I do not own any of the characters from The Phantom of the Opera, although I do rather enjoy borrowing them from time to time.

A/N Hi everyone, I hope everyone is having a great Labor Day weekend. Thanks for the great reviews on this story as well as the other. I am just going to take a moment and climb up onto my soapbox and complain about all of the paperwork the schools make us poor parents fill out. Are there any teachers out there that can explain why we have to fill out these unending forms? Don't you have any pity for us parent's with more than one child. I have a stack of forms that I have to get to before Tuesday that I have been avoiding them for three days now. But they are just sitting there on my hutch, multiplying by the minute. Help me! Any way I had better stop before I have a coronary. Hey, Phantomphan1990 this is a very steamy chapter so you may just want to read the first part and then skip right on down to the end. Here is the next chapter. Enjoy!

Author – ToryD

Beta – MJMod (the superhero of beatdom)

Choices

Chapter 23

Blinking rapidly at her tears, Christine tried to bank down the overwhelming feeling of alarm that was filling her at Cara's cruel words. Inhaling several sharp breaths, she strove to calm herself as she began to walk back to her table.

Erik rose as his wife returned. He noticed that she appeared to be somewhat paler than when she had left. "Christine, are you feeling ok?" He asked as he helped her take her seat.

As she looked up into his concerned and adoring eyes, she knew without a doubt that Cara had lied about her devoted husband. Smiling to herself, she was ashamed that she had even for a second questioned Erik's faithfulness. "I'm fine," she responded as she pulled him towards her to bestow a passionate and lingering kiss.

Erik felt an instant stirring of desire at her boldness. "What was that for?" he asked with an unsteady tone.

Christine smiled coquettishly at her husband. "Just a promise of what's to come."

Swallowing hard at the seductive picture his wife had just painted, he motioned to their waiter for the check.

Cara watched with hate-filled eyes as Christine walked out arm in arm with her Erik. "You may have him for the moment Christine, but this I do swear. Before the month is out he will once again belong to me." She said in a low voice that held the purest of venom.

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Christine took Erik's hand and led him towards their bed with a seductive smile playing about her mouth. Reaching out she removed his mask and placed it gently upon the night side table. Placing her hands on Erik's taut stomach, she reached up and teasingly gave him a playful nip on his lower lip with her teeth. Running her caressing palms up over his muscular chest towards his shoulders, she felt his body tremble in response to her tantalizing touch as she removed his hand tailored Armani jacket, letting it fall silently to the floor.

Erik couldn't take his eyes off his gorgeous wife as she continued with the slow seduction that she had started in the restaurant an hour ago. Circling his arms about her, he drew her to him, savoring the instant flame of passion that was ignited by her nearness.

Christine gently pushed him away with a mischievous gleam alighting her desired-filled eyes. "No, tonight I am in charge. And the first rule Mr. Desmond is that you are not allowed to touch me without my express permission." She informed him in a haughty tone. Reaching out she began to slowly unbutton his handmade silk shirt, drawing her nails down in a light scoring pattern as she uncovered his bare skin.

Erik felt as though he was going to explode into a million pieces at his wife's unrelenting touch. Swallowing hard, he viewed her through half-closed eyes as he tried to contain the overwhelming need to haul her to him. "Christine…please let me touch you," he pleaded in a husky voice that caused Christine to smile.

Shaking her head in the negative, she continues with her task of undressing him. After she dispensed with his shirt, she looked into his deep passion filled eyes as she began to unbuckle his Italian leather belt. Leaning up she traced the edge of his lower lip with her tongue, drawing back quickly when he tried to engage her in a passionate kiss. Reaching for the zipper on his pants, she slowly allowed the back of her fingers to brush ever so slightly against his ridged erection as she drew the zipper down in a slow tortuous motion.

Erik drew in a sharp breath at her lingering touch. "Oh God Christine," he moaned clenching his hands into tight fists in an attempt to gain some semblance of control over his powerful desire.

Pushing him down upon the bed, she quickly removed his shoes and socks. Kneeling between his parted legs, she looked up into his heated gaze. Reaching up with one hand, she unfastened the diamond clip that was holding her long thick hair. As her hair sprang free, she lifted herself up, careful not to touch any part of Erik's body with hers as she gifted him with a series of light tantalizing kisses along his jaw line.

Erik crushed the silk comforter within his tightly clenched hands as he fought the urge to devour his teasing wife. "Christine, let me touch you." He begged in a desperate voice.

