A/N: I am taking big plunges lately. I made a video and put it up on YouTube. For me that is something big. I am not computer savy like most of you. Please give it a looksee. Leave a comment please. If it is crap say it's crap or give suggestions how to improve it. I want to learn to make some really great ones for my stories. The address will be in my profile.
Chapter Twenty-one
Angel of Mercy
Antoinette had gone to Erik's only to be told by Brimley it would be best to leave Master Erik for the time being. He was a hard man to please at the best of times and in illness he became quite vile.
Antoinette made the trip daily from Raoul's to Erik's house. She and Brimley would discuss Erik's condition then move on to how they might get Erik and Meg to come to their senses. Antoinette told Brimley what Erik had told her the night of Christine's performance and Meg's little mishap.
They concluded Erik's night in the rain may well have something to do with Meg's leaving with that man. Erik had disappeared soon after Meg had left. It was not beyond the realm of possibility that Erik had followed Meg. I t would not be the first time he had pursued a woman using stealth as his method to spy on her.
On the fourth day when Erik's fever rose to 105° Brimley told Erik he would be sending for the doctor regardless of Erik's opinion on the matter. Erik had not wanted a doctor as he would be required to remove his mask. Erik very rarely went without that sacred covering. When he put that piece of cloth on his face Erik felt as if all his sins were covered as well as his horrid face.
Brimley had left Erik's bedroom ignoring all Erik's shouts intermittent with coughing spells. Antoinette arrived just shortly before Brimley had been going to send for the doctor. She had been waiting for Erik's illness to resolve itself before she came into contact with him. They could not take the chance that he had something contagious.
These last few days with Brimley gave Antoinette some much needed quiet to scrutinize all that had been happening lately. She could think with a clearer head without Meg and Christine's crying while hanging on her neck.
Erik had told her before Christine's performance that he hoped to have a pleasant surprise for her. Antoinette did not need to think too hard what he had been going to tell her.
Antoinette thought Meg had come to her senses during Erik's illness but needed to make sure of her feelings before Erik placed his heart at her feet. He may not be able to withstand another blow to his heart. Antoinette would let Meg stew for a while in uncertainty. After all Antoinette did not know for sure just how ill Erik was or was not did she? She had not seen him with her own eyes so if asked she could look dismayed at the question, even saddened. She had been around actors for a number of years after all.
Upon learning of his illness her motherly concern had risen to the fore in the beginning until she had learned Erik seemed as if he would recover. She felt as if Erik were a part of her family. If all went as she hoped Erik could well be her son-in-law. That would please her very much. Erik had become a fine man. He still had a few rough edges but for the most part he had overcome his poor treatment as a child and young man.
Today Brimley had greeted Antoinette with exuberance. At least as much as a highly trained butler would permit himself to show outwardly. Master Erik had not been the best of patients. Brimley knew Madame Giry possessed some sort of control over his employer. Brimley thought today may well be the day for Antoinette to enter Erik's sickroom.
Apprizing her of all that had been happening since her last visit Brimley led Antoinette upstairs and into Erik's bedroom for the first time since he had become ill. Antoinette blushed profusely upon noting Erik's Lack of clothing on his upper body. She hoped he at least had some sort of trousers on for propriety's sake. Seeing all that bared flesh may cause her unease but she could not help but admire all that Erik had been blessed with in perfectly formed muscles. He would make an exquisite model for a sculpture.
Bringing herself back from losing sight of her objective Antoinette laid her hand across Erik's burning forehead. She frowned to feel the heat coming off his skin. She lowered her head to his chest. Loud rattling sounds came from where his lungs would be.
Antoinette turned to Brimley and asked him to heat pans of water to boiling point. He would need to send someone to the apothecary for some mentholated ointment. Until the doctor could come they would make Erik as comfortable as they could. This being the time for such illnesses the doctor could be held up for quite some time.
Flu had broken out in parts of London. Antoinette prayed Erik only had a cold with perhaps a slight respiratory infection. Years of living in the opera house had forced Antoinette to learn many doctoring skills. The opera house being such a large establishment only had one doctor so many had to learn how to treat themselves.
