Angel.De.Music: Ja, it is Daroga not Dargoa. I made a mistake. I did want them to confess their feelings...just not until it could be angsty...and suspenseful.
PrimaDonnaKate: I love you and all my regular reviewer and I am glad that you have all continued reading.
Twinkle22: Yay. I am glad that you like it.
thePhantom'sEvenstar: I would love to have you as a beta. That would be awesome. So would I just email you the chapters after I've finished writing them or what? And does it have to be every chapter? Because like I would like to have a beta who would read over chapters I had trouble with and helping me to fix it up ya know. And I am glad you liked the new chapter dearie!
Christine woke the next morning to a light tapping on her door.
"Christine, may I come in?" Came Erik's voice from behind the door.
"Yes, of course." Christine said and propped herself up in bed.
"I have some things for you, is it okay if I bring them in?" He asked. She nodded and watched him leave the room. She hopped out of bed and put on her robe, knotting it securely around her waist. Erik came back into the room with boxes of different sizes.
"These are for you, just some things that are necessary. Nothing special." He said, indifferently.
She smiled,"Thank you Erik." She said as she opened a box and saw that it contained a dress. Many of the boxed contained various dresses and gowns as well as some other undergarments. When she saw that she blushed but continued looking through the boxes. Erik helped her to hang the dresses in the armoire and she put the other garments in armoire drawers. She opened the last few boxes when she saw brushes, combs and hair pins. He had thought of everything, ever perfume.
"Erik, this means a lot to me. Thank you." She said and kissed him lightly on the cheek. She saw his cheeks redden but then he cleared his throat.
"Well, when you are ready we'll have breakfast." He said and left the room. Christine smiled. She thought it was cute how uncomfortable Erik became when she touched him. That thought gave her a brilliant idea. She would make him uncomfortable while making him see just how amazing he was. She smiled and got ready.
When she walked down stairs she could smell fresh bread baking. She walked into the kitchen and leaned against the door frame watching Erik cook. He was oblivous to her presence as he beat some eggs and began to cook them. He looked up and saw Christine and smiled. She walked over to him and helped him plate the food. They decided to eat outside in the cool October morning. She couldn't believe that she was with Erik and in his house. And now they were outside, during the day. It was almost as if he had completely changed. In a way he had.
Erik informed her that he had invited the Giry's and a friend of his over for dinner that night. Christine was excited and was glad that Erik had invited others into his home. They spent the rest of the day cooking a special dinner for their guests. An hour before they were to arrive Christine rushed off to her room to get ready. She went through the gowns Erik had purchased for he and picked the perfect one. It was a violet colour and had sleeves that came down to her elbows. The neck line was a bit low, but not too revealing. The bodice had beading on it and the skirt was very flowing and not full like many other gowns were. She pinned her hair up and out of her face and looked in the mirror, pleased with what she saw. She sprayed on a bit of perfume and left her room.
When Christine came back down the stairs Erik was standing at the bottom waiting for her. His eyes never left hers as she descended the staircase. She came to a stop beside him and smiled. He looking dashing in an dress suit. He wore a dark blue vest, with a black cravat and black suit jacket, and matching pants. His white mask seemed to glow in the dim lightly and his sensuality seemed to radiate from him. Christine tried to control her pounding heart but found it difficult. He offered his arm which she took and led her into the dining room where she was suprised to find their guests. Had it really taken her that long to get ready?
She smiled at Madame Giry and Meg and was then introduced to Erik's friend Nadir. They all sat down to dinner. Erik across from Christine, Meg sat next to her across from Nadir. Madame Giry had been placed at the head of the table by Nadir and Meg which suprised Christine. Why wouldn't Erik want to sit at the head of his table in his house? They talked and enjoyed each other's company at dinner. Christine's foot kept accidentally hitting Erik's, the fourth time it happened she had a brilliant idea. While she was talking to Meg, she discreetly slipped one of her feet out of its shoe. She brought her foot up Erik's calve and saw him stiffen. He was talking to Nadir and glanced at Christine, who was looking at Meg and talking with her innocently. He turned back to Nadir, hoping she would stop.
But she didn't. She finished traveling up Erik calve and then brushed the bottom her foot along his thigh. Erik took the opportunity to grab her foot in his hand, glad that there was a table cloth concealing his hand and her foot. He was glad he had stopped her when he did, he knew what would have come next. He squeezed her foot, causing her to look at him. Her eyes met his, his glowing with some unknown emotion. He looked at her questioningly, she just smiled and turned her attention back to Meg. He still held her foot, not knowing hot to react. Christine was slightly shocked when he began to rub her foot softly. Later on Erik suggested that they go and bring out the dessert. She nodded and slipped her foot back in its shoe. Together they walked through the swinging doors and into the kitchen.
