Disclaimer: The Phantom of the Opera does not belong to me (though I think if it were up to him, he wouldn't belong to anyone), only my own characters do.
Author's Note:
To Nonnihil Scelestus: Hope you like this chapter as much as the last.
To phantommistress: How did Merrick disappear? You'll just have to keep reading and find out. As for Erik turning down Luniana, I don't think he could physically handle her and he knows it; I mean just look at what she's done to Tavlyn and he's a full-blooded Elf. Yeah, those darn little Brownies, they're up to more hi-jinks in this chapter. I know it was a bit of wait again, hope you enjoy this one.
To LittleMargarita: Yeah, there's more to Merrick and Barrin and Phelon and Archie than meets the eye (stay tuned for more details in upcoming chapters). And Raoul is going to be lucky if he only gets slapped by you. And I believe Erik deserves to be happy after being continually dumped on his entire life. Go steam!
To foxgodess07: I believe Erik would most definitely view Meg as his niece and maybe even as an adopted daughter. I wonder how he'll react if he finds out that Merrick has been alone with Meg in her dressing room? Yeah, Raoul has gone batty and just in time for Halloween too.
To Queen Madisyn of Narnia: You may not be the 100th yet, but keep reviewing and see what happens!
I also want to thank everyone that sent well wishes and sympathy on the passing of my Dad, thank you all for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. We knew it was coming, but it's still a shock when someone so close to you passes away. Things are settling down again here and home and I've already started drafting the next chapter.
The fans have spoken. An overwhelming majority of you have voted for me to a picture of S'ray and Erik in an intimate embrace. So I have scoured the internet looking for some good pictures to base it off. The search is over and I'm ready to start. I hope to have it up by Halloween as a "treat" for all of you.
Thanks to all who have read and reviewed; the more you review, the faster I write the next chapter. Now, on to the next chapter.
Phantom of the Glen
Chapter 21
Same Old. Same Old?
Tavlyn walked into the barn, sword at the ready. It was quiet and still, not even the laying hens were inside today. His eye darted around the shadows, Erik could be anywhere. The Alve listened carefully, trying to pick up the other man's breathing.
The phantom watched his opponent from the familiar shadows of the barn. He knew from experience that silence was often more unnerving than any amount of noise he could make. He slipped further into the comforting shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
The Alve moved farther into the barn and cursed silently. He knew Erik was doing this to intentionally unnerve him and dammit, it was working. "Come on out Erik," he called. "I know you're in here."
"Are you certain of that?" came Erik's voice from his left.
"Yes, I am," Tavlyn replied.
"Really?" he asked, his voice now coming from the right. "I might be right outside the door."
"You're not though," the Alve frowned.
"Or behind you," Erik's voice whispered across the Alve's right ear.
Tavlyn felt a chill run down his spine; people who could throw their voices had always made him uneasy. And Erik was so good at throwing his, that it was downright scary.
"Give up yet?" asked Erik's voice from in front of him.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Tavlyn replied slowly sweeping the area for any sign of the Half-Faye again.
"Now what fun would that be?" came a whisper across Tavlyn's left ear.
"I'm starting to regret teaching you that lesson," the Alve growled becoming impatient with his student.
"Is this better?" Erik asked walking to the edge of the hay loft.
"How long have you been up there?" Tavlyn asked.
"A couple minutes," Erik shrugged before leaping down to the floor of the barn. He landed softly and with his sword at the ready.
Tavlyn attacked and pushed the phantom back several steps. Recovering quickly, Erik pressed his own attack and regained the ground he had lost. The Alve leaped up onto a grain barrel and then over the man. Quick as lightning, the phantom reached up and grabbed Tavlyn's ankle, throwing him to the floor of the barn.
The Alve landed on his ass with a soft 'whuff' and quickly scooted away from his opponent. Instead of pressing the attack, he watched Erik melt into the shadows of the barn again. He gripped his sword and cursed inwardly, he was becoming predictable and Erik had greatly improved since learning the golden rule. Granted, the Alve thought, the attentions of the Pixie weren't helping matters either.
He stood up as he heard a swoosh to his left and looked everywhere but left, knowing Erik had an uncanny knack for being where he wasn't expected. Tavlyn was secretly glad they weren't in the man's old haunt in Paris, he loathed any place that was honey-combed with secret passages and doors; those places reminded him too much of Drow caverns and he'd rather forget those places in particular. He backed up to where the noise had come from, damn shadows; Erik was completely at home in them, just like a goblin.
Unnoticed, a pair of hands slipped out of the darkness behind the Alve holding a Punjab lasso. Tavlyn felt the hair on the back of his neck prickle, his warrior's sixth sense told him to duck and roll away from his current position. Looking over his shoulder, a chill ran down his back; there, swinging silently was one of Erik's trade-mark lassos. His free hand went to his neck and he swallowed hard because Erik had almost managed to slip that thing over his head without him noticing.
Erik frowned in the darkness; he almost had the Alve until the man's blasted sixth sense had finally kicked in. The phantom slipped farther into the shadows again and threw his voice in front of the Elf. "I'm over here," he called.
He smiled as the Alve whirled 180 degrees from the direction of his voice. "Very funny Erik," he frowned.
"Oh you haven't seen funny yet," Erik grinned throwing his voice to the loft.