Brimley felt relieved to relinquish control to someone else. If something unthinkable happened he would not want to be responsible in any way. He cared for his employer far too much to risk treating Master Erik with the lowly skills of a butler.
The doctor made it just after nine in the evening. He approved of the vapor baths. When he listened to Erik's lungs they sounded as if the congestion had loosened. He should begin to cough up the mucous thereby clearing the restrictive breathing.
Antoinette had taken a few extra pillows to raise Erik up to nearly a sitting position. With instructions to be sure the patient remained hydrated Dr. Frost took his leave. Antoinette had been reassured by the doctor that Erik had only a cold with congestion. No more need be done than what they were already doing. He should pull through completely recovered as he seemed to be a man of a strong constitution.
Antoinette stayed until Erik regained consciousness. She made sure he ate and drank. When he requested aid to the facilities she rang for Brimley. Antoinette would only do so much and since Brimley didn't seem to mind why not place this part of Erik's care back into the man's capable hands.
Erik's throat felt as if he had swallowed a burning coal, one that scratched all the way down. He tried to speak when he saw Brimley sleeping in a chair near his bed. All that he managed to get out had been a croak.
Not wanting to strain his voice Erik looked for some way to draw the man's attention. He felt so weak Erik doubted he would have the ability to sit up let alone leave this bed without aid. He vaguely remembered having done so with Brimley's assistance. That had been a humiliating experience at best. At least he had been spared Antoinette's assistance during that task.
Erik had no way of knowing how long ago that trip had been but the urgency he felt left him with little doubt it had been some time ago.
Knocking a book from the bedside table Brimley startled to hear the loud thump. When he saw Erik awake but looking very weak Brimley attempted a small smile then recalled his station.
Erik pointed to his bathroom door. Brimley understood Erik's need. Having to be nearly carried to his own bathroom Erik just put down on his long list of indignities he had suffered all his life.
With many silent curses Erik at last found peace and relief in his own bathroom. If it would not be somewhat uncomfortable Erik considered remaining where he now sat. When Erik pulled the chain to flush the commode this alerted Brimley to the fact of Erik needing his aid once more to return to the bed.
Feeling weaker than a day old kitten and just as ineffectual Erik leaned back heavily against his pillows. Once he had caught his breath he motioned toward his desk for something to write with. Having been handed a pencil and paper Erik asked all those questions he wanted answered.
He asked who had paid him visits while he had been ill. He did not ask specifically for any one person. Erik wanted to know if Meg had been by to enquire as to his wellbeing but would not ask directly. Brimley had told him Antoinette had been the only person who had paid a visit. As to anyone else, not a soul had rung the bell. Of course Madame did say she would be telling everyone of his illness. As Erik would be needing his rest everyone would visit once he regained his strength.
Not liking the answer to that question Erik threw the offending paper and pencil across the room as if they were directly responsible for Meg's absence. Why the hell did she not come? She could have at least sent an inquiry. For all Meg knew he could be at death's door with one foot in the grave. Did he not matter to her? Erik wished he had asked Antoinette some questions. Of course that would have required more strength than he had at present.
Brimley left Erik's room smiling for his employer's show of temper. Temper meant Erik would now be on the mend.
Erik felt relieved to have a few moments to recover his dignity. It came to him that he might be able to use his present condition in some way. Perhaps Erik could elicit some sympathy from Meg. He knew she had a kind heart and would defend the weaker beings fiercely.
Erik scooted down under the covers. He folded his arms scrunching his face into a dark scowl. When he had more strength than a toddler, Erik would be paying Mademoiselle Giry a visit if she did not come to him first. She had better have some acceptable answers for her behavior. Why Antoinette had not taken a hand to her backside he could not fathom.
Under the influence of his dire promises Erik completely disregarded the fact that he had freed Meg to do what she wished with whomever she wished. Just because he had expected different results did not change the fact that it had been his convoluted reasoning that had lead them to this impasse. Erik had waited long enough for some explanation. Now things would be in his hands under his control.
