Naughty things happen at the end of the chapter. I mean it. NAUGHTY.
"Dance?" Erik asked Roxana when they saw Andrew and Meg striding toward their group. She nodded and grabbed his hand but they couldn't get away fast enough.
"Roxana!" Andrew said in his phony warm voice holding Meg's arm. Roxana almost wanted to throw up right there.
"Hello Andrew." She said dryly, glaring at him.
"I don't believe you've met my Meg." He said in a pathetic attempt to make her jealous. My God...he really thinks I want him...Roxana thought to herself in half horror. Roxana smiled, truly smiled and moved to embrace the tiny girl.
"Nice to meet you sweetheart. I'm Roxana. Andrew's sister-in-law." She said, to remind him that she would never be anything else. "You've found yourself a real gem here. After my sweet Justin died, Andrew so kindly took over my finances, although, they seemed to go into disarray shortly after." She said lacing her voice with sugary sweetness. She noticed Andrew's jaw clench, warning her. Erik's grip on her waist tightened.
Still smiling, she leaned her head affectionately on Erik's shoulder and turned into him, pretending to whisper something into his ear when she really whispered.
"The filthy bastard thinks I give a damn about him, so just smile and pretend like we are happy newlyweds." She said, thinking a moment before squeezing his rear. His eyes widened but he managed to keep his smile.
"Excuse us..." He said, clearing his throat. "I think my wife and I will go get some air." He said and gently guided her toward the door to the veranda, making sure it was clear to Andrew that they couldn't keep their hands off of each other. He stole a glance back and noticed Andrew had nearly forgotten Meg standing there and could almost see the rage coming from his body.
"Hello Christine." Meg said coldly to her sister. Christine tried to smile but failed as her lip began to tremble.
"Hello." She whispered. "Maybe we could go shopping this week Meg. I have missed our talks." She said nervously and Meg seemed to accept this for a moment before darkening.
"So have you gotten over your spell of ordering me around and trying to run my life?" She asked as Christine's mouth dropped. Why was she being attacked when she'd done nothing but say hello. Anger replaced her sadness.
"Jesus Christ Meg! I am so sorry for caring about what happens to you! Damn it all! You deserve everything you get." She said, pulling Raoul's arm and walking away to step outside and cry into Raoul's chest.
"I think we should go home love." He said, stroking her hair as Erik noticed them come outside.
"What the hell happened here?" He asked Raoul, who shrugged helplessly.
"She and Meg...well Meg kind of attacked her unnecessarily." He explained as Erik looked into the ballroom where Meg and her two snotty friends were huddled. He grabbed Christine's shoulders and looked her in the eyes.
"Damn her to Hell. Don't you listen to anything she says Christine! Do you hear?" He asked and she nodded, brushing the tears from under her eyes. Roxana, wrapped an arm around her.
"He's going to marry her." She said as Christine looked up.
"How do you know?" She asked and Roxana pointed at them in the ballroom.
"Look at how he goes out of his way to make everyone think he is wonderful. It's an act. Andrew only does things for himself." She said and Christine rolled her eyes.
"I don't care anymore. I am done being Meg's scapegoat." She said, looking at Raoul. "And no we are not leaving. That shows defeat. Come on" She said, moving back into the ballroom.
"I'll get us a drink dearest." He said, moving to the drink table.
"Raoul de Chagny...it's been so long!" Raoul nearly winced at the sound of Jacqueline's voice.
"Hello Jacqueline." He replied, not paying any attention to her. He tensed when he felt her bony little arm snake its way around his waist.
"Will you save a dance?" She asked, batting her eyelashes. He pulled her arm away.
"Jacqueline, I would like you to kindly remember that I am here with my wife who I love dearly and I have no intentions to take a mistress, much less you." He said trying to get away from her but she blocked his path.
"Oh come on...it could be just like it used to...remember when we were engaged?" She asked and he tried to walk around her.
"Jacqueline...it was arranged. It was never going to happen. I always loved Christine." He said and she growled.
"That little twit. I'll bet she tells you to turn around when she dresses too doesn't she?" She said, trying to push her cleavage against him. He rolled his eyes.