"Come on out and fight me dammit," Tavlyn snarled glaring around the barn.
Erik knew he almost had the man where he wanted him now. "What's the matter Tavlyn? Don't like what you taught me being used against you now?" he asked with a laugh.
"What I don't like is being toyed with," the Alve spat.
"And here I thought you enjoyed the Pixie's attentions," Erik grinned from the shadows.
"You leave my sex life out of this," Tavlyn growled.
"Looks like I hit a nerve," he laughed from in front of the Alve.
"Come out and fight Erik," the Alve said again. "Or are you afraid I'll embarrass you in front of S'ray again?"
Erik didn't answer the other man's taunt. Tavlyn was met with only silence in the barn. He wasn't sure what was worse, Erik's ventriloquism or his sudden silence. Suddenly a silent lasso landed around the Alve's shoulders, he was jerked backward and lost his grip on his sword. He landed hard on his back and the air whooshed out of his lungs, leaving him gasping for breath.
Shit, Tavlyn thought silently, shouldn't have made him angry like that. He felt the rope tighten around his shoulders again and he was dragged across the floor of the barn. He turned his head and saw Erik behind him with a dark scowl across the unmasked portion of his face.
The Alve looked around desperately for a way out of his current predicament. There was nothing between himself and Erik that he could use as a shield and the damn rope wasn't loosening up either. With nothing else to do, he let himself go limp in defeat and hoped Erik would make a mistake he could use to his advantage.
The phantom scowled as he pulled the smaller man closer, Tavlyn had gone limp and he knew the Alve was plotting something. When he had his teacher within 5 feet of himself he stopped and drew another lasso from his cloak. He tossed it around Tavlyn's neck with practiced ease and tightened it just enough so he would know it was there.
He saw Tavlyn's shoulders suddenly tense as he pulled on the rope, cinching up the noose around his neck. Erik knew from personal experience that it was an unsettling feeling having a rope around your neck. He pulled up the slack as he approached Tavlyn. "How do you like my lassoes?" he asked as his shadow loomed over the man on the floor.
Tavlyn grunted in reply.
"Be polite now," Erik smirked and gently tugged on the one around Tavlyn's neck.
"I hope you don't play like this with my Captain," the Alve ground out.
"Never, these are instruments of torture and death, not love and pleasure," he replied with another tug.
Tavlyn's head went back and he grimaced as he felt the rope around his neck grow a bit tighter.
"Do you know how many ways there are to strangle a man?" the phantom asked now walking around so Tavlyn could see him.
The Alve shrugged in response.
"There are roughly 872 ways to strangle a man, of which I invented over 125," he continued.
"So what's your point?" Tavlyn asked watching him warily and watching for a change to get himself free.
"No point really, I'm only giving you an idea of who you're dealing with," he replied matter-of-factly.
"And who am I dealing with?" he asked.
"A schooled assassin of the Mazandaran Court," he hissed bending down to Tavlyn's level.
Tavlyn saw his chance then and kicked his legs up, catching the phantom in the middle and knocking him off balance for a moment. That moment was all the Alve needed; he twisted his arms and was able to get the lasso loose enough so he could release one arm. He quickly reached back with his free hand and grabbed hold of the rope around his neck and jerked it from Erik's grasp before scooting backward away from him.
The phantom cursed silently, he should have known better than to think that Tavlyn would be defeated so easily. He reached to his left and pulled out a long spear that he'd hidden by a support for the loft. Then using the butt end, rapped Tavlyn across the shins.
Tavlyn cried out in pain and his eyes filled with sudden tears of pain, he then loudly cursed Erik in Elven. He pulled his other arm out from under the noose around his chest and quickly removed the one around his neck. Still blinking away tears he grabbed the handle of a hay fork that had fallen to the floor during their scuffle. Holding it in both hands, he drove the blunt end into Erik's stomach.
Erik grunted in pain and went down to his knees, his vision momentarily swam and he suppressed the sudden urge to retch. Still gripping the spear, he swung it out in front of himself in a wide arc, forcing the Alve to jump backward. Gritting his teeth he stood up again, holding the spear ready in front of himself. The Alve jabbed at him with the handle of the fork again and he parried it with the spear. "Get up," he growled stepping back to let the other man rise.
Tavlyn leapt to his feet again, shins still smarting. He and Erik circled each other, each looking for an opening to attack the other. Slowly, Erik brought his hands together on the shaft of the spear, his eyes never breaking contact with the Alve's. Then gripping the spear tightly in his right hand, he reached out with his left arm and flicked his hand toward Tavlyn.
Light exploded before Tavlyn's face, dazzling him. He cursed loudly, it was another of Erik's magic tricks, he should have known. The Alve stumbled backward and found himself against something solid and warm. He cursed again as Erik grabbed him and blindly swung the handle of the fork behind himself. He grinned as he felt it connect to Erik's side and hiss of pain issue from his opponent.
The phantom released him and melted back into to the shadows while Tavlyn still struggled to clear his vision. When his vision was finally back to normal he looked up and released a small gasp of surprise to see Erik standing boldly before him holding the spear easily in one hand. The Alve's eyes widened considerably when he saw what or rather who was perched on the man's right shoulder. Oh no, I'm a dead man now, he thought to himself and tried not to show his surprise at seeing Luniana.
