They fell asleep together in a sweet spooning position, exhausted from earlier. Christine was the first to wake up. She saw that they had moved out of their spooning position and she lay next to him, her head in the crook of his neck and her hands on his shoulder. He had a hand on her soft, pale stomach. The lightest of linens covered both of them from the waist down. Guilty feelings of Raoul shook her even wider awake, until she realized that they weren't together anymore.
She closed her eyes remembering right before they had gone to sleep. They were both so tired from their intimate act, but each had their eyes shining with excitement and pleasure. He had sang her a lullaby to sleep, stroking her cheek and still admiring her body. Her body, which he had claimed as his just moments before. Christine had fallen asleep, and Erik had remained awake for a bit, looking at her breasts rising and falling with every rhythmic breath of sleep. This was his Christine, his Angel, who he had just made love to. He couldn't believe it. Never before had he dreamed that she would do this with him-any woman, as a matter of fact.
He stirred beside her, but Christine's eyes remained closed, until she felt him pushing stubborn strands of curls out of her face. She knew he was awake. "Erik?" her eyes opened, looking into his beautiful eyes.
"I'm sorry, Christine. I didn't mean to wake you", he said.
"No, it's quite alright. I was already awake anyway. Besides, it wouldn't have mattered to me if I were asleep", she told him, caressing the non-masked side of his face.
Erik reached over and pulled on his pants, but Christine just lay there. She was still tired, and also a little sore- her virgin body wasn't used to that.
"I was thinking, Christine. Carlotta cannot stay. It just won't work, because you need to be the star, the one everyone praises. And at the Masquerade... I was thinking of presenting my finished piece to the opera managers. I was planning on doing it alone, but if you would walk down with me..." he looked over at Christine, her body almost glowing.
She giggled, a soft sound that made Erik almost groan in pleasure. "Of course, Erik! You don't even need to ask. I am yours", she told him.
"Christine, I hate to say this, but Madame Giry and Meg will be looking for you. I know they are", Erik said, truly looking sad and disappointed.
"Alright, I was just thinking the same thing. But I'll meet you tonight, here, right before the Masquerade starts", she said to him. She didn't feel like putting her corset back on, and just out her slightly damp dressing gown on over her slim naked figure.
He couldn't help but admire her, even though he had gotten all of her last night, as she moved, her figure underneath clearly visible in the gossamer fabric. Every curve showed, reminding him of how beautiful she really was. Not that he needed reminding.
He rowed Christine back, and helped her step through her mirror before he left her with a passionate kiss. She stared at the mirror for a minute afterwards, mesmerized by his beauty, but then there was a knocking on the door. She started and pulled on the nearest dress to her, ashamed at the thought of anyone but Erik seeing her like this.
It was Meg and Madame Giry, as she had expected. "Christine, we've been looking for you. Where have you been?" Meg asked her.
Christine answered, "Just around", in an entranced voice. She could still feel his touch...
"But... " Meg protested.
Madame Giry interrupted her. "Meg, let her be. that is reason enough", she said. Madame Giry closed the door behind her, looking at Christine with a knowing look.
Hours later, Christine was once again at the catacombs of the opera house. She was in her Masquerade attire, a pink beautiful gown with roses on it, and white gloves and a silver sparkling masquerade mask, a rose placed carefully in the corner. She looked around for Erik, but couldn't find him. He was probably getting dressed. She sat down on his piano bench and waited.
They made their way toward the ball. He led to a dark room. "Open this door, and that is where the ball is", he told her.
She smiled at him, always amazed with his vast knowledge of the opera house. He opened the door for her, straightening himself out. This was his opera house.
Everyone stopped and stared at them, some curious but most of them frightened. Christine proudly held his hand as they entered the now silent room. She moved closer to his strong body, scared.
Christine nervously touched the engagement ring on the left hand on her ring finger. Erik had given it to her just minutes ago.
A familiar figure hurried up, another familiar figure catching up to him. They held hands as they watched Christine and Erik. The male figure moved his eyes onto the engagement ring, and let out a gasp of shock.
Christine moved her head toward the noise to find Raoul staring at her, Meg right by his side and holding his hand. Christine gripped even tighter onto Erik, who then began to tell everyone about his new opera.
"Why so silent good Messieurs? Did you think that I had left you for good? Have you missed me, good Messieurs? I have written you an opera. Here I bring the finished score: Don Juan Triumphant! I have your Christine, and now she belongs to me!" he said, and lifted her hand for the audience to see her ring.
Christine blushed, but she loved Erik so she stayed silent. He wrapped his arm around her tiny waist. "She has returned to me, her teacher. Her teacher", he added. Raoul let go of Meg's hand and moved closer to Christine.
"Christine?" he whispered. Erik tightened his grip on her waist tensely.
"Raoul, no. Please don't", she begged him.
"But..." he said. His pleading eyes were almost too much for Christine to bear. She let go of Erik's had, letting it fall to his side. She didn't see his fist clenched in anger.
Raoul grabbed her left hand and looked at her engagement ring. He looked at her. "Why, Christine?" he asked her sadly.
He held onto her hand, but she wiggled her hand out of his grip. "Because I love him", she answered softly, and walked back to Erik and held his hand once more.
"Can we please go? I'm sorry, but with him here..." Christine whispered to Erik. He nodded in reply and threw the bag that held his new opera onto the floor for the managers to read. They left as mysteriously as they had came.