"I'm sorry Jacqueline...you're right. Who would want a sweet innocent girl over the town hussy?" He asked and pushed her aside to meet his wife, leaving her to fume.
"That didn't go too well did it?" Sissy asked, coming to her side. Jacqueline took a drink of champagne and elbowed her.
"Shut up Sissy. I will have Raoul de Chagny one way or another. Mistress or wife, I don't care but he will be mine."
"Who was that?" Christine asked, trying to hide the jealousy she felt. Raoul handed her the drink and sighed.
"Remember when I told you I was engaged?" He asked and she nodded, heat flooding her cheeks. He nodded. "That was her. A complete nightmare isn't she?" He asked as Christine eyed the girl who was staring daggers at her.
"She's beautiful..." Christine said, admiring the girl's dark brown hair and dark blue eyes.
"No, she's not." Raoul said, staring at Christine. "She's nothing to you." He said and glanced at Jacqueline, before kissing Christine. When he looked again, Jacqueline was gone. Thank God. He thought, pulling her into a dance.
"So what did you do in Persia?" Roxana asked, trying to make conversation. Erik laughed.
"Well, I...it's not the most sought after occupation, but it kept me alive. I entertained the shah, your grandfather, by killing people. They called me the Angel of Doom." He said, shaking his head. Her eyes were wide.
"You killed people?" She asked, and he nodded. "For my grandfather's pleasure?" She asked and he sighed.
"Actually it was more for his mother's pleasure. The khanum." He explained as she shook her head.
"What sick people." She said and he bit his lip ashamed.
"Well, I am not proud of it, but it kept me alive and far away from execution." He said and she nodded.
"I meant them." She said.
"You must understand dear, it was a different culture. It is a different culture." He said as the song ended and they moved to sit together in the corner.
"Yes, I suppose..." She said, "Did you have friends there?" She asked and he nodded.
"One. Nadir Khan. The Daroga, or chief of police. He is retired now, and has returned to Persia after a lengthy stay here." Erik said, thinking of his friend. "I was welcomed into his home by he and his ailing son Reza." Roxana sighed.
"What was wrong with him?" She asked and he shook his head.
"He was just very sick...and he didn't make it." He said, not wanting to talk about it any further. She could see that and decided to change the subject.
"What about your parents?" She asked and he frowned.
"I never had a father, but my mother's name was Madeleine. She actually looked a lot like Christine." He said, grinning at the irony of it before he noticed they were still holding hands. "She hated me." He said and Roxana stared at him.
"She did?" She asked and he nodded.
"I was to be named after my father, Charles, but when Mother saw the way...when she saw my...when she..."
"Your face?" Roxana nearly whispered. He nodded, staring intently at their hands.
"She told the priest to name me after himself since they were baptizing me right away. They thought I wouldn't make it...or hoped should I say. So Father Mansart christened me Erik." He held his hand up. "No more about my past." He said, it was almost too painful. She nodded.
"I'm sorry Erik, but can I just say one thing?" She asked. He shrugged.
"You may have come out...different...than everyone else..." She began and he sighed.
"This is a bit more than different." He said and she held her hand up to hush him.
"Different...but it wasn't your fault. There was no reason for you to be punished because of a trick of nature. Your mother may have been shallow enough to scorn you but that doesn't make you any less of a person." She said. His eyebrows were furrowed.
"I uh...let's not talk about her any more." He said, but seeing her need to get through to him, he squeezed her hand. "But thank you." He added and she nearly smiled.
"Roxana, may I have this dance?" Both Erik and Roxana looked up to see Andrew standing there casting a shadow over them. She looked at Erik and sighed. He set his jaw but said,
"I will be standing right there watching you." He said and kissed her cheek before moving over to Raoul and Christine.
"Roxana...I want to apologize for my behavior earlier this week." Andrew said as he held her. She barely allowed herself to touch them as their cheeks touched.
"You are forgiven." She said coldly, hoping that was all. He sighed.