Erik grinned and said, "Get him, ma petite couturière."
Tavlyn blanched, this was beyond unfair; Erik was using the Pixie as a weapon against him.
Luniana gave a cry of delight and streaked off Erik's shoulder toward the shocked Alve. Tavlyn backed up and tripped over the handle of the hay fork he'd dropped. He landed on his backside and was immediately pounced upon by the Pixie. "Mine, mine, mine," she squeaked happily landing on his chest.
Tavlyn groaned inwardly as he heard the phantom's deep chuckle. Then he heard the man turn and leave him alone in the barn with the overjoyed Luniana.
"Are they ripe
"I can't tell."
"So take a bite and find out."
"But what if it's not ripe?"
"Spit it out and try another one."
"Are you sure you don't see her?" Brule asked apprehensively.
"Yeah, yeah, neither of them is even outside," Brandji replied.
"What do you think they're doing?" Brule asked climbing toward a ripe tomato.
"What are they doing!" Brandji exclaimed. "What do you think? What have they been doing almost every day since Beltane?"
"Well they sleep, have sex, eat, do chores, clean up, have sex, eat, have sex and sleep again," Brule answered climbing higher.
"Brule, you idiot what one thing did they start doing at Beltane?"
"Oh yeah," Brule grinned. "Where were they this time?"
"Last I saw they were in the study at the piano," Brandji said making a face.
"What were they doing?"
"What do you think they were doing?"
"Playing music."
"Brule, you idiot!"
"What?"
"They were having sex on the piano!"
"Again? They seem to like that spot."
"I know, makes me glad we don't live in there anymore," Brandji frowned.
"At least he's not so cranky any more," Brule grinned reaching for a tomato.
"And it keeps her occupied while we raid the garden!" Brandji crowed as the tomato landed near him.
"Brandji and Brule! Get out of my garden!" S'ray yelled from the study window.
Both Brownies shrieked at being caught in the act of thieving from the garden. They quickly picked up their ill-gotten gains and ran off with them.
S'ray smiled as she felt Erik wrap his arms around her. "What are we going to do with those two?" he chuckled.
"You could always follow through on your threat to eat them," she laughed leaning back against him.
"I'd rather nibble on you," he whispered kissing behind her pointed ear.
"Mmm Erik, you know you're playing right into their schemes now," she sighed.
"What do you mean?" he asked pulling her tunic back to bare her shoulder again.
"You're distracting me from the garden," she replied. "As soon as we're away from the window, they'll be back in there."
"Then perhaps we should continue this in the garden," he grinned wickedly. "That should keep them out of there."
"Luniana," Tavlyn called as he walked along the creek.
"You called," she chirped, batting her eyelashes at him.
"That I did," he smiled sitting down in the grass along the bank. "Come here."
The Pixie flew over and landed on his chest as he lay back on the grass. "So what's up sugar lips?" she purred. "Anything you need help with?"
"Yeah, there is," he sighed. "Now you know I'm not a young Elf anymore."
"Uh-huh," she nodded as he caressed her cheek with an index finger.
"And have you also noticed that I've been trying to avoid our little trysts?"
"Uh-huh and I can't imagine why."
"Well, truth be told, as much as I hate to admit it, I can't keep up with you," he sighed. "Shrinking me and then putting me back to my right size is taking a toll on me."
"So what are you saying?" she asked.
"This needs to slow down, a lot," he explained. "I simply can't handle it anymore, you're physically exhausting me."
"But isn't that a good thing?" she asked innocently.
"Not when I feel like this all the time," he sighed. "Sooner or later this will kill me."
"I don't want you to die," she sniffed.
"I don't want to die either," Tavlyn smiled gently. "That's why we need to taper off."
"How much?" the Pixie asked.
"Let's start with two nights a week and see how I feel after that," he sighed, relaxing back into the soft grass.
"Tired?" she asked.
"Very, Erik walloped me good in the barn today," the Alve groaned closing his eye.
"Then you sleep and I'll make sure nothing bothers you," Luniana said kissing his chin.
"Thanks," he murmured already falling asleep.
"Well, married life seems to be agreeing with you," Daklu grinned as Erik took his seat at their usual table.
"Pardon?" he asked raising his eyebrow.
"Married life seems to agree with you," Daklu repeated.
"We're not married," Erik said taking a drink of his ale.
"Yet," Greyvon smirked.
"Close enough, you share a home and a bed," he explained. "You may as well be married."
"So, how is it?" Reshkar asked with a grin.
"Yeah, we're all dying to know," Morvay added.
"Not all of us," Tavlyn said emptying his tankard.
"Erik, you didn't answer my question yet and I'd like an answer before S'ray comes downstairs," Reshkar said.
"Unless of course you wore her out up there and she's sleeping now," Senren laughed.
"If that's the case, then we all want to know exactly what you did to accomplish that feat," Greyvon grinned.
"And why would I tell you that?" the Phantom asked.
"Because Faye women are notoriously difficult to satisfy," Cyd explained taking his usual place at the table. "Correct Tavlyn?"
"Huh?" Tavlyn asked, breaking his attention away from the barmaid he'd been watching.
"Faye women are sometimes very difficult to satisfy sexually," the dragon repeated.
"Just sometimes Cyd?" the Alve said as his tankard was being refilled.
