A/N: They have finally become one...This chapter contains part of my original Chapter 10, although I have revised it somewhat, making it much more tender...sigh...I hope you all enjoy the changes!
Chapter 13: The Bud Blooms At Last...
As they approached the inn, Erik began to tire. He stopped a few paces from the building, and gingerly set her down, wincing slightly from the pain in his arm. It would soon disappear, he knew, so he was not overly concerned. His considerable strength was returning, more and more each day.
Christine looked worriedly up at him. "Are you all right, Erik?" she asked, her brow creasing into a worried frown.
He sighed, stretching out his affected arm, flexing the muscle experimentally. Pleased that it was returning to normal, he faced her with a smile.
"Better and better, my sweet."
Joining hands, they walked over to a side entrance to the inn, for which they had been given a key.
The silence of the night is only such to unaccustomed ears, Erik mused. He could hear all the little nocturnal stirrings around them. For him, the night was full of music. He stopped to listen briefly before crossing the threshold to enter the building. Christine tugged on his sleeve with nervous apprehension. For her, the night held mostly a hidden menace, which she could only tolerate if accompanied by Erik. This particular night had been even more ominous, a fact which she found very unsettling...
Turning, Erik followed her inside, producing a candle from one of his pockets, along with a small box of matches and a candle holder. Placing the one into the other, he lit the match. The candle at once flamed into life. Their faces glowed in its fluttering light.
"It is almost as if we were once again inside the Opera House..." she whispered.
"Darkness. My protection and my friend...Ah, but then I met you, you who are light and joy in the bright sunshine...and you have turned to the darkness, to be my companion in it..." His eyes were clouded by sadness as he spoke.
"Only the darkness that is the absence of light, my love," she replied, "I would never join you in the darkness of evil. That is something that you have left behind, I trust..."
"Ah, my love," he said, sighing, "I am not entirely sure of that...I need you by my side, to keep me always in the light of goodness."
She smiled up at him as they walked through the inn's immense vestibule. "Erik, it is only God who can keep you in that light.".
"But you, my beautiful love, are the keeper of it." His warm, loving gaze swept her features.
Having found the stairs, they began ascending, their arms around each other once more.
They unlocked the door of their suite, and entered. The moonlight outlined most of the furniture in pearly highlights, lending an eerie look to what would in the daytime look most ordinary and harmless.
"Well, my angel," she murmured against his neck as his arms came around her, "I must retire to my cot. I had it placed in the sitting room, as you are out of danger now. I am well within earshot, however, should you need anything."
"Christine..." his lips sought her own, and she turned her face up to his. He hastily took off his mask, throwing it across the room, and began covering her face with kisses. "Christine..." His sigh of passion fanned across her throat, making her skin tingle, as his mouth moved down her neck. His hands had begun to urgently knead her back, pulling her harder agaisnt him.
Christine felt her resolve beginning to melt, but she strove to control the trembling desire to give her body to him. She attempted to free herself from his intoxicating embrace.
"Erik...my love...I must go to my cot...please...let me go..."
"Ah..." His sigh was raw with passion, but he slowly released her. "Why have you felt it necessary to distance yourself from me?" he inquired, so sorrowfully that she instantly felt remorseful.
"Erik, you know very well why... I can hear you quite well from there. You can call out to me, and I will instantly awake...if you..."
His sigh was explosive as he looked at her, his golden eyes intently holding her gaze.
"My dear, you must know that you will eventually have to succumb to me...I know you would prefer to do so as my wife. But if it should happen without that ring on your finger, you must realize that you are mated to me, and nothing and no one can ultimately come between us..." His expression, in the dim light, was a combination of intense desire and tightly controlled anger.
As he said these words, he lifted one of her hands to his lips, and grazed her knuckles in the tenderest such kiss he had ever given her. She trembled with need. She yearned to have him possess her completely...Her heart was pounding furiously, and she knew it was due to a combination of fear and desire...
"Good night, Erik..." she whispered, lowering her eyes with the greatest effort. She started to pull away from him once again, but he reached out with one hand, from which he had swiftly pulled a black glove, and began to trail it along her jawline, sliding it down along her neck, tantalizingly grazing her decolletage. His eyes were golden orbs of fire. His breathing deepened, quickened, and her breasts rose and fell now, as she gazed upon him, totally mesmerized.
Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes came up to meet his. "Erik..."
He stirred slightly as his own eyes shifted down to her lush lips. His nostrils flared. She gasped slightly as the heat of his body assaulted her. He was a magnificent, dark stallion, courting his pure, white mare...
"My love..." he murmured, unable to tear his eyes away from her slightly parted lips.
She lowered her eyes, blushing, but they betrayed her, for they, too, gazed hypnotically upon his lips...She was suddenly unable to move away from him. Her breasts rose and fell with increasing intensity. She was a delicate moth, trembling in the fire of the flame that was slowly consuming her. His sensuous presence, when in such close proximity, rendered her totally mindless, and she instinctively strained for his touch. Closing her eyes, she sighed, a long, flowing sigh, as she swayed slightly, her body taking control, her senses drowning in the heat of his body...