Relishing her new role of seductress, Christine shook her head no as she looked into the frustrated expression of her husband. Smiling up into his tense features, she ran her hands down his chest to push in back into a reclining position on the bed. She pulled both his pants and black silk boxers down his masculine legs as she locked her gaze with his. Once she had him fully unclothed and laid out to her satisfaction, she gave him a long and passionate kiss that foretold of the promise of what was yet to come. Releasing his lips, she gained her footing beside the bed and proceeded to slowly undo the side zipper of her red satin dress.

Erik watched in fascination as Christine began to undress before him. As she slowly let her dress fall to the floor, Erik drew in a quick breath of the sight of her beautifully full breasts straining within the sexiest red lace bra that he had ever seen. "Christine," he whispered hoarsely as he took in the vision of her in the matching red lace panties and red and black garter belt. His eyes widened as he let his hot gaze travel down her long sheer black stocking encased legs to her three-inch black stiletto heels. He knew that he had never seen a more desirable woman than his beautiful Christine as she stood before him in all of her glory.

Seeing that Erik was close to losing his control, she placed a hand on each side of him on the bed. Using her hands and knees to support herself, she slithered up his length in a slow, sensuous caress.

Erik stiffened at the feel of her soft body as she positioned herself upon him. "Christine, I need to touch you." He groaned in her ear.

Smiling Christine shook her head negatively as she used the tip of her tongue to trace the inner shell of his ear. Kissing her way down his neck, she paused as she reached his shoulder, darting her tongue out to taste him as he shivered in response. Straddled him with a knee to each side of him, she raked her nails down his chest, enjoying the tensing of his body as she looked into his heated stare. She could feel him straining against her feminine core, as she gently rocked against his body. "Erik, will you do as I say?" She asked him in a throaty purr.

Erik who thought that his body might explode from the intense heat his wife was generating would have promised anything to her as she long as she put an end to his pulsing need. "Anything," he said through his teeth.

Biting her lower lip slightly she pinned him with a smoldering look. "I have a bit of a dilemma." She said with a knowing smile. "I can't get my panties off without unhooking the stockings, which I rather like wearing. So I was wondered if you, with that brilliant mind of yours, might be able to think of a way to solve my little problem?"

Erik felt his heart accelerate at the picture she had just imparted into his head. "I would have to touch you." He said with a wicked gleam in his green eyes.

Frowning Christine considered his statement. "Hmm, that would definitely be breaking the rules." She said in a resigned tone. "But I guess if you give me your word that you will only touch me this one time, I suppose that I can allow it."

Finally, he thought to himself as he reached for the thin strip of red lace that covered her from his seeking gaze. With one deft tug of his strong hands, he ripped the wisp of lace in two, at last freeing her. His seeking fingers caressed her with a knowing skill that brought a flush to her cheeks.

Closing her eyes, she let her head fall back as she savored his seductive touch. "Erik," she cried out as she felt him slip in two fingers to begin a slow caressing rhythm that almost made her forget herself. Almost. Lifting herself from his seeking hand, she shook her head in admonishment. "Oh no don't." she said with a firm tone.

Groaning in frustration Erik let his hands fall back to the bed as he awaited his wife's next instructions.

Leaning over him, she took his mouth in a soft teasing kiss. With her seeking tongue, she parted his lips and proceeded to show him all that she had planned for him this night.

Gasping for breath Erik raised his shocked eyes to his wife's face. "Christine," he called out in an astonished whisper.

Seeing the shock in his eyes, Christine reveled in her newfound power. Reaching down she took his thick pulsing length into her hand as she slowly caressed him.

Gritting his teeth, Erik knew that if she didn't stop her teasing caress that he would soon explode, both literally and figuratively. "Christine!" he cried out sharply as he tried to hold back the intense need for release.

Seeing that he was about to lose his control, Christine rose up over him. As she slid herself down upon his full thick length, she was somewhat surprised that he seemed to be larger than she remembered. "Erik," she whispered huskily as she at last had him fully encased within her.

Erik knew that he had never experienced anything like the overwhelming passion that his wife had brought to him. Watching her through his half-closed eyes, he marveled at the sheer beauty of her. "I love you Christine," he said as she continued with her seduction.

Christine set a slow and sensuous rhythm as she rocked gently against her husband.

Erik felt as though his heart would beat through his chest as she began her slow tantalizing pace. "Christine, please…let me…touch you," he pleaded as he tried to increase her slow agonizing rhythm.

Seeing that he was fighting to gain control over his passion, Christine decided that is was past time to push her husband over the edge. Increasing her pace, she began to rock against him with a little more force. Watching Erik's face begin to tense as he was about to reach the pinnacle of satisfaction, she clenched her inner muscles around him, causing him to at last lose every degree of his tight control as he gave way to the unstoppable force of his release.