"So Tavlyn, is it true that Pixies want sex all the time?" Morvay asked.
"How the hell should I know?" the older Alve snapped after almost choking on his ale.
"Hey, don't get mad at me, I just thought you might know since you're at S'ray and Erik's all the time," Morvay frowned.
"Sorry, I'm just really tired still," Tavlyn grumped and went back to his ale.
"So the training has been going well?" Cyd asked draining his second tankard.
"Yeah, Erik's become really good at beating the tar out of me," he frowned. "I think I've taught you too well Erik. He had me feeling like a Tarasque had chewed me up and spit me out yesterday."
"You're not the only one with bruises," Erik reminded the Alve. "I still have that one on my stomach where you hit me with the hay fork."
"Guys, can we get back on topic here?" Senren interrupted.
"Yeah," Greyvon agreed. "How do you keep her satisfied Erik?"
Cyd rolled his eyes at the behavior of the youngest members of the squad and silently hoped that Erik had the common courtesy to keep his mouth shut about such private matters.
"A gentleman doesn't discuss such intimate matters with others," Erik replied and took a drink.
"Fine, no details," Morvay said. "How about yes and no questions?"
"Sorry gentlemen, but I'm not going to discuss it," Erik repeated.
"Quite right," Cyd nodded in approval. "And you lot should be ashamed of yourselves for asking about details of your commander's private moments."
"Just one question," Reshkar pressed.
"As I've already said, this is a private matter between S'ray and myself and as such any and all details are not going to be discussed," Erik frowned.
"No details about what you two do when you're alone, I just want to know how you keep her satisfied," Reshkar clarified. "We're all well aware of what to physically do, but how do you keep it from getting boring?"
Erik shrugged in reply.
"That wasn't an answer," Senren said. "I'll bet you do it by kissing her . . . you know."
"Her you know what?" the Phantom asked.
"He wants to know if you perform cunnilingus," Tavlyn said, smirking at the younger Alve's reluctance to call the act by name.
"Why wouldn't I?" he asked the younger Alve.
"Why not indeed," Daklu smiled. "Tastes like honey, doesn't she?"
Erik's eyes narrowed and he glared at Daklu. "And how do you know what S'ray tastes like?" he ground out, trying to keep his temper in check.
"Relax Erik," Cyd said setting his mug down. "All Elven women taste like honey."
"Yeah, none of us would even think of wanting to be with her like that," Morvay said.
"Not that she's not pretty," Senren added.
"But S'ray is like a sister to us," Daklu smiled.
"Pixies taste like peppermint," Tavlyn said, gazing into his mug.
Everyone at the table turned and stared at him, including Cyd and Erik.
"What?" he asked after finally noticing the sudden silence.
"How do you know what Pixies taste like Tavlyn?" Greyvon asked raising an eyebrow.
"That's what I've been told anyway," he said not meeting anyone's eyes.
"Are you sure there's nothing you want to share with us?" Daklu asked with a knowing smirk.
"I'm positive there's nothing I want to 'share' with you lot," he grumped and waved a barmaid over for another round of drinks.
"So Erik, you apparently don't really do anything different from us, but you still manage to satisfy her," Reshkar said.
Erik nodded.
"Then how do you do it?" Morvay asked.
"I don't let her get used to a routine or get bored," he explained. "I always put her pleasure first and tell her I love her."
"That's not all you do Erik," Tavlyn smirked, finally finding a way to get revenge on Erik for when he used the Pixie against him.
All eyes were suddenly on Tavlyn again, including Erik's which had widened in surprise. "You haven't been listening to Brandji and Brule, have you?" the Phantom asked raising an eyebrow.
"No, but the two of you aren't exactly quiet when you're making love either," he replied. "And before you guys ask, they're both equally loud."
"If we're keeping you awake, I'm sure that Luniana would be delighted to find you a nice, quiet place to sleep," Erik suggested, trying not to smile.
Tavlyn nearly choked on his ale at Erik's mention of the Pixie.
"You all right Tavlyn?" Morvay asked.
"Yeah, you seem a bit distracted tonight," Senren added.
"Cut it out you two, I want to hear what he has to say about what Erik does," Greyvon hissed.
"He sings to her," Tavlyn grinned, glad that the conversation had turned away from himself again.
"You sing?" Reshkar said in disbelief.
"That's it?" Morvay asked.
"How can that do anything?" Senren asked puzzled.
"You haven't heard him sing," Tavlyn explained. "Erik has a better voice than I do."
The entire table stared at them; Erik shifted uncomfortably in his seat while Tavlyn finished off his ale. "So sing something when she comes down," Senren said. "I want to see this for myself."
"You moron," Daklu interjected. "He can't just start singing the moment she comes downstairs, she'll know we put him up to it."
Erik stood in the doorway of their bedroom and watched S'ray sleep as he unbuttoned his waistcoat. He stepped into their room and closed the door as he opened his shirt. Waistcoat and shirt were laid over a chair as he walked to the large bed that dominated the room. He smiled as he stood next to her and softly slid his hand from her bare calf up her leg and across her lace-covered bottom to her back. "S'ray," he called to her.
She sighed softly and smiled in her sleep.
