monday so only five days were left until the gala.
"Okay, everyone" Erik said. "First I'd like to congratulate, you all did an excellent job with this opera."
The cast cheered and not just because finally they had learnt their roles but because it was a rare thing to hear a compliment from the always-strict director.
And because of this" Erik continued "I'll give you this afternoon free. Enjoy your day and have a rest!"
Erik didn't have to tell this twice, within minutes the stage was empty. Only Nadir stayed.
"You too Nadir, go home or watch a movie or whatever."
"No Erik" Nadir said "we should talk."
"Say it" Erik said indifferently packing his things into his bag.
"How are you and Christine doing?"
"We're doing fine, Daddy" Erik answered mockingly.
"Erik don't play with me" Nadir warned. "I'm not blind. Something is not good between you too. And I'm just trying to help."
"I can assure you Nadir, we're happy together."
"Erik, I'm not fool. I've known you for ages I can tell that something is bothering you. Sometimes during the rehearsals you just stare into the nothingness. And recently you didn't spend as much time with Christine as before."
"Oh and how do you know that?" Erik snapped but seeing Nadir's expression he just sighed and sat down.
"Okay, you won" Erik said. "I don't know exactly what's wrong. I just feel it."
"What do you mean?"
"You know, I asked her to move into my flat" Erik said.
"Oh…" Nadir was surprised. "I didn't know that you've already… khm… deepened you relationship this much."
"Nadir! It's not what you think!" Erik said angrily. "Still nothing happened between us. Dear God, she's in the middle of her divorce, how could I do such a thing?"
"Whoa, calm down Erik" Nadir said. "And continue."
"So, as I said I asked her to move in. Of course she was surprised but seemed excited and I thought that she just needed time to decide. But since then she doesn't even mention it and I honestly don't know what is she waiting for."
"Well" Nadir started "Why don't you ask her what's wrong?"
"Because I think I know what's troubling her" Erik admitted.
"And what would that be?"
Erik didn't say anything just took off his mask and stared at it. He knew that sooner or later he had to deal with it. Christine had the right to see it. He just couldn't collect enough strength and courage to show his face to her.
Nadir too didn't say anything. He knew that Erik was very sensitive about his face. Although he found it strange that Christine hadn't seen it yet. She and Erik had been together for quite a long time. He thought that by then they didn't have secrets.
"Have you tried to talk about it? I mean you could tell that you don't wear your mask just for fun and that it's very hard for you to show it to anybody. I'm sure she'd understand it, she loves you."
"You think so?" Erik asked.
"Are you kidding? It's written all over her face. If I were you I wouldn't doubt it."
"What do you think I should do?" Erik asked. "I know I have to show her. But how? Just ask her out then after I took her home just rip my mask off and grin into her face?" Erik was acting like a four-year old. At least Nadir thought it so and he burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Erik yelled.
"Sorry" Nadir said still laughing. "I just imagined the scene."
Erik chuckled too. "Well it would be interesting, wouldn't it? But seriously. How should I do it?"
"Erik" Nadir said. "You can't plan it. Believe me, you'll know when the time is right."
"And until then? Just watch as she fights the urge to ask about it?"
"Do you have a better idea?"
"No" Erik murmured.
"Well then, problem solved" Nadir announced happily.
"Yes, it is" Erik agreed smiling. "Hmm… I think I'll take Christine out tonight" he said heading towards the exit. "Oh and Nadir" he said turning back. "Thank you."
"It was nothing" Nadir said. He was glad that he could somehow help. Erik was his best friend, it was the tiniest thing he could do for him. To give an advice. He just hoped that he gave the right one.
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Christine's workplace was a madhouse. The bank where she worked had serious problems and it was possible that in the end they'll have to close down.
She was in the middle of making a statistic of the previous ten years' businesses when the phone rang.
"Credit department, can I help you?" Christine answered the call.
"I hope you know that it's extremely sexy when you say that."
