A/N: this chapter has sexually explicit material and is therefore RATED M.

Chapter 21 Desire

The carriage stopped on a narrow street in front of a small apartment house. The single streetlamp shed a faint beam on the lower floor of the building that patterned the empty, black windows with a faded yellow. After dispatching the driver, Manette leaned against the front door, and jiggled her key in the old lock, which gave way with a loud, extended creak.

Jade watched the departing carriage move slowly down the street, and disappear into the shadows. She turned to the stone building, and her eyes followed the line of windows to the roof and to the night sky above. There the stars flickered dimly, drowned out by the city lights. Their gray pinpricks hinted at a vast openness beyond. If she had been in the countryside, those points of light would have filled the sky, and formed a majestic dome of hushed light under which she could dance. Here the stars were powerless ghosts, watered down versions of their formerly robust selves. It was strange how the city altered reality.

A light breeze touched her hair, and she reflexively pulled her cloak closer. If Erik were to catch her standing on that cool street as she stared dumbly at the sky, he would do more than angrily fling her onto a bed. She frowned at that thought.

They quickly entered the building.

Manette hung up the cloaks and signaled Jade to put her things in the corner of the sitting room. Then she moved around the apartment briskly doing chores. She lit the fire in the front room, and moved to the kitchen. In a short time she was back with a hot drink for Jade, who was sitting quietly near the hearth and staring into the flames. Upstairs the occasional sound of footsteps thudded above their heads.

The sounds of Manette bustling about, and the occasional stirrings of Jean above surrounded Jade as she settled into her new environment. The warmth of the fire and Manette's kindness imparted a sense of peace and safety. She knew that this was the right place for her to regain her health and strength. It would only be a short time, and then she would be able to return to her work at the opera house.

If I go back, she thought.

That question had been rattling through her brain all day: what to do next. Here it was, the chance to make a change, or at the very least, an opportunity to think without being under pressure.

She stretched her hands out to the fire. It was comfortable in that unfamiliar room. The lamps were lit and shone brightly upon the inexpensive furniture. By the look of most of the furnishings, Manette and Jean were living within their means, without extravagance. However, the walls were decorated with beautiful paintings and hangings that looked new and appeared to be the work of a single artist. The room was resplendent with creative design. And no wonder, since Jean was a consummate set design artist. It seemed natural that his passion would reach beyond the opera house.

The Opera house.

In the last month, Jade had fallen in love with everything about it: the building, the music, the horses, Gillian. The list was growing. And then there was Erik…

The grace, the flamboyance, and the mystery of the place—it's all embodied in him, she mused. Then it came to her: He is the Opera!

With his pale face fixed in her mind, Jade glanced at the shadows that draped the corners of the room. They reminded her that even in that cozy setting, the proximity of darkness to light was inevitable. If she returned to the shelter of the opera house, she would have to accept Erik and his history.

No, she thought. Acceptance isn't the right word. He wants more than that.

That thought gave her a chill, and caused the hair on her skin to bristle. She'd had the same feeling earlier that day when he offered to carry her from the opera box to the offices. What was it about him that disturbed and attracted her at the same time? His intensity? His single-mindedness? Close contact with him threatened to overwhelm her. How does one say no to such a man? she pondered.Without that boundary, the risk of contact was too great.

She had left the opera house hoping for time to reflect and decide.

Light footsteps descending the stairs. A moment later Jean entered the room, and found Jade. He gave her a bright smile, and pulled up a chair beside her next to the fire.

Jade liked Jean. He had said little when they shared suppers in the opera café, but she still felt at ease with him. It was as if he had decided when he had first met her that she was someone good for his life.

He was looking at the fire, and apparently fascinated by the slithering flames. As she watched him, she wondered what creative ideas were tickling his mind.

During supper they sat at the kitchen table, and talked about their day. Jean explained the modifications that Mme. Deschamps had ordered for the set of Act IV. The split-level design was proving to be a challenge. Deschamps had recently gotten a letter from the composer Verdi, who had definite ideas about how it should be done. She had passed them on to Jean and his crew, who were rushing to complete the work. Verdi would be coming tomorrow. Jean spoke happily about their progress as he speared a chunk of meat and popped it into his mouth.