Erik put his hands behind his head in a much better frame of mind once having made the decision to confront Meg. He smiled just thinking about how they could make up once all the misunderstandings had been removed.
The scowl returned along with an angry glitter to Erik's eyes when he remembered that foppish gentleman who had taken Meg into that bedroom. Erik dare not think what might have taken place behind that closed door. If he did someone may well end up with a Punjab around his throat.
Antoinette had plenty of time on the journey home to mull over how she could use Erik's incapacitation to her advantage. She and Brimley had discussed this very subject during her visits.
Clearly Meg wanted to be with Erik and it had been just as clear Erik wanted her there. Neither of them had the sense God gave a goose. Well now things were in her hands. If Antoinette overstated Erik's ill health to everyone, especially Meg, who would know other than Brimley and herself of course that anything other than the pure truth had been relayed? Erik would not protest as he would be getting what he wanted, Meg's attention. If Antoinette had known how closely her thoughts ran with Erik's it would have given her cause to pause and consider how alike they had become over time, although Antoinette had a softer touch than Erik did.
Antoinette drew upon her years of watching performers show a variety of emotions at the drop of a hat. She stood outside the door to Raoul and Christine's home thinking of every sad thing in the world to bring tears to her eyes. When she felt the trickle of one lone tear she drew out her handkerchief to place over her mouth so she would look as if she had been crying for some time.
Opening the door Antoinette felt somewhat surprised to be set upon by two women. Each asked questions faster than she could answer them. Raoul stood in the background with a look of resolution on his face. Meg and Christine would not leave the front parlor window seat the whole time Antoinette had been gone. Every time Antoinette left for Erik's home it was the same.
As soon as they saw her carriage's return, both women had nearly trampled Raoul to get into the foyer. Once they saw Antoinette they set upon her with a deluge of questions. The poor women seemed quite distressed.
Taking matters into his own hands, Raoul pulled Christine and Meg away from Antoinette's side admonishing them gently for not giving the poor woman time to catch her breath. Could they not see their mother seemed distressed?
Meg took time to examine her mother when Raoul's words of criticism took root. Once Meg calmed down her mother's tears and grief-stricken face registered with heartrending clarity. For her mother to cry meant the worst had either happened already or would soon become a reality.
Meg pressed her hands over her heart as it felt as if it would cease to beat at any moment.
Antoinette felt only slightly guilty to see her daughter Meg's distress. If this worked as she planned Meg would forgive her mother's little deception.
Raoul took Antoinette's arm to guide her gently into the parlor. Once having seated her Raoul bade the other two women to take a seat so they might hear what Antoinette had learned.
Briefly, without too much embellishment Antoinette told them what she had encountered upon visiting Erik. She exaggerated just enough so they would think that perhaps Erik lingered at the precipice of life and death. If this had been the truth Antoinette never would have done such an evil thing as to use Erik's illness in this way. She felt much more justified since he had now passed the threshold of danger.
Erik had indeed in the earlier stages of his illness been teetering on the edge but now he seemed headed for recovery. Antoinette did not feel she lied egregiously as Erik had been extremely ill and still had not fully recovered. If the Angel of Death had beat a hasty retreat from Erik's presence how was Antoinette to know?
Meg's response to the news had been all Antoinette could have hoped for. When Meg insisted she would be making a visit to Erik regardless of any improprieties no one seemed to think about putting forward any protests to the contrary. Meg would see Erik and run over anyone who got in her way.
No one made a move to detain her. The look on her face let them know Meg would take out anyone putting up any sort of barricade in front of her. be it a human barrier or some solid object.
When Christine would have called after Meg that she would join her, Antoinette put a staying hand on her arm. When Christine looked her way Antoinette merely shook her head with a smile on her face. Nature would now take its course. Whatever happened now would be in the hands of the two involved.
Meg's hands shook as she tried to place the hatpin in the crown of her hat. With the agitation she felt it seemed lucky she did not put out her eye or stab a hole in her head.