He caught her in his arms as he exhaled forcefully, his desire perilously close to overpowering him. He held her closely. Taking one of her hands in his, he brought it up to his unmarred cheek. He felt her hand move under his, as she caressed his cheek with the lightest touch. He inhaled sharply, his nostrils distending with the force of his arousal. Then he took her lips, kissing her with totally unrestrained passion, as he pulled her hard agaisnt his body. His left hand moved down her skirts, attempting to pull them up so he could feel her leg underneath. He cursed softly at his inability to do so, for there were too many layers for him to move through.
She suddenly gave a little yelp, for she had felt the evidence of his arousal, even through all her skirts. "Erik!"
"Do not fear, my love," he said, hoarsely. "There is much for you to discover, but I shall be nothing if not gentle..." Grinning his wolf's grin, he brought his lips to her ear, and whispered, "I love you and want to be one with you, Christine...Will you let me, my sweet love?"
Her eyes filled with tears as she took his face with both hands, then pressed a soft kiss upon his lips. He sighed as well, once more trailing his mouth down her neck. This time he did not stop at the edge of her bodice, but delved into it with his tongue. She whimpered softly as he did so. He then put one of his hands where his mouth had been, sliding it inside the bodice to cup one of her breasts. He lightly flicked the nipple, which instantly hardened.
"Erik!" She gasped, throwing her head back as a spasm of pure pleasure swept through her body.
"Christine..." His hot breath was on the edge of her bodice, and she felt little tremors of desire course through her.
She felt his hands at the back of her dress, fumbling with the buttons, as he continued to kiss the edge of her bodice, then trail his mouth up her neck again, sliding his tongue over her ear lobe. She could only sigh and hold on to him, allowing him free access to her creamy skin. He had unbuttoned her dress halfway down, when his husky voice caressed her ear.
"You must turn around, my sweet angel...I must finish with the rest of the buttons..."
She dreamily did as he requested, her will now entirely given into his keeping. He lifted her hair out of the way, and continued unbuttoning the dress. He pressed kisses upon her uncovered neck. His hands alternately unbuttoned, then caressed her back through her thin chemise, as if he were a sculptor molding his creation. His mouth reverently followed his hands.
"Oh...Erik!" Her breathing again caught in her throat, and she leaned her head back into him blissfully. She had no mind at the moment, but only volcanic feelings that swept through her, unhindered by the constraints of reason.
He began to pull her dress down, revealing her corset. He finished pulling the garment down, letting it fall softly at her feet. Then he began to work on the lacings of the corset, all the while crooning to her, adoring her with his hands, as her scantily-clad body was slowly revealed to him. When at last he had managed to unlace the corset, he removed it with great satisfaction.
"My love..." His voice was sheer torture to her pleasantly inflamed senses. He began at once to draw her skirts down about her.
She was now clad only in her chemise, drawers, and stockings, which were held up by garters. She inhaled sharply as she felt him pulling her chemise down as well...and gave another little yelp when she realized her breasts were now bare. Her hands instinctively came up to cover them.
"Ah, no, my sweet..." he murmured, gently removing her hands. "Do not cover up these treasures..."
With a sigh of blissful pleasure, he put his hands over her breasts, and began caressing them slowly, deliberately, while his mouth covered her back with kisses. Christine felt little explosions of raw desire in her groin, which his hands now began to skim, as he sought to lower her drawers as well. One of his hands delved beneath, fondling her intimately, and she groaned, as her hips involuntarily arched back into his body...
Erik, his breathing now ragged, could stand no more. He pulled the drawers all the way down, and slid her garters off. Turning her around, he brought her hard against his body. He was beyond himself. He had to have her, very, very soon...
Christine felt her now naked body being crushed against his, her hips locked with his. They kissed with heedless abandon, fiercely attempting to possess each other. Her hands began to move to the buttons of his shirt. He groaned deep in his throat, then suddenly whispered huskily in her ear, as his tongue licked her ear lobe, "Are you feeling desperate yourself, my sweet, hmmmm?"
Gasping, she smiled, as she lifted his shirt out of his trousers. He abruptly stilled her hands, smiling wickedly at her. Without warning, he picked her up in his arms, relishing the wide-eyed wonder in her eyes as she gazed at him with such trusting love. Walking over to the bed, he carefully placed her on it. The moonlight danced over her nude body, arousing him even further. Not taking his eyes from hers, he swiftly began to unbutton his white shirt. She watched him langurously, her eyes remaining on his. He threw the shirt off, and then quickly shed his trousers, revealing his underpants, which he swiftly removed as well. His grin was deliciously masculine, as was his body, she mused, glancing down at his...
"How very becomingly you blush, my sweet little diva..." He was immensely delighted with her seductive innocence. Leaning over her, he placed a tender kiss upon her lips, then slowly brought his naked body on top of hers. Their eyes were now inches apart.
Christine felt deliciously decadent...She had never borne the weight of a man's body on hers, and was entirely, sweetly, aroused. She embraced him with fierce tenderness, her eyes filling with tears. He, looking down at her, smiled.