Manette's day had also been exciting. She had been Mme. Lacroix's assistant and the dancers had fluttered around her and followed her directions. As she talked about the rehearsal, her cheeks flushed with color and her large eyes sparkled.

After dinner, they sat around the fire. Jean was working with a small sketchpad on ideas for the opera and Manette and Jade were doing mending.

Jade cleared her throat, and forced herself to speak about what she had been thinking of all evening.

"Jean, Manette, I need to tell you about something." She cleared her throat again. This is going to be difficult.

They both stopped what they were doing and looked at her curiously. In the time they had known her, Jade had never made a declaration. They were accustomed to her saying practically nothing.

"When I accepted your offer to stay with you, I did it for two reasons. First, I wanted a change from my quarters. I thought it would be pleasant to spend time with you both and get out of my cramped room."

They were nodding in agreement.

"The second reason is because of another matter. In the last month, I have been receiving notes and gifts from someone who visits the opera house, and who has taken an interest in me."

Manette was slowly nodding her head in recognition, which took Jade by surprise. What does she know? she wondered.

Jade continued. "I'm not sure exactly what he wants from me. However, he is greatly interested in my health. I think that he might not approve of my leaving the opera house and visiting with you. And if he knows where I am, he may try to visit and check on me. I would rather that he doesn't do that."

Pausing for a moment, she studied Manette and Jean, who both looked concerned. Jean's eyes were sharp and hard. Jade began to blush as she thought of the situation she had put her friends in. It was natural that they would feel put out and angry with her because of her selfishly involving them in her problem.

"Jade, is he forcing himself upon you?" said Jean in a low, restrained voice. His eyes were flashing.

Jade hesitated and looked down, not knowing how much to say. Erik had told her that he didn't want her to reveal their meetings. She hoped that she was being vague enough to protect that trust.

She sighed. Now comes the hard part. I don't want to lie, she thought.

"Not exactly," Jade answered. "It's difficult to explain. He's unpredictable and I think, impulsive. He has helped me and has caused me no harm. It's just… just happening so quickly, all this attention." There, she thought. Make the whole thing sound as normal as possible. At that moment she wanted to give Erik a good kick for putting her in this awkward position.

Moving next to Jade, Manette took her hands in hers, and gave her husband a knowing look.

Jade continued. "I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone that I'm staying with you. He seems to have connections at the opera house, and easily discovers events there." Jade looked earnestly at them, and felt embarrassed that she had to ask them to hide her.

Manette patted her hand, and Jean reached out and touched her as well.

A little later they retired for the night.

Jade had a comfortable second story bedroom with a small balcony. Before going to sleep, she checked the lock on the window and drew the drapes. Then she went downstairs and checked the rest of the windows and the door to be certain that everything was secure.

Sighing with relief, she walked up the stairs. Erik may have a key to every room in the opera house, but not here. She could lock him out if he were to try to get in.

She lay on her bed and faced the draped window as she gazed at the light that pooled onto the floor below. It felt good to again be safe from intrusions. Sleep came to her quickly.

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The next morning Erik awoke relaxed and refreshed. For the third night in a row he had slept through the night without awakening. He spread his arms in a long, lazy stretch. Getting up, he threw on a thick robe, and walked to the kitchen where he prepared a hearty breakfast. Carrying the plate outside of the house, he sat on a bench next to the lake and ate as he occasionally scattered crumbs onto the water. It was peaceful in the darkness.

Today he would meet with Jules about the special project. Final arrangements needed to be made in order for the piece to be executed. The opera house was currently in controlled chaos, and it should be relatively easy to get the man into the building and have him do the task. Erik expected to have the piece finished, and delivered to him within a month.

He smiled with satisfaction. It would be an excellent gift.

Yesterday, after he had left Jade, he had pulled out sheet music and played for several hours. Then he had composed for several more. He was pleased with the results. He had captured the feelings that he had wanted to express. The composition was taking shape and possessed strength and grace.