Christine laughed hearing the familiar voice on the other end of the line. "Erik, how are the rehearsals? You usually don't call until the evening."
"Oh, so you don' want me to call you!" Erik said in a pseudo-hurt tone.
"No, it's not that, I'm glad you've called. I've started to go mad here anyways. Work is hell today."
"Then I hope you want to come to have some fun tonight. I thought we could go somewhere to dance. We always just go to restaurants and it's getting boring, don't you think?"
"Wow" Christine said surprised. "I didn't know you can dance."
"You never asked" Erik said. "So you wanna come?"
"Sure" Christine answered excited. She really needed to do something to clear her mind. Raoul's continuous calls and the problems with her job really messed her up. "And what should I wear?"
"Something sexy" Erik purred.
"I thought so" Christine laughed. "But I mean what style? Where will we go?"
"I hope you like Latin music. There's a great place called Cuba Libre."
"Sounds good. When will you pick me up?"
"Around seven."
"Okay, see you at seven then. Bye."
"Bye Honey.'
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Exactly at seven the doorbell rang at Christine's and Meg's house.
"A moment" Christine yelled putting on her high-heels.
"Hi, Erik" she said opening the door but at the same moment her breath caught in her throat. She had never seen Erik that sexy and seductive before if that was even possible. Of course he was all in black wearing a shirt and trousers but something made his appearance mysterious.
On the other hand Erik was speechless too. He knew that Latin girls were always fiery but in that moment he was sure that Christine would debase any of them. She was wearing a green lacy skirt with a matching top and she left her hair to hang freely.
"Que bonita…" Erik purred kissing her passionately.
"Gracias" Christine answered surprising Erik. Surely he didn't know that she, too spoke the language a bit.
They arrived at the Cuba Libre about ten minutes later. Erik took a cab for he was sure that he'll drink and he didn't want to drive drunken. The place was a real Latin disco and Christine immediately fell in love with it.
"I can't believe that I didn't even know about this place. It's fabulous!" Christine said amazed.
"I'm glad you like it, it's the best in town."
After some drinks Erik and Christine attacked the dance floor. Both of them were surprised that how well the other danced. They did every kind of dance from the samba to the tango and, without a doubt, they were the best pair on the floor.
Around midnight the music stopped and a man appeared on the little stage at the back of the dance floor.
"Ladies and gentlemen" he started. "It's midnight so as on every Monday it's time for the karaoke!"
Everybody cheered and instantly some people gathered around the stage and the karaoke began.
"They're terrible" Christine stated half an hour later.
"I agree" Erik said. The girl who was singing at that moment was even worse than Carlotta had ever been. Although that was a very hard to achieve. "Somebody should show them how to sing" he added.
"Yeah" Christine said drinking the rest of her cocktail. That was her fifth that night not to mention the tequilas she had had previously. Surely her drinks helped her to make a decision and start to walk towards the stage.
"Where are you going?" Erik asked tipsily.
"You told me to show them how to sing. I'm just going to do that."
Erik was surprised by this. Christine never mentioned that she liked singing. He was anxious to hear her.
"But Erik" she said turning back. "Some help would be good."
Erik laughed and followed her towards the stage. Originally he would have never done something like that. To do karaoke in a crowded disco. But he couldn't disappoint Christine. They took their place and the music began. The crowd cheered and started to dance. Everybody loved the song.