As he came back down to earth, he opened his eyes and found his wife's playful smile more than just a little intriguing. "Well wife, are you ready to pay for your behavior?" he said as he quickly flipped their positions.

Christine cried out in alarm as Erik took control. With him still inside her, she was astonished to feel him begin to harden once more. "Erik?" she gasped as she looked up into his passionate eyes.

"Yes wife?" he responded as he began to unfasten the red lace bra that had tempted him so relentlessly. Her full breasts sprang free of the constricting lace. Leaning down he took one of her erect nipples into his mouth where he showed her no mercy in his passionate play.

Moaning softly she turned her head side to side, as she ran her hands down his slick back. "Oh God! Erik," she cried out as she tried to ease the unquenchable ache that was all around her.

Erik crossed over to her other breast and lavished his attention upon its creamy flesh, causing Christine to arch her back in a quest for more.

"Please," she cried as she tried to pull him up to her.

Erik smiled in triumph at her pleading. Rising up he took her lips in a passionate kiss as he began to thrust slowly into her.

Wrapping her legs around his waist Christine tried to ease the seeking need within her. Rising up to meet his forceful thrust she knew that she would never again feel as close to anyone as she did with this man, her husband, her Erik. "I love you." She said with tears filling her eyes.

Erik feeling her reach her release allowed himself to follow her into the other world that only existed for them. Holding her gently within his arms, he kissed away the tears that were running silently down her cheeks. "I love you." He said in a soft voice that brought a quiet smile to her lips.

"Erik," she said simply as she reached up and place a reverent kiss upon his sweet lips.

With her head pillowed against his strong chest, Christine pushed away all thoughts of Cara and her lying words. No man could love her as Erik just did without the unwavering true commitment that was so evident within every action of his body. Hovering on the vestige of sleep, she smiled to herself, for she was loved, and no one would ever be able to take that away.

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Christine awoke to the bright April sun as it filtered through the bedroom window. Blushing she recalled her actions of the previous evening.

Erik entered their suite from his private dressing room with a telling smile upon his un-masked face. "Good morning Mrs. Desmond," he greeted her as he slowly approached her.

Christine took in his fully dressed appearance with a look of longing. "Erik, its Saturday. Do you have to go to work?" she asked with a sad little look.

Threading his hands into the hair at her nape, he tilted her up to receive his kiss. His tongue plundered her mouth with a thoroughness that left her gasping for breath. As he released her from his kiss, he sat back and observed his handiwork. "I do have to go to work this morning Mrs. Desmond. But I'll tell you what," he said as he ran his hand protectively over the growing bump that housed his child. "If you're a good girl and do as you're told, I will cut my day short and spend the afternoon with you."

Smiling, Christine leaned up to give him a quick kiss. "Ok, but I get to decide how we will spend the day."

"Why do I get the feeling that I am going to be dragged to every baby store in the city?" He asked with a resigned look on his face.

"And just how would you like to spend the afternoon?" she asked as she reached for her robe.

Crossing to his dressing room, he picked out a tie to match his navy suit. "I rather thought that I could have a repeat performance from last night." He called in a husky tone.

Christine felt herself begin to blush at the mention of her adventurous antics the previous night. "Uh, well…"

Erik laughed at her unease. Crossing to where she stood he drew her into the circle of his arms. "Oh Christine, how will I ever get through next week without you?"

Frowning Christine felt a small measure of alarm pierced her heart. "Why would you say that?"

"Because my dear wife, I have to fly to London for a trip next week," he said with a resigned sigh.

Christine laid her head upon his chest as she tried to bank down the feeling of dread that was filling her. "London?" she asked in a hollow tone.

"Yes, I am about to finalize a takeover." He said as he ran his hands down her back.

"Hmm, why is it the wife who is always last to know where her husband will be?" she asked in a dramatic voice, in direct contrast to the look of pain on her face.

Chuckling at her good humor, Erik hugged her tightly to him. "But my dear wife you are the second to know. Takeovers are highly confidential, so you see only me, Nadir and now you my gorgeous wife are privy to the knowledge of my upcoming schedule."

Closing her eyes tightly she fought against the tears that were threatening, as she now knew that Cara's vindictive words held an unmistakable truth. Erik was going to London. And worst than that, so was Cara.

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A/N Next up the London trip. Don't hate Erik, all is not as it seems. Have faith! Let me know what you think in the reviews.