He bent down and gently pulled her hair away from her pointed ear. "S'ray," he whispered softly. When she didn't respond, he laid his hand on her back and kissed behind her ear. "S'ray," he whispered again and kissed her neck softly.
A soft moan escaped her lips, but she still didn't wake.
His hand slid down her back to cup her bottom and he released a shuddering breath. "S'ray," he said huskily. Erik wasn't sure what was a more erotic sight; S'ray naked or S'ray in just the short, tight, lacey pantalets she'd taken to wearing lately. His hand moved back up her body and slipped under her to cup one of her breasts.
She sighed at the intimate contact and he saw her squeeze her eyes shut.
Minx, he grinned and lay on the bed next to her. He rolled her onto her back and kissed her, sliding his tongue between her now parted lips. His fingers slipped into her hair and he watched her beautiful violet eyes open and gaze into his. "Hello my beautiful goddess," he smiled after pulling away to allow her to catch her breath.
"Mmm Erik," S'ray sighed sleepily and caressed his marred cheek.
"Haven't I warned you that it's not nice to tease the Phantom?" he breathed across her ear.
"Tease?" she asked sleepily.
"Yes, I know you were pretending to be asleep," Erik replied caressing her neck.
"But," she protested.
"No buts," he whispered against her and silenced her protests by pressing his finger to her lips. "You teased the Phantom and now you must pay the price." His lips moved to her throat; first kissing, then gently nipping. Momentarily overcome by his passion for her, he bit her harder.
S'ray gasped in surprise and pain.
"Sorry," he murmured now gently kissing that same spot.
"Don't be," she sighed melting beneath his kisses and caresses.
"You liked that?" he asked surprised and then tilted her chin so he could see her eyes.
"Yes Erik," she replied gazing at his unmasked face with love and adoration. "I love you Erik," she smiled placing both hands on his face. "I love you so much."
"You must, to be able to look at my unmasked face like you are now," he sighed as she gently caressed him.
"Oh Erik, my handsome and gentle lover," S'ray smiled up at him. "Bend closer and kiss me, brand me with your passion and make me yours."
Erik did as she asked and caught her lips in a kiss that took her breath away. His body slid on top of hers as his passion poured out of his mouth and into her. Their muffled cries of pleasure and desire blended into a lovers' duet of passion.
He pulled away from her and they gazed at each other, breathing heavily. "Night-time sharpens, heightens each sensation," he began to sing and lightly ran his fingers down her body. "Darkness stirs and wakes imagination."
S'ray softly sighed in pleasure and stretched out beneath him.
"Silently the senses abandon their defenses," he continued and bit her throat again.
She gasped and arched up to him. It was incredible how he caressed her with just his voice. S'ray mewled beneath him, begging for his touch again.
"Slowly, gently love unfurls its splendor," Erik sang sitting up and lightly running his calloused fingers over her already hard nipples. "Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender."
Her eyes opened to gaze up at him and then watch his hands move from her aching nipples to her quivering stomach.
"Turn your heart away from the garish light of day," he entreatied and captured her gaze with his own. "Turn your love away from cold, unfeeling light - and give in to the passion of the night."
"Erik," she sighed as his hand slid between her thighs and cupped her sex. She arched against him, begging for a more intimate caress.
"Close your eyes and surrender to our passioned dreams!" he sang and watched her eyes close. His lips moved to her throat and he continued his song. "Purge your thoughts of the man you knew before! Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar!" He claimed her lips in another kiss, his hands moving up to cup her face. "Let me love you as you've never been loved before."
She released a shaky breath after his lips left hers to tease her throat again. "Erik please," she moaned, begging for his touch.
"Softly, deftly, passion shall surround us," he sang, his fingers barely touching her sensitive skin. She gasped and shivered beneath his touch. "Feel it, hear it, closing in around us," he sang warmly against her skin.
She arched up toward him, desperate for his touch. He smiled and kept himself just out of her reach. "Open up your mind, I'll help your fantasies unwind," he seductively sang and sat up farther, "in this passion which you know we cannot fight."
"The passion of the music of the night," he continued and ran his hands down to her pantalets. Then, with a triumphant smile, he pulled him from her writhing body with a practiced ease.
"Let us start a journey through a strange new world," Erik sang as his gaze raked over her now naked body. "Rid our hearts of the world we knew before!"
S'ray lay before him; she was flushed with desire and her skin was almost hot to the touch. She moaned plaintively and opened dark violet eyes that gazed intently at him, pleading with him to make love to her and relieve the ache he'd created within her.
"In my arms is where you long to be!" he sang and bent low over her again. "Only then can I belong to thee."
She sighed at the closeness of his body again. Erik smiled and kissed along her shoulders before moving down between her breasts. "Oh please Erik," she gasped tangling her fingers in his midnight hair.
"Kissing, caressing, sweet intoxication!" he continued brushing his lips against her and caressing her with just his fingertips.
A gasp escaped her parted lips as she offered herself to him.
"Touch me, trust me savor each sensation!" he sang to her. His hand slid down to the curve of her stomach, stroking and enflaming her more.
"Let the love begin, let your erotic side give in, to the passion of the music that I write," his seductive voice tempted as her thighs parted in invitation to his skilled hands and mouth. "The passion of the music of the night."
S'ray sighed in relief as he intimately caressed her. "Mmm Erik, Erik, Erik," she softly moaned beneath his touch.
"You alone can make my song take flight - help me make the music of the night," he finished and claimed her mouth in a fevered kiss. She arched up against him, desperate to feel his body against hers.
"I'll take this reaction as a yes," Erik smiled as she caressed his face.
"I love you," she sighed gazing into his glowing golden eyes.
"I love you," he replied as her hands went down his neck to his shoulders.
"I need you Erik," she whispered covering his face with kisses.
"Oh S'ray," he murmured, gently caressing her. "I've longed for someone like you my whole life. I never felt complete till you came into my life and now I know why."
"Why?" she asked breathily, gazing up at him with adoration and love shining in her violet eyes.
"You're the part of my soul that's been missing all these long, lonely years. You complete me S'ray, you make a monster into a man," he replied, emotion heavy in his voice.
She didn't say anything to him; she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. She kissed his parted lips; her hands moving down to gently hold his face. Then her lips moved to the side and kissed the uneven flesh of his marred cheek. Erik groaned at the sheer intimacy of the action and closed his eyes, never wanting the moment to end. S'ray's thumbs caressed his cheeks as her lips moved from his sunken cheek to his nose. She kissed up along the bridge of his nose to his closed eyes, ever so softly kissing the drooping lower lid and then along his missing eyebrow.
S'ray felt something wet against her own cheek. She pulled back from him and saw that he was silently crying. "What is it love?" she tenderly asked, worried that something was wrong. "What brings these tears from your eyes?"
"Oh S'ray, my love, my goddess, my most precious treasure," he sighed opening soft amber eyes that still freely leaked tears. "No one, not one person in my entire life has ever looked at me with or without my mask on like you do. No one, not my mother, not Madame Giry, not Nadir and though I would have given my miserable life for it, not even Christine."
She wiped away his tears and pulled him down for another kiss. Erik sighed into her mouth and pulled her tight against his body. S'ray loved it when he would crush her to himself like this, she could feel the hard planes and muscles of his very masculine body against her soft, feminine curves. He had been lean and strong when he'd first come into her life in early February, but he was even stronger now and work had given his muscles more definition as well. Her hands caressed the scarred skin of his back, slowly sliding up to his broad shoulders. "Oh Erik," she sighed, a smile of pleasure and love on her face.
"S'ray," he whispered hungrily, his voice taking on rougher tone. He nuzzled against her, kissing and nipping her soft throat.
"Harder Erik," she gasped against his ear.
"Are you sure?" he asked pulling back from her.
"Yes," she smiled, "but first, you need to finish undressing. I want to feel your skin against mine."
Erik sat up and then moved to stand so he could remove his trousers. Instead, S'ray grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back onto the bed. She smiled and ran her hands down his chest and stomach to the buttons on his pants. Her nimble fingers unfastened the buttons and she pulled the trousers off him. He sighed in relief as she tossed the confining garment on the floor. "Happy now?" he smirked as she slid her hands up his now naked body before lying against him again.
"Very," she smiled kissing his neck.
"You're so soft and warm," he murmured pulling her even closer. His mouth moved to her throat; gently nipping her with his teeth before changing to harder bites. S'ray gasped and sighed beneath him, her body writhed with pleasure and she slid her fingers into his jet hair.
"Oh darling, darling," she sighed as his mouth moved to her shoulders and then her breasts.
Erik's tongue slid over her breast and his mouth closed over her hard nipple. She gasped as he blew on her wet skin. Then his mouth closed over her other nipple and she was overcome with sweet bliss. He moaned low in his throat against her aroused body and his breath came in short huffs.
She murmured words of love and desire as his hand slid down between her thighs. "So hot and wet," he breathed, stroking her desire slick sex.
S'ray arched against him and released a shuddering breath as he slid a finger into her.
"And so tight," he groaned. "Sometimes when we join I think that just that first thrust will undo me. It feels so wonderful being wrapped in you; I don't ever want it to end."
She purred against him and wrapped a leg around his waist, hinting at what she wanted him to do. He smiled and brushed his lips over her breasts again. She was ready for him he knew, but he wasn't quite ready to take her and instead wanted to prolong this gentle love-play a while yet. Then she gasped and shuddered as a small climax rolled through her.
He murmured words of love and desire to her in every language he knew while still caressing her intimately. "Oh my love, my love, my love," he whispered between kisses and caresses. He smiled as he looked down at the woman lying next to him, amazed that he could cause such pleasure in so fair a creature. Erik was still surprised at the turn his life had taken since the night of Don Juan. In just a few short months he had gone from a hunted and heart-broken monster to a man who had the love of a beautiful woman and shared a home with her.
Then that beautiful creature in his arms opened her eyes and sighed, "Erik."
"Yes my love," he smiled and bent to kiss the scar on her shoulder from the Drow bodkin.
"Oh Erik," she purred as his silken lips slid across her skin.
"Do I please you my love?" he asked and tenderly kissed her nipple before gently nipping it.
"As no other ever has," she gasped at the sudden rush of sensations that all pooled in her belly as a warm knot of desire for him. "And as no other ever shall."
"I love you S'ray," he sighed gliding his fingers over her bare flesh. "I love you so much."
"Mmm Erik," she smiled opening her eyes and gently caressing the marred side of his face.
"Oh God S'ray," he groaned closing his eyes as she caressed him. "I love you more each time you touch me like this."
"Why is that love?" she asked brushing her lips against his.
"No one else ever touched this part of me before you," he answered covering her hand with his own. "Mmm, you can't imagine how I feel every time you do this."
"Erik," she smiled still caressing his deformity. "Enough of this teasing you've been putting me through for the past hour. Make love to me Erik; I want to feel you inside me."
"So you think you've been punished enough for teasing me earlier?" he asked stroking her belly.
"But I . . ." she started to protest again and was again silenced by one of his fingers.
"Shh, you teased me, don't deny it," he said. "Now are you sorry you teased the Phantom?"
"Oh Erik, I . . . I don't," she gasped as his finger slid over her sensitive clitoris. "No . . . mmm . . . Erik please . . . ahh . . . yes, sorry . . . sorry."
"Mmm good, because I was having a hard time resisting you," Erik replied pulling her against his hard body again.
"Ohh," she gasped when she felt his hot arousal against her belly. Her hand slid between them and he let out a hiss of pleasure as she grasped him firmly.
"S'ray," he groaned as she stroked his erection.
"Yes love?" she asked, lightly caressing the incredibly soft skin of his penis.
"God S'ray," he moaned.
"Do I please you my love?" S'ray smiled stroking him firmly again.
"Yes," he hissed between his teeth. "In ways I never knew possible."
She wrapped her leg around his waist so he could better feel the heat from her own aching sex. "Take me Erik," she tempted again while sliding her fingers into his unruly hair. "Slide inside me and make us one. Only you can relieve this ache we're both feeling right now."
Erik growled low in his throat at her invitation to love making. Then he rolled the Alve to her back and slid inside her in one fluid motion. He released a long, slow breath, enjoying the pleasure of being wrapped in her softness.
S'ray gasped softly, arching up beneath him and enabling him to slide farther within her. "Oh Erik," she sighed wrapping her arms around him.
"Mmm, yes S'ray?" he smiled down at her.
"You feel wonderful," she sighed sliding her leg along his.
"So do you my love," he replied ghosting his lips across her shoulder and to her neck before burying his face against her.
She sighed and then gasped as he boldly bit her again. S'ray turned her head to the side, offering him more of her neck; she wanted to flinch away, but she also wanted him to do it again. A delicious shiver shook her as he lifted his head and slowly began their wordless song of love.
S'ray opened her eyes and looked up at him; she was met by his intense golden gaze. She didn't speak; there was no need for words between them anymore. S'ray knew there were those of her own people who would not approve of her relationship with Erik, but she didn't care. She loved Erik and he was quickly replacing memories of Tereste with memories of himself. She didn't mind though, Tereste was gone and he had wanted her to be happy if she found another man that loved her.
That man was certainly Erik; he simply embodied his love and passion for her. Those beautiful golden eyes of his reflected back all the love she knew she was gazing at him with. Her arms pulled his lips down to hers where they met in a kiss as passionate as their love for each other.
It was starting again, that pleasurable wave that would always overcome her. She gasped and then cooed in pleasure, never taking her eyes from his. He had said that she completed him, was the missing part of his soul and she knew it to be true for he was the same to her.
They had both come into this relationship with some very heavy baggage, but with the help of their love for each other, it was growing lighter. Erik was becoming more comfortable without his mask in their bedroom and her sorrow for Tereste was being replaced by Erik's love.
She mewled in delight as he quickened their pace, thrusting faster and deeper within her. S'ray clung to him desperately, fingers digging into the scarred flesh of his back. Her voice cried out softly in the darkness as the pleasure coiled tightly within her, pleading with him to help her release it.
A low growl escaped him as the angle of her hips changed and he found himself buried completely within her. She was close to coming undone, he could tell by how the music of her cries of passion changed. Her legs were wrapped around him, holding him tightly as she began to tremble and gasp. He kissed and bit her throat as he pushed her closer to the edge of passion's release.
Her lithe body arched and then stiffened against him. "Erik!" she cried out as she shuddered against him in release.
"S'ray," he gasped, throwing his head back as he surged into her once more. His lean body stiffened and then trembled as he spilled himself within her.
Using the last of his strength, he rolled from on top of her and collapsed onto his back next to her. Long moments later, his hand found hers and brought it to his lips. "S'ray, I love you," he murmured brushing his lips across her knuckles.
"I love you too Erik," she sighed turning toward him. "Come here love," she smiled, holding her arms open and inviting him into her embrace.
Erik rolled into her arms and allowed her to cradle him against her bosom. He smiled contentedly as his smooth cheek rested against her bare breast. Her left hand stroked through his mussed hair and then moved to his marred cheek. "Love you S'ray, love you so much," he whispered as she caressed the rough and mottled flesh.
"Erik?"
"Yes, mon amour."
"Will you sing for me?"
"Always, what would you like to hear?"
"Surprise me."
"Sorry Erik, you can't go upstairs," S'ray said putting a hand on his chest to stop him.
"Why not?" he asked puzzled.
"You have to put this on first," she smiled holding up a black strip of cloth that was meant to be used as a blindfold.
Erik quirked an eyebrow, intrigued by the possibilities the blindfold presented. "What have you got in mind?" he asked as several scenarios raced though his imagination.
"It's a surprise," she smiled up at him. "Please."
"Very well," he relented, unable to resist her smile.
"Good, now turn around," she giggled.
Erik turned his back to her and let her tie the blindfold over his eyes. Then she turned him around so he faced the stairs again and taking his hand, lead him upstairs.
"Does this have anything to do with you and Luniana disappearing up here while I'm working in the study?" he asked as he carefully walked up the stairs.
"You'll just have to wait and find out," S'ray replied. "You're at the last step now."
"I know," he replied.
"Not peeking, are you?" she asked, looking at the blindfold for any place he might be able to see through.
"No, but I've got the house memorized and there are exactly fourteen steps to get upstairs," he smiled as she lead him forward.
"Okay, now turn to your right," she said and opened the door that was next to their bedroom door. "Now step forward three steps."
He stepped into the room and felt S'ray's hand go to the blindfold. "May I look now?" he asked when he felt her untie the blindfold.
"Yes," smiled slipping the blindfold off with one hand and slipping her other arm around his waist as she stood next to him.
Erik opened his eyes and looked around; he was surprised to say the least. S'ray and Luniana had completely cleaned out what up till now had been a storage room next to their bedroom. It was now a functional room that contained a large wardrobe, a chest of drawers, a small couch, and a man's wash stand. "Is . . . is this for me?" he asked shocked.
"Happy Birthday Erik," she smiled embracing him.
"I . . . I don't know what to say," he stammered, still completely surprised.
"I though you needed a space for your things that was just yours. We only moved the furniture in because we thought you'd like to decorate the room to your own liking," she explained. "You do like it, don't you?"
"I do S'ray, I do," he said returning her embrace. "I never suspected what the two of you were up to here."
"And you can put a door in this wall so you can go into our bedroom without walking around through the hallway," she smiled up at him. "Plus the little people aren't allowed in here without your permission."
"Thank you S'ray," Erik smiled and kissed her. "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome Erik, you're welcome," she sighed, still wrapped in his embrace.
"This is absolutely not what I expected when you blindfolded me," he said tangling one hand in her long tresses.
"And what did you expect?" S'ray asked rubbing her cheek against the brocade of his waistcoat.
"If I tell you, you'll call me a wicked man," he chuckled, holding her close.
"True, but you're my wicked man and I wouldn't have you any other way," she sighed caressing his back. "Now tell me what crossed your mind and we'll see about making it a reality."
"It was mostly variations on a single theme," he smiled down at her. "You kept me blindfolded while we made love."
"Mmm, sounds like fun," she smiled wickedly. "Would you like me to do that to you?"
Erik was shocked for a moment, he'd never dreamed of sharing an erotic fantasy with a woman and then having her offer to make it a reality. "Yes, I would," he grinned as she dangled the blindfold in front of him.
"Then you wait in here with the door closed while I get some things ready," S'ray said pulling him farther into the room.
"Anything you want me to do while I'm waiting?" he asked following her.
"No, just stay as you are; fully dressed and think about all the pleasurable things I'm going to do to you," she replied, slowly sliding her hand down his chest before turning to go.
"S'ray," Erik said gently catching her arm.
"Yes lover?" she smiled turning back to him.
"You should know, it's not my birthday today," he stated.
"Well, you never told me when your birthday really is, so just pretend it's today," S'ray replied.
"Or we could just change it to today," Erik smiled catching her eyes.
"If that's what you would like," she replied. "Then today is your birthday."
"I would," he replied pulling her close and kissing her. "So when is your birthday?"
"January twenty-first," she answered between kisses.
"Good, gives me plenty of time to plan something for you," he replied and kissed her deeply.
"Mmm, hold that thought," she sighed when he released her.
"Don't worry, I will," he promised as she closed the door.
Monsieur Opera Ghost,
I have good news for you, the Vicomte de Changey has stopped searching for you and so have the Gendarmes. It is finally safe for you to return to the Opera Populaire and resume your former position.
Erik frowned, this was totally unlike Antoinette; his old friend never addressed him as the Opera Ghost. He also doubted very much the truth in that first paragraph, especially after all her previous warnings. Why would it suddenly be safe for him to return? There were also no real greetings from her or replies to any of his questions in his previous letter to her.
Something was very wrong and he had a good idea that the Vicomte or the Opera's new owners at the Vicomte's insistence were behind this farce of a letter. He put the obviously forced letter down on the desk and leaned back in the chair to think. Erik steepled his fingers in front of himself and started going over possible scenarios around the letter that his old friend was obviously forced to write and probably even had parts dictated to her.
Author's End Note: Don't forget to review and get in the contest. Whoever does the 100th review will get to make an appearance as a minor character in the story. Who will be the winner? Write a review and see what happens to you when I throw the 100th reviewer into 1870's France.
Oh, random thought for the ladies who are reading. I just bought Body Fantasies Vampire fragrance. I absolutely love it, you need to try it. I found my bottle at Wal-Mart, but it's also available at CVS and Walgreens. I only wish it came in a bigger bottle so it lasts me longer.
Coming up in Chapter 22 – Surprise, surprise, surprise!
Christine is surprised by Raoul and his schemes to catch the Phantom. S'ray's surprised in the kitchen by Erik. The Brownies and Luniana surprise everyone. Erik is surprised by his own feelings.