Standing in front of the mirror, he finished his toilet and assessed his appearance. Everything was in place.

He would check in on Jade before he left to meet with Jules.

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Looking through the mirror Erik could see that she wasn't in her room, therefore, she had to be somewhere else in the building. He began to systematically comb the corridors. When she didn't turn up, he widened his search to cover the auditorium area, including the private boxes and the grand foyer. The stage was quite a distance from her room but she was resourceful and may have gotten help.

An hour later he returned to her room. His temper was rising, and he knew what he would find there.

Her night clothes were gone, as well as toilet items, two of her outfits and the new cloak she had recently purchased. Her work clothes, the cloak he had given her, and a few pieces of clothing remained. Clearly, she hadn't left for good, and planned to return.

His fury was mounting as he thought of her deliberate, and willful disobedience of his orders. And after the time we spent together yesterday! He had trusted her. How could he have known that as he carried her to the offices, she had already set in motion her plan to leave? She had acted as if she had trusted him, even cried in his presence during the final scene of Aida. And then she had stolen away in the night. Liar!

Opening the wardrobe, he furiously pulled out the cloak he gave her, which he rolled up, and thrust under his arm. There was a bodice hanging next to the cloak that he accidentally brushed with his hand. As the garment moved it gave off a faint smell of mint, which hung in the air. He stopped and took in a deep breath. She must have been sitting next to a bush, and rubbed its scent into her clothing, he thought. His anger cooled as he slowly explored the contents of the massive wardrobe. His long fingers squeezed her breeches and stirred up the sweet, dusty smell of hay and horses.

Erik walked over to the table and sat down. Unfolding the cloak, he shook it out so that it draped across the flat surface. It smelled faintly of bath soap and the hood held the scent of her hair. She didn't wear a perfume like Christine. She simply picked up the odors of what was around her, and left her own delicate mark to mingle with them.

Staring at the cloak, he wondered how long it would take for her to trust him enough to wear it in public. Carefully he refolded it and tucked it under his arm. Then he left the room via the mirror.

He met with Jules, and they spent the morning discussing new architecture commissions and other projects.

When he was finished, Erik returned to the opera house and waited for Manette to leave.

As she walked home, he trailed her. She chose well-lit streets so he kept his face covered with his hood to avoid prying eyes. Eventually she went down a narrow, poorly lit side street that led to an apartment house. Then she disappeared through the front door.

He walked around the building and assessed which windows belonged to which units. Then he stood in the shadows, and waited for the lights to go out for the night. An hour later, when the last one was extinguished, he approached the front door with his bag of tools. After oiling the hinges, he worked the door carefully and slowly opened it. Then he quietly slipped inside, and shut the door behind him.

Nosing around the downstairs, he quickly grasped its layout before approaching the stairs. When he heard an upstairs door open he hid in the shadows, and watched as the small figure came down the stairs. It was Jade. She walked to the kitchen, and a minute later returned to the upstairs.

Erik crept up the stairs behind her and watched her walk down the narrow hallway to a room at its end.

The door closed quietly, and he stared in its direction. If I go in quickly, I can cover her mouth before she can cry out, he thought.He smiled darkly. That would frighten her, and she deserved a good fright. It would teach her not to disobey him in the future. It would also show her that he was a force to be reckoned with, and was not easy to evade.

As Erik stood at the top of the stairs, two feelings vied for control. There was the need to discipline her and tame her obstinate will. If he was to continue to see her, he must teach her to take his commands seriously. The second was a gentler desire—the urge to sit beside her in silence, and smell the faint scent of her hair with her warm breath on his neck. The memory of her in his arms was still vibrating in his mind.

He knew that he couldn't have both.

Silently, he stood at her door, as he pressed his ear against it, and listened. There was silence within. Reaching down, he touched the doorknob. Then, thinking better of it, he turned away and silently traveled down the stairs and back to his home.