All Meg could think of at the moment was poor Erik near death and suffering alone. She could not understand her mother at all. Why could she not have stayed to make sure Erik had the best of care? Of course Brimley would see to it that Erik had all the medical aid he needed. Sometimes though, the best medicine could be a little tender loving care. Meg herself would now see to that part of Erik's road to recovery.
Raoul waited at the bottom of the stairs to catch Meg before she went off like a woman to a hat sale. He had ordered his finest carriage for Meg's use. If she must go to Erik, Raoul would make the trip as comfortable and safe as possible. Why Antoinette would allow this Raoul did could not clearly fathom. He supposed Antoinette had some notion of Meg and Erik coming together. Why that woman would want to hand her daughter over to the likes of Erik was beyond Raoul's ken.
He supposed Erik had made partial amends for his past. The man had been forced to live a rather unorthodox lifestyle of seclusion underground in near darkness. The solitude alone could drive a man insane. Some people could live their lives in such conditions and enjoy the total quiet. A person of Erik's creativity needed others to share his gift with him just as actors needed an audience to have their performance appreciated. Those who had artistic talent thrived on appreciation like anyone else. Everyone wanted the approval of those who were their peers.
Raoul had thought of Erik's situation and their rivalry for Christine's hand. Raoul had come to the conclusion that although Erik had not used fair tactics to win Christine he had used the skills at hand to accomplish something that his heart and soul needed to survive. Raoul could appreciate the great sacrifice Erik had made that last night. If the situation had been reversed Raoul feared he may not have been so unselfish.
Having come to understand Erik's plight Raoul had made the conscious decision that he would aid Meg and Erik in any means he could so that their road to one another would be smooth. Anyone with fairly good eyesight could see that Meg had lost her heart to that dark angel.
Raoul may not approve of Meg's choice but then his family had not approved of Christine either. No one could decide where their heart would love. Love happened when we least expected it sometimes and with someone we would not otherwise have thought we would come to care about. Raoul would bet his fortune Erik had not once thought of Meg as someone he would end up loving. He had thought Christine to be the love of his life. Lucky for some people that sometimes love happens more than once.
Raoul looked at Meg admiring how radiant she looked with her cheeks all flushed and the fire of determination burning in her eye.
Extending his hand toward Meg, Raoul helped her down the last few steps. When she stood beside him Raoul informed her that a cab would not be necessary. He had readied his carriage. He had also put his own physician on alert in case there came a time for his services. If Raoul knew anything about Erik it was his penchant for disliking strangers or anyone who would need to look upon his bared face. More than likely he had sent his present doctor packing after only a few minutes.
Meg thanked Raoul profusely. Not even seeking out anyone else Meg hurried to the door as quickly as her full skirts would permit.
The coachman received only a cursory thank you for his assistance into the carriage. All of Meg's concern at this time centered on Erik. Everyone else just registered barely on the peripheral of her mind.
The whole way across the busy London streets Meg wrung her fingers together worrying what she might find once she made it to Erik's. He must be on the mend. Meg could not bear it if something happened to Erik without him knowing how much she loved him. This illness at least brought Meg to her senses. She would be finding out once and for all where she and Erik would be going from here. If she must profess her feelings first then she would lay bare her soul for Erik. Whatever he needed to be certain of her regard Meg would do without a second thought.
When Meg saw Erik's home through the opened window of the carriage she did not wait for a helping hand from the coachman. She climbed down clumsily in her haste almost falling flat on her face. Regaining her footing Meg ran up the few steps to Erik's front door. Knocking once she did not wait for the echoing sound from her first knock to dissipate before she knocked again.
With her hand poised to knock once more Meg breathed a sigh of relief when Brimley answered the door. Not waiting for an invitation to enter Meg brushed by Erik's butler without giving him so much as a glance. She would be appalled later for her lack of manners but at this very second she could care less for the appropriate show of etiquette. She ran as fast as she could to the top of the stairs only then realizing she had no earthly idea where Erik's room was located. Turning back toward Brimley Meg did not need to say a word. Brimley had a wide smile on his face as he instructed Meg to go all the way to the end of the hall. Master Erik had a suite that went from one end of the house to the other.