Christine gasped as Erik pressed her against the counter and crashed his mouth down on hers. Her eyes slid closed as his hands came to her neck, hers going to his hair. She brushed her tongue along the seam of his lips, and was soon met with the stroking of his own tongue. They heard footsteps approaching the door and broke apart just as Nadir walked in.
"I hope I'm not interupting," he said with a sly grin,"I just came to see if you needed any help with the desserts." He said.
"No, we are fine Nadir. Thank you." Erik said gruffly. Nadir left the room and Erik looked at Christine, her lips red from their kisses. He shook his head and handed her a bowl of berries and grabbed a torte. They walked back into the dining room and placed the dessert on the table.
Christine had a few berried but nothing more. She was too busy paying attention to Erik's hands which were once again caressing her feet. She smiled at him every once and a while, as he talked with Madame Giry and Nadir. Meg seemed happy that Christine was finally reunited with Erik. Meg could see the happiness in her best friends eyes. Happiness she hadn't seen in such a long time. After dessert and move conversation their guests said they should take their leave.
Christine and Erik said goodbye to their guests and Erik asked her to join him in the library. She followed him and he looked at her.
"What kind of game do you think you are playing?" He asked her.
"Excuse me?" She asked, looking at him with a shocked expression.
"Do not play coy with me Christine. What you did in the dining room.."He began.
"You didn't seem to mind." She said, annoyed. Was he trying to reprimand her for her behavior.
"We had guests Christine!" He said.
"They did not notice Erik. It is not as if I were sitting in your lap showering your body with touches and kisses." She said.
Erik cursed under his breath, she could clearly see her doing just that. "That is not the point."
"What is the point then Erik. One minute you seem perfectly fine with me touching you. The next you get angry with me."
"I am not angry..."He said, looking at her.
"Then what is the problem?" She asked.
"Christine, when you...touch me in such a way. In anyway for that matter...I find it too easy to give into you. Into the feelings that come over me." He said, trying to keep his face expressionless.
"What is so wrong about that? Is it not natural to feel that way?" She asked.
"Christine, you do not know what you are doing?" He replied.
"Oh I don't do I. Then why don't you tell me exactly what it is that I am doing." She said, placing her hands on her hips glaring at him.
He looked at her with disbelief. "Well if you do not know, then I will certainly not telly you." He said, causing Christine to laugh. "May I ask what it is that you find so amusing." He said, looking indignant.
"Nothing Erik. But I still don't understand why you are so upset." She said, serious once more.
"How would you feel, having the face of demon. Then having one as beautiful as you touching you." He said, lowering his eyes.
"First of all, you do not have the face of a demon. You are the most attractive man that I've ever laid eyes on. Secondly you were touching me as well, so I am not the only one to blame."
"Do not lie to me Christine. I am not a fool. My face is repulsive. And I find it hard not to touch you." He said, his face slightly red.
"Your face is not repulsive. What is repulsive is when you act like a demon." She said and then smiled, "So you find it hard to keep your hands off of me, do you?" She said this and walked over to him, close enough that they could feel the heat radiating off the other's body. She looked up into his eyes. "Well you are doing a pretty good job of it now."
He cursed under his breath and placed his hands on her shoulders. "If I were to give into the temptation of touching you every single time you are near me I would eventually loose control." He said simply.
She blushed slightly and said,"Well then, we'll have to find a solution to this problem."
"There isn't one." He replied.
"Where there is a will there is way my dear Erik." She said with a smile and then left the room.
Erik sighed and left the room as well. He passed by Christine's door on the way to his room and was tempted to knock on her door to talk with her once more. Even though she intoxicated him and caused a lot of sexual tension, he still enjoyed being around her and talking with her. But he continued walking and opened the double doors that opened into his room, the shut them. He sighed, it was going to be a long night. Why had he put Christine's room next to his? Why? It would be too easy to walk into her room in the middle of the night and give into his desires. But that was not what he wanted.
He cared about Christine, more than himself. He didn't want her to ruin her reputation by living, and sleeping with the man who had done so many bad things in the past. True, he had been reported dead by the French police. They gave up their hunt for him and decided that if they declared him dead it would put the rest of France at peace. He knew that Christine deserved to be married, to have security before she gave herself completely to anyone. God forbid she became pregnant out of wed lock. Those thoughts were enough to kill the mood for him and he fell into a restless sleep.