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Jade slept in that morning, allowing Jean and Manette to have time alone before they left for the opera house. After they were gone, she dressed and went down to the front room. She pulled open the heavy drapes so that the bright morning light could fill the room. It was a lovely day. Opening the window a crack, she breathed in the delightfully cool air. It had been forever since she'd been able to see and feel the outside while she sat in a room. She opened the book she had carried down from her room, and settled in to read the last part of A Tale of Two Cities.

The day passed slowly and peacefully as she took turns reading, staring out the window, and exercising her legs on the staircase. There were occasional naps as she lay on the couch with the book on her chest. When she awoke, she would lie there and study the many paintings on the walls. The colors were lively with imaginative and entertaining forms. Jean was very talented and she smiled as she took admired his work.

At sunset, she lit a fire and prepared the evening meal. By the time Jean and Manette arrived, the smells of stew and pie filled the apartment.

After dinner, the three sat around the fire and discussed the opera house's new celebrity, Verdi.

"He was magnificent," exclaimed Jean as he leaned back in his chair. "He took command the moment he entered and the stage was a buzz from his directions. We were spinning from his ideas!" he said with an enormous smile.

Manette nodded in agreement. "He had several ideas of how the ballet was to be performed, especially the scene in the temple in Act I, scene 2. He was very specific about how the dancers were to stand before the dance. Then afterwards he gathered them together with their fans in a very dramatic pose." She gestured with a sweep of her arm that imitated a huge fan.

After the lights were out for the night, Jade lay in her bed and listened to the sounds of the building. At one point she thought she heard the creak of the front door, but it was too soft a sound so she dismissed it. A few minutes later she restlessly rose, and decided to go to the kitchen for some water. Returning to her room, she lay in the dark, sleepless. The stillness pushed against her body in the velvety darkness and heightened her senses.

Her room was next to Manette's and Jean's. Shortly after they retired for the night, sounds drifted into Jade's room that consisted of moans, gasps, and brief cries of passion. They were probably trying to not make too much noise because of their guest but it had gotten loud enough that their pleasure was unmistakable. Jade couldn't help but listen to the rhythm of the sounds, and she felt her body inadvertently respond.

The thrumming and tingling sensations continued and the trip downstairs for the glass of water only gave her a brief respite.

XXShe reached under the covers and tentatively felt the warmth of her skin. It was like an oven beneath the heavy quilts that Manette had piled upon the bed. The place between her legs was hotter still, and moist. It had been awhile since she had touched herself there, what with all the distractions and adjustments she had been going through since coming to Paris. But hearing her friends on the other side of the wall had woken up a part of herself and the sudden need of her body was demanding attention.

She softly stroked her thighs and then her breasts. Her thoughts traveled to the past and to Jean-Luc. She could smell his sweat and feel his broad hands covering her. His lips touched her temples and then her lips in a chaste kiss as her own hands caressed her inner thighs. Touching the flesh between her legs, warmth crept to her breasts, and she imagined his weight resting upon her with his belly pressed close to hers. Now his scent was clearer—the smell of the lake and sun. She drifted easily into the daydream, which gradually intensified as the stimulation increased. His gentleness changed; he was passionately pressing her into the bed, and pushing closer as the pleasure between her legs became a hollow ache. Jean-Luc's face faded and it was Pierre who was looking down at her. His sun-browned face was flushed as he slowly worked his way between her thighs. There was an intense look of satisfaction in his eyes. Jade sighed and opened herself up to him.

She imagined him entering her as the stroking and the pressing between her legs intensified. Her body tightened and she came very close to her release. Suddenly, the soft brown eyes were gone, replaced by a darker, more penetrating stare. Pierre had disappeared. It was Erik above her, relentlessly pushing himself inside of her. He was burrowing into her, and capturing her soul.

She turned her head aside, avoiding his lips, but it was too late. She could smell him and his passion covered her like a cloak that tightly wrapped around and bound her to him. Her body was on fire and she climaxed while his hands held and caressed her.

The release was explosive. She shivered from the near pain of the orgasm.

Afterwards, she lay in silence, troubled by the betrayal of her body. It can't be, she thought. He's wrong for me.

But there it was, and there was no denying the feelings.

Soberly she stared at the light beneath the drapes for half the night before she finally fell asleep.