Rather a large room for a man alone Brimley had always thought. Things may change for the better in that respect. Brimley whistled gaily as he went to the kitchen to advice the house staff that Miss Giry would be nursing Master Erik back to health. Not one word of this was to leave the house or there would be hell to pay, not only from Brimley, but Master Erik as well. No one in their right mind crossed Erik. Everyone present being of right minds, nothing would pass their lips save in the case of death threats. Or on second thought, death would be a blessing compared to what they imagined Master Erik could do if half the things they knew were true and only a smidgen of what they suspected to be the truth.
Meg approached the door to Erik's room with trepidation. She did not know in what condition she might find Erik. As she felt the prickle of tears coming she sniffed inelegantly then wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
Cautiously she opened the door lest she wake him. Meg did not wish to wake him if he was sleeping peacefully. Opening the door Meg got her first look of Erik in over a month except for that brief look at the theatre.
His face had her catching her breath at the beauty of him even with his hair all mused, face unshaven, and flushed face.
Meg could not help but compare him to a little boy. The covers were thrown aside while one leg hung off the side of the mattress. He had both arms raised above his head. He did look much younger than she knew him to be.
She approached the bed on tiptoe. Reaching the bedside Meg could not resist touching him. She laid her hand across his forehead. She drew her hand back quickly when he stirred and moaned. Once he settled again Meg set about making him more comfortable.
She placed his leg back on the bed. That did not come about as easily as Meg had imagined it would. Erik, despite his lean look, seemed to be made of solid muscle wrapped around solid rocks. Meg could well remember just how hard certain places had been beneath her hands. Blushing furiously, Meg left Erik for a minute to retrieve a small pan, washcloth and cool water.
Once she had returned she unbuttoned the cuffs of her blouse. Rolling the sleeves up Meg went to work freshening Erik while hoping to aid him in riding him of his fever. He did not seem to be as warm as her mother had led her to belief.
When Meg had stepped into the room Erik had awoken to see Meg entering his bedroom. As her back had been turned to close the door, Erik had quickly lowered his head back to the pillow and closed his eyes. He hoped to gain a little sympathy from Meg due to his illness.
Never had he thought she would take it upon herself to bath him in this manner. It took every skill Erik had learned over the years to remain as if still unconscious.
How he remained still when Meg ran her hands over the bared skin of his chest Erik had no clue as his mind began to wander into such fantasies. His skin seemed to catch flame not due to any fever. Meg's touch had nearly set him ablaze as her hand dipped low on his stomach.
Erik felt gratitude for whatever merciful fate had Meg covering his lower body as he would have embarrassed both himself and Meg with the reaction he had to Meg's first touch. His instant arousal would prove his illness to be all but over.
Having made it through the torture of Meg washing him Erik now had to lie quietly as Meg scooted onto the bed to raise his upper torso so that she could slip behind his back.
Erik did not really mind resting his back against Meg's soft breasts. In fact it felt so damn good he wished to have this same experience when not having to pretend any illness. Erik thought he might have gotten his fever back when Meg began to speak. What she said he felt had to be a wonderful dream or something his mind conjured during a raging fever.
"Oh Erik, I have missed you so much. Why did you go away as you did? Everyone seems to think you care for me but your actions prove otherwise.
You cannot know how deeply hurt and bewildered I felt when you left with only a terse letter. If you did not feel as I did and wished to part you could have done so without having to leave. I would not have forced myself on you. I would have not liked it but I could have remained as only a friend to you.
I have been such a fool this last month trying to convince myself I did not care the tiniest bit for you other than as a friend and at times not even that.
It shames me when I think of what nearly happened with Steven. I should get to my knees daily and thank a merciful God that he had remained a true gentleman. He did not take advantage of my stupidity as some men would have.