"I only wish you would reconsider. I could make you so happy Roxy...so much happier than my brother ever did." He said and she pulled back.
"Don't you dare. Don't you shame his memory like that. I was never happier than when Justin was alive and no one could ever replace him." She said, her dark eyes bearing into him. He snorted.
"Not even precious Erik?" He asked snidely and she slapped him across the face.
"I wouldn't marry you if my life depended on it." She said and walked away from him as he held his cheek. A chill ran down her spine when she thought she heard him say.
"Maybe your life will depend on it one day."
"Well? How about that dance Mademoiselle?" Brett Reynolds asked, smoothly sliding an arm around Meg's shoulders which she shrugged off.
"Fine! If it will get you off my back." She said and allowed him to guide her onto the dance floor. "I have a name you know." She said and he grinned.
"So I am cracking through that hard exterior." He said and she sighed.
"No! I am just tired of hearing you call me Mademoiselle. It's Meg." She said and he chuckled.
"Pleasure...Mademoiselle Meg." He said and she growled at him.
"Easy girl...easy. Just teasing." He said and whirled her expertly.
"Dance much?" She asked, trying to hide the fact she was impressed.
"Mama made little brother and I take lessons." He said wrinkling his nose. She held back a giggle.
"So what's a sweet little girl like you doing with a dog like Westcliff?" He asked, and she looked at him unsure of how she should reply.
"Andrew is wonderful...he's so handsome and smart and sweet." She said and he chuckled.
"And don't think he doesn't know it...but to each their own I suppose." He said.
"What about you Monsieur Reynolds? Why aren't you married?" She asked and he shrugged.
"I have no need for love. It's pointless, boring and stupid and no girl is going to prove to me otherwise. I don't need the nagging anyway." He said, mimicking a woman's voice, "Brett dear, could you get me a cup of tea? Don't stay out too late! What do you mean you won't be home until Saturday?" She laughed at his impression.
"Not all women are like that." She said. "My mother isn't." She said, eyeing her mother who was seated comfortably with the Westcliffs and Chagnys.
"Well, I wish you and Lord Westcliff happiness...I suppose. Just do yourself a favor and keep him on a tight leash." He said and Meg frowned.
"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked and he kissed her hand.
"Let's just say his knickers have a way of magically disappearing." He said and began to walk away.
"Monsieur Reynolds, what do you..."
"Thank you for the dance Meg!" He said, not looking back and striding to his brother. She nearly screamed in frustration.
"Jamie will be ready in the morning." Roxana said as they walked into their silent dark house. Ana and Carolina had retreated to their quarters for the night.
"Are you sure he's safe there?" Erik asked her, hanging his cloak on the stand near the door. She nodded.
"They are his grandparents and Andrew has no use for small children anyway." She said, taking her shoes off and sighing in relief before walking up the stairs. Erik began to untie his tie and jacket shrugging it off. As they came to their rooms, they found themselves face to face.
"Well, goodnight." Erik said, holding his hand out for her to shake. She bit her lip.
"Night." She said and kissed his cheek. They parted and walked across the hall into their separate rooms. He sighed, sitting on his bed and beginning to unbutton his shirt. Christine had been asleep from the moment she sat in the carriage home. He'd kissed her cheek and helped Roxana out as they drove away. It was nice to see her and not hurt.
"Erik?" Roxana's voice came from the doorway. He looked up to see her standing there in her dressing gown looking embarrassed.
"Are you alright?" He asked and she sighed.
"Ana and Carolina are sleeping. Could you unlace my corset? It's killing me!" She said and he nodded, standing up. She threw her dressing gown to the side, leaving her in just her corset, chemise and stockings.
"I never could understand how you women wear these horrid things." He said and he unlaced it piece by piece, with Roxana sighing in relief at each notch coming undone.
"It's proper...women are meant to have tiny waists." She said quoting her finishing school teacher. Finally, she was free of it, but hadn't realized that her chemise was completely see through with her dark skin. Quickly she covered herself with her arms as Erik draped the dressing gown back over her, pretending he hadn't seen a thing. She tied it and sighed.
"Well night." She said again moving to flee. He nodded.