(Erik, Christine)
I never really knew that she could dance like this
She makes a man wants to speak Spanish
Como se llama, bonita, mi casa, su casa
Oh baby when you talk like that
You make a woman go mad
So be wise and keep on
Reading the signs of my body
And I'm on tonight
You know my hips don't lie
And I'm starting to feel it's right
All the attraction, the tension
Don't you see baby, this is perfection
Hey Girl, I can see your body moving
And it's driving me crazy
And I didn't have the slightest idea
Until I saw you dancing
And when you walk up on the dance floor
Nobody cannot ignore the way you move your body, girl
And everything so unexpected - the way you right and left it
So you can keep on shaking it
I never really knew that she could dance like this
She makes a man want to speak Spanish
Como se llama, bonita, mi casa, su casa
Oh baby when you talk like that
You make a woman go mad
So be wise and keep on
Reading the signs of my body
And I'm on tonight
You know my hips don't lie
And I am starting to feel you boy
Come on lets go, real slow
Don't you see baby asi es perfecto
Oh I know I am on tonight my hips don't lie
And I am starting to feel it's right
All the attraction, the tension
Don't you see baby, this is perfection
Oh boy, I can see your body moving
Half animal, half man
I don't, don't really know what I'm doing
But you seem to have a plan
My will and self restraint
Have come to fail now, fail now
See, I am doing what I can, but I can't so you know
That's a bit too hard to explain
Baila en la calle de noche
Baila en la calle de día
Baila en la calle de noche
Baila en la calle de día
During their song it was hard for Erik to keep himself in control. Christine sang and danced like a goddess. She moved her hips to the rhythm and Erik couldn't help but imagine how good Christine would be in bed with movements like those.
I never really knew that she could dance like this
She makes a man want to speak Spanish
Como se llama, bonita, mi casa, su casa
Oh baby when you talk like that
You know you got me hypnotized
So be wise and keep on
Reading the signs of my body
Senorita, feel the conga, let me see you move like you come from Colombia
Mira en Barranquilla se baila así, say it!
Mira en Barranquilla se baila así
Yeah
She's so sexy every man's fantasy a refugee like me back with the Fugees from a 3rd world country
I go back like when pac carried crates for Humpty Humpty
I need a whole club dizzy
Why the CIA wanna watch us?
Colombians and Haitians
I aint guilty, it's a musical transaction
No more do we snatch ropes
Refugees run the seas cause we own our own boats
I'm on tonight, my hips don't lie
And I'm starting to feel you boy
Come on let's go, real slow
Baby, like this is perfecto
Oh, you know I am on tonight and my hips don't lie
And I am starting to feel it's right
The attraction, the tension
Baby, like this is perfection
No fighting
No fighting
The crowd applauded when thy finished.
"HA! We've showed them!" Christine said proudly as they sat down at their table.
"Yes Honey" Erik purred kissing her neck.
They stayed for three more hours, drinking, dancing and singing. It was already four in the morning when they finally decided to take a cab and go home.
"Let's go to my place" Erik suggested as they waited for the cab. "I'll take you home later."
"Okay" Christine yawned exhausted. Her legs hurt from the high-heels and she was extremely hungry. But surprisingly neither she nor Erik were drunken.
When they arrived at Erik's flat he sat Christine down in the kitchen and made her a sandwich.
"Thank you" Christine said and immediately started to eat. "Aren't you hungry?" she asked between two bites.
"No" Erik answered. "I ate before I picked you up."
"Honey, go and have a shower" Erik said after Christine had finished her sandwich.
"No, you go first" Christine said. "I can't even stand on my feet."
"Yeah, we danced a bit too much" Erik said sitting down in front of Christine and taking her feet in his lap he began to massage them.
"Mhhhh…" Christine moaned. "That's wonderful."
Erik massaged her feet for some time then he realized that Christine had fallen asleep on the chair. Gently he picked her up, carried her to the bedroom and placed her on the bed. Then silently he went to the bathroom to have a shower.
When he came out he just watched Christine sleep. But he was tired too so finally he slowly laid down attending not to wake Christine. Christine even in her sleep immediately reached out for him and found her place in his arms. Erik smiled and pulled her closer then closing his eyes he too succumbed to sleep.
Soooooo this was it! I love Hips don't lie!
Hmm... I'm considering changing the rating to an M because soon they'll... well you know it winks
Review and Erik will take you out to dance. Don't and you'll get punjabbed!
Oh and I'm terribly sorry if I can't reply to everyone's review. I'm trying to write back but despite that it's summer I still hardly have free time.