Erik even if we never are together again in any intimate way at least I will have the knowledge that you were the only man to share intimacies with me. I can hold that beautiful memory in my heart of our first time together. You may not have known nor cared but to me the experience had been nearly perfect. The only missing element had been that you did not love me as I loved you at that time.
Even the night you mistook me for Christine I would have enjoyed your touch if you had not been quite so violent in your possession of me. How pitiful I must seem to admit such a thing to you. I don't think I could if you were aware of what I said. I am glad I can confess all of this to you at last. It has been a desperate need for me to say it all out loud. Saying it out loud makes it seem more real and less something I only imagined in my own mind.
The night of the rescue I thought at last you had gotten over Christine. It had seemed as if you would be coming to ask my mother for permission to court me. Instead you went away leaving me feeling as if I had been tossed into a raging ocean storm with no safe harbor. I felt as if I were drowning. I began to grab at anything that seemed like a lifesaver.
Nothing really kept you from the forefront of my mind for long, not even dancing as Prima Ballerina. I only went through the motion of living Erik. Without you I only seemed to be living. When I learned how ill you were I…I could not bear the thought of losing you."
Meg paused to kiss Erik's temple. It hit her once again how very nearly she had lost him. Pride be damned. She loved Erik with every breath she took. She would tell him so now and once again when he could hear her. If he could not return her feelings she must then go away for a while to lick her wounds before she could face him once more.
With tears running down her cheeks Meg professed her love over and over to Erik as she kissed him about his face. She stroked him with her hands with tender caresses. If this was to be all she had Meg wanted to be sure she had enough to last until her dying day.
Erik felt a tear drop just before Meg began to kiss and caress him. Feeling a cad, Erik could not continue this farce a moment longer. He could not allow Meg to hurt in this way. Erik was no stranger to pain. He wanted nothing to ever hurt Meg again, least of all himself.
Rolling over Erik used his arm to snag Meg closer to him as he pulled her down underneath him. Erik claimed Meg's lips in a kiss that seemed to go on and on. Passion built between them nearly flaring out of control.
After the first surprised gasp at Erik's sudden movement everything else suddenly seemed to evaporate from Meg's conscious mind. A haze of passion swept her away. It had been far too long since she had felt Erik's lips on hers. For the moment it did not strike her as odd that a man who had been supposedly at death's door only a short time ago now held her in a passionate embrace.
Erik's hand beginning to raise Meg's hip broke the spell Erik had woven around Meg. Pushing against Erik Meg mumbled against his lips for Erik to get off of her. Angrily she shoved him away so that she could scoot none too gracefully off the bed.
"Erik you cad. How dare you listen to my confession while pretending to be unconscious. A gentleman would have stopped me before I made a fool of myself." Meg glared ineffectually at Erik as he brazenly smiled as he placed his hands behind his head to link his fingers.
If Erik had not heard Meg declare her feelings with his own ears he would not now be so confident of winning her over. Erik stretched out his hand toward Meg confidence in every pore as he waited for her to take his hand. Meg chewed her lip. She wanted to go to him but darn it, he had played unfairly with her emotions.
Meg only kept Erik in suspense for a second or two as her own inclination was to crawl onto that bed with him once more. Had they not nearly lost one another playing silly games and letting their fears and insecurities separate them? At least Erik had been unsure of her love. Meg had known she loved Erik for some time now. She had not been as sure of him. Sometimes he would look at Christine with a strange faraway expression in his eyes.
Meg would be asking Erik how he felt about Christine. She wanted to know if she still had to battle the ghost of a lost love. Meg could say with almost complete certainty that Christine loved Raoul with her whole heart. Of course any woman thinks of her first love wondering "what if" at times. Men she imagined did the same. It was human nature to always think of the might have beens in ones life. Not everyone acted on them. Meg needed to know if she committed herself to Erik if he could do the same with a clear conscience and whole heart.
At last Meg placed her hand into Erik's warm, slightly callused hand. He immediately wrapped his fingers around her hand as if afraid she might change her mind.
Lifting her leg up Meg slid onto the bed beside Erik. She had expected him to move over just a little but Erik remained just where he was bringing them flush against one another.