"Sure...goodnight."
He sat back on the bed again, unfastening the rest of his shirt and belt and a moment later, her voice was at the door again.
"Erik?" He looked up. Her eyes went down his chest, making him want to cover.
"Could you get these damned pins out of my hair?" She asked and he nodded, nearly sighing in relief. One by one he pulled the pins from her hair. When she turned back around she was pressed against his chest, his scent filling her.
"Well I should..." She said, nodding toward the door.
"Yes...you're right. You should..." He was silenced by her pulling his head down and his lips meeting hers. His eyes widened for a moment, unsure of what to do, until she guided his hands to her waist and thrust her tongue into his mouth. Oh yes...now I remember...He said as her hand snaked up to remove his mask. He stopped her but she shook her head.
"No...I want to see you." She said and he let her remove it along with the wig, leaving the rest of his thick black hair for her to run her hands through.
She pulled the shirt from his shoulders and removed her dressing gown. He didn't move an inch.
"Uh...are you sure?" He asked her and she nodded, reaching for his pants. His hands went up, he was completely lost as to how to react. Crossing her arms, she pulled her chemise off, leaving only her stockings which were held up by garters.
"Roxana, I don't know how..."
"Erik, shut up." She said, pushing him to lie on the bed and sliding beside him. In a matter of seconds his pants were down, and his arousal was evident. When she touched it, he nearly fainted from the wave of pleasure that coursed through his body. He'd never experienced anything like it. Oh sure, sometimes he'd touched himself when he was frustrated, but it hadn't felt like this. She trailed her lips from his neck to his chest then back to his lips. What are we doing? His mind repeated over and over again. Christine...There was no Christine here. Only Roxana.
"I'll show you everything." She said, kissing him repeatedly in small kisses. She kissed everything on his face, his eyebrows, his nose, his chin, every inch of marred flesh she could see. Guiding his hands, she placed one on her breast and another on her waist. He tentatively brought his lips to her breast kissing it, before turning her onto her back and taking over. Now he was running on pure arousal and instinct. He wanted to taste every inch of her. He started at her hands and kissed her arm, down her stomach, stopping at that place and skipping over it to move to her smooth legs. He pressed soft kisses down to her feet and back up again. Before he found the courage to touch her femininity, he looked at her for approval. She nodded and guided him. His fingers found her and he moved up to kiss her again. She sighed, whimpering in pleasure, which aroused him even further.
"Oh please..." She begged and he stopped, confused.
"Please what?" He asked and she gently pulled his hand back and lay him on his back.
Moving to sit over him, she eased herself down onto him as he let out a groan, wincing from the intense feeling. As she began to move, he felt his hands move to her waist, his head spinning. He knew his nails had to be digging into her soft skin, but at the moment, it didn't matter. She kept it slow, so that he wouldn't come too soon since it was his first time. When she saw he was getting close she would stop a moment until his breathing slowed back down. Finally, he could take it no more and using his hands on her waist, flipped her under him onto her back and took over. He kept it at a steady pace, knowing what she'd been doing, but once he saw her begin to come, he let himself go and let the instinct take over and after a moment, they'd come together. He rolled off of her and clutched the covers over himself as the drunken haze of pleasure lifted slowly from them.
"That was..." He said and she sighed, embarrassed.
"I know...I'm sorry." She said. "I don't know what came over me." She said and he yawned, stretching.
"Do you regret it?" He asked, feeling extremely vulnerable inches away from her.
"No. Do you?" She asked and he shook his head.
"No." He said and they both stared at the ceiling a moment. She began to get up but he grabbed her arm.
"Do you just want to sleep in here?" He asked and she looked at him surprised.
"Really? Aren't you worried, I'll take your blankets?" She asked and he shook his head, amused. "You can lay right here." He said, patting the sheets next to him. She laughed and crawled into the crook of his arm.
"This was really insane." She said and he nodded.
"I know..." He said and looked down at her.
"Don't worry it won't happen again..." She said, laying her head on his shoulder as he nodded again.
"Right." He repeated before falling asleep.