"My sweet, beautiful, wonderful Christine," he whispered, as he caressed her face and hair with trembling hands. He could hardly believe that she was finally in his arms, like this...
They resumed their kissing, which again turned hotly intense.
When he felt she was ready, he briefly broke their kiss. Framing her face with his hands, he gave her a sweet, light kiss, and spoke against her lips, "My love, this will hurt a bit. It is so the first time for women, as I have read. I am sorry. I promise it will only be this one time."
Christine gazed up at him, suddenly uncertain. She could not turn back now, she realized, in spite of her fear...she wanted him too much.
"I trust you, Erik," she whispered, her eyes glistening.
Erik smiled over her lips, and kissed her once more, very tenderly. Then, bringing himself to her womanly entrance, he began to penetrate her gently, gradually...
She whimpered, while he did his best to soothe her, assuring her of his love, and apologizing profusely for having to hurt her.
She was unable to reach the pinnacle of passion the very first time. Once the pain subsided, he loved her with gentle restraint, joining fully with her, as he thrust into her slowly, again and again, while she held on to him as tightly as she could, overwhelmed by his great love for her.
His pleasure peaked in great waves, so strong that he was stunned. Never had he imagined that he would feel such a thing...Panting, he rode them out, rocking against her, his hips thrusting slowly, as his mouth feasted hungrily on her breasts. She arched against him, moaning. He cried out as the pleasure took possession of him, as he felt his love for this woman exploding outward, filling her with his seed. He could feel her body gently rocking upward, into him, as her arms abruptly tightened upon his back.
He stilled, resting his sweat-beaded forehead on hers, which was also moist. His breathing was coming in great gusts upon her face, and she was again reminded of the image of a stallion. He opened his eyes directly into hers. Smiling lazily, he pressed a light kiss upon her lips. She smiled as well, a bit shyly, for she was no longer an innocent maiden. Her eyes closed as a wave of embarrassment claimed her.
"Are you regretting this, my sweet?" he inquired, ever so softly.
"No, Erik," she replied, just as softly.
"And yet," he prompted, as he caressed her hair.
She bit her lip, her eyes darting to the side. "And yet, I am feeling..." She sighed, and a tear slid out of the corner of one eye.
"Yes?" His tongue licked at the tear, then his lips kissed her eyelids.
"I am...now a fallen woman, I suppose..."
He turned to lie on his back, saying nothing, as guilt suddenly assailed him. Christine snuggled closer into him, hooking one of her legs over his own, as he lovingly enclosed her in his arms, brushing a wet tendril of hair from her cheek. Her head was on his chest, making his heart swell with masculine pride. His woman. His. Forever...His desperate quest to win her love was over. She could not belong to anyone else now...
"Do you think that I will reject you, now that we have made love?" His breath slightly stirred her curly locks.
"I would die if you were to do such a thing, Erik!" Her voice was full of pain.
He tightened his grasp on her. "So would I, my love...but you need not fear that I would. You are my very life, Christine..."
She moved her head up, and looked into his eyes. She could read the truth of his words in them.
He sighed. "I am sorry you did not attain your peak, my love," he now said, regret in his voice. "I did not want to hurt you..."
She smiled sweetly. "Oh, Erik, I know that. You have been the gentlest, most considerate of lovers. I am sure I will truly enjoy the next time..."
"Insatiable vixen!" he teased, as his mouth swept down upon her own. They held each other tightly as they kissed, sealing their union.
She broke their kiss, giggling. "Ah, but Monsieur...I must have that ring upon my finger before you can have me again!"
He began to chuckle softly as he looked at her beloved face in the moonlight. Tracing a finger from her eyebrows, down her nose, to that perfect mouth he so loved to kiss, he murmured lovingly, "And I shall proudly put that ring on your sweet little finger, Mademoiselle Daae..." Here he took her left hand, and kissed each of her fingers in turn.
"But..." As he paused, her eyebrows went up. Then his wolfish grin returned. "I would hope that you would not deprive me of the pleasure of making love to you until that moment arrives. That would be most cruel of you. Do you not think so, Mademoiselle?" He now began to kiss the palm of her left hand, slowly, then her wrist, and was rewarded by her sharp intake of breath.
"Ah, Erik...I must be able to resist you until then, my love...But you make it so difficult for me to do so...I love you..." Her breath came forth slowly, sensuously.
"And I love you, Christine." He gazed at her with utmost seriousness now. "I have never wanted anything more than to become your husband, for all time..."
With a little cry of delight, she leaned forward, possessing his mouth with all the love she felt for him. He joyously returned her kiss. They embraced each other as if they were soon to be parted.
He, too, wished to prolong their closeness, as he held her reverently. They could feel each other's heartbeats as they lay thus together. She could feel the instrument of his desire, still nestled between her legs...She blushed again. She was irrevocably his now, and the knowledge gave her a sense of completion. If she was not his wife officially, she was so in the most basic, ancient of ways...
Before long, they had drifted off into a contented, deep sleep, as the moon's rays slanted across their bed...