When Erik would have spoken Meg placed her finger over his lips. Using her finger to caress his mouth Meg raised her head to kiss Erik lingeringly. For now she wanted to reacquaint her body with Erik's. Later they could discuss everything thoroughly until all had been settled. At this moment Meg wanted him too badly to refuse him anything he wanted.
Erik took advantage of Meg's willingness to have him express all he felt for her. This time Erik would make sure he only touched Meg in the most gentle and loving manner possible.
Starting at Meg's lips Erik worked his way down worshipping each patch of newly exposed flesh that Erik bared as he released the buttons on Meg's blouse one by one. When the last button had been freed he removed that first obstacle between him and what he desired.
Meticulously Erik examined Meg as if committing her to memory. Meg began to move as she felt the first waves overtake her. Much more and the journey would be over for her.
Meg entreated Erik to remove the rest of her clothing a little more quickly. If he thought her a brazen hussy Meg found she could not care less at this moment in time.
Erik could feel his own body's reaction to all he had done to Meg. It had been so long since they had been together. For a man who had only been with a woman so few times Erik found it unbearable now not to have that closeness.
He had been tempted to find a woman to relieve his frustrations but found he had no real interest in anyone but Meg. As crazy as others might think him, Erik could not lay with just anyone. Years ago certainly he could and would have. Now he knew what it was supposed to be and Erik wanted that wonderful feeling of fulfillment with the woman he loved.
Erik wanted to make love slowly and tenderly to Meg but that darn woman would not cooperate. Every place Erik touched seemed to inflame her further. Her moans and entreaties for more, more, more, had Erik about to come undone.
When he would have removed his hand from the warm wetness between her thighs Meg stayed his hand begging him to bring her to the brink then fill her with his hard manhood.
A request like that for Erik was like manna from heaven. He could no more ignore her pleas than a bear could resist the honey hive.
Meg's movements were becoming more frantic. Urging Erik with forceful tugs on his shoulders to claim her Meg left marks of passion on Erik's bare flesh.
With a groan of surrender Erik parted Meg's thighs then placed himself between them ready to enter Meg's gateway to heaven. With one swift downward movement Erik made Meg his woman once more.
Erik need not worry if he would satisfy Meg for she had been well on her way to completion before he claimed her. Just a few strokes brought her over the pinnacle. Her moans and thrusting hips were all Erik needed to topple her over the edge into that downward spiral.
Erik lost all control at that point. His strokes were masterful as Meg arched her back calling out his name in her passion. Erik watched every expression as it passed over her face. Seeing her in the throws of ecstasy was all Erik needed to end his own journey.
Moving within Meg Erik felt her tighten around him. What Meg and Erik shared that night joined them forever as one. The love they felt passed between them bringing them the most fulfilling night of their life thus far. Erik thought for their union to be any better they would have to die and be joined in some heavenly realm.
When Erik felt himself about to slip over the edge he begged Meg to tell him she loved him. Meg obliged readily as she felt herself coming unglued. Raining kisses over every inch she could reach Meg told Erik how much she loved him. Praise for his prowess as a lover flowed warmly from her lips stroking Erik's ego with every word she uttered. By the time they both lay panting, replete with passion Erik felt ten feet tall.
Even now it seemed Meg could not bear not to touch Erik as she ran her hands over his back. Every once in a while she would raise her head to place a kiss here and three.
In so many different ways Meg had shown Erik how much she loved him. Now she continued to tell him so with the words he had hoped to one day hear from a woman but never really expected to have them used as a description for him.
Even Christine had never used such phrases when she spoke of loving him. In comparison Meg's words outshone anything Christine had ever said to him. Erik began to think that love was just as everything else in life was. It came in different degrees of intensity and had many different connotations. There were different kinds of love. What he and Christine had felt was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Only now could he really appreciate having lost Christine so that he and Meg could be together. Erik thought that what he and Meg shared would even outweigh his love of Christine's voice. If it meant he would lose Meg if he kept his music, Erik would forfeit it without any qualms.
