There was bound to be a next time, Raoul knew this as surely as he knew his own birthday. Yet what he wasn't so sure about was what the fuck was going on between them. Once again he found himself questioning everything that Erik was doing. Once again, that was spurred on by a kiss.
That last kiss had been maddening, completely crowded against the table by Erik's tall and imposing body flush against him. Had Erik not left, Raoul may have very well pounced him once again, perhaps as a punishment for his shirtsleeves. It had been unsalvageable after Erik tore the buttons off, but the masked man had at least slipped safety pins into his waistcoat pocket that had allowed him to secure the fabric enough to look presentable and like he hadn't had another man inside him that evening.
The knowledge that nobody but him knew the Phantom had not, in fact, gone from the Opera Populaire regularly floated through his mind. With it came the question of Christine, but he paid that even less mind than the fact he much preferred to keep Erik all for himself. Whatever that meant was buried far, far within his mind.
Restlessly he entered the lavish opera building, nodding his greeting to other visitors who went towards the house. Raoul felt like he stood out like a sore thumb, no woman on his arms yet still dressed impeccably. Yet at the same time he found he also did not care for what others thought of him currently—his mind was on one thing.
He had no idea what to expect.
Yes, there would be a joining of flesh and hushed words, but it also felt like Erik was perhaps working towards something. Perhaps he was building towards taking Raoul to his lair five stories beneath the opera and keeping him there in the darkness as his personal playmate. It seemed Raoul possessed something Erik couldn't get from Christine, something that kept having him return to the Vicomte time and time again. He had mentioned singing in another way, but surely it couldn't be just his voice? By all means, it made no sense.
Mind still dwelling on those dredged reasonings, Raoul entered the box.
"Vicomte."
Raoul jumped, heart briefly stopping before resuming as his eyes settled on the dark shape in one of the chairs. Steadying himself he closed the door, filtering out the incriminating light of the hallway and basking the box in darkness. "Already here, monsieur?" He didn't bother wondering how Erik knew he had arrived without looking.
The shape moved and Erik raised Raoul's dagger into the air, holding the blade between his slender fingers.
Raoul blinked, breathless. Somehow his dagger had been this item between them that kept making an appearance, ever in Erik's possession as if using it to claim his ownership over Raoul. It had turned into something that Raoul could say he came back for, to reclaim his lost knife. An excuse.
"Monsieur?"
Erik twirled the knife impatiently, his back ever to Raoul. "Take it, Vicomte."
With a frown Raoul stepped closer and raised his hand to the blade, but then dropped it. "How long have you been sitting here?" He tried to peek under Erik's hat, but the man angled away. Despite being just a mass of darkness Raoul couldn't help but think that said mass seemed… contemplative? His mood was different. Not to mention that Erik had never waited on him before—he had always come sometime during the performance.
A scoff escaped Erik and he shook his head. "It is of no concern to you, Vicomte. Take the knife and let this end here."
Did his voice sound strained? End it here?
"Surely if you wanted to leave the knife you could have left it in the seat, monsieur," Raoul