Thinking about it, Erik doubted he would have been able to relinquish his music for Christine. He had sacrificed much and endangered his immortal soul in a false belief that she would be his only chance for love. His one gift that God had bestowed on him, music, Erik would not have traded for Christine's love. How saddened Erik felt to come to this realization after having committed so many sins in the name of love. Meg demanded no such sacrifice. She would have come to him without any demands put upon him. Indeed she had given her innocence with no promise that he returned her feelings. He had not at the time been able to see beyond Christine's roll in his life. Christine had been a major part of his life for nearly twenty years.
It had only been Erik's own insecurities that had driven the wedge between him and Meg. Never again would he let his doubts in his abilities to gain anyone's love lead him astray.
Erik had to believe in what Meg told him as she continued to praise his abilities to pleasure her as well as thinking him to be the most handsome man she knew. Erik felt his pride swelling with every word Meg uttered. Who would have thought Erik would win the admiration and love of someone, anyone, as marvelous as Meg?
Not wanting Meg to think him a selfish man, Erik waxed profusely over every aspect he found of interesting her as well. Meg and Erik traded praises as they traded kisses and caresses. Soon words were unnecessary as Erik possessed Meg once more. This mating held all the tenderness and drawn out exploration Erik had been denied when Meg demanded a swift assent to passion's euphoric end.
As Meg and Erik lay replete once more she could not seem to refrain from touching him. Erik had fallen asleep turning to his side away from her.
Meg traced her fingertip along the map work of scarring on Erik's back. It gave her physical pain to think of anyone lashing out at him with such a spiteful hand. To imagine that many of these scars had happened during his childhood nearly broke her heart.
Meg understood more about Erik than ever before. Although she could not condone many of the things he had done Meg felt she could understand them. Anyone in the same circumstances may well have given into the rage that had been bound to build up over the years during so much torture.
Isolation from the more forgiving populace did not aid in Erik's development either. Too much of one's own company could lead one to insanity. People needed to be among their own kind to survive.
Silently Meg made a vow to do all she could to prevent Erik from suffering one more day as he had in the past. From today onward she would make it her mission in life to make sure Erik had only the most loving people around him. She would give to him everything he had missed in his life before he met her.
Erik awoke to feel soft lips tracing the horrors on his back. He wanted to admonish Meg for tainting her beautiful mouth with the ugliness that crisscrossed his flesh.
All thoughts were suddenly thrown into chaos when Meg slid her hand across his waist to encircle his hardening flesh in her delicate hand. Erik marveled at her bold action. He closed his eyes as desire shot through him engorging that part of him that longed to join with Meg once more.
Groaning in surrender Erik rolled over so he could face Meg. Drawing her toward him Erik placed his lips over Meg's slightly parted mouth. He slid his tongue inside her inner moistness. At his tongues first caress of Meg's own tongue from Erik's she lost all hope of controlling anything.
She supposed Erik would always have this affect on her. Whenever he touched her all barriers were overtaken without any effort on his part. Meg willingly gave Erik all that he asked of her. Meg was as a puppet under Erik's guidance. For a man who had gone far longer than most men without learning the ways of a woman first hand, Meg had to think Erik to be a very quick study. He made her body feel and crave things she could only imagine. Now Erik made her feel all those things she had heard the other women of the opera house discuss and read about in those tawdry romances.
Having exhausted one another both Meg and Erik fell asleep entwined in a tangle of arms and limbs. Erik lay draped half across Meg as he had been unable to move a muscle after their last bout of lovemaking. He had fallen deeply asleep before he could gather the strength required to remove himself from Meg.
Neither knew anything further until late the following morning. All night Erik held Meg in his arms as if afraid to let her go even in sleep. Never having slept with anyone before, when Erik woke to first feel Meg's warm softness against him then saw her sleep flushed face smiling sleepily at him, Erik knew this had been what he wanted and needed all of his adult life.
Erik kissed Meg gently on the lips whispering for her to go back to sleep. He wanted to savor the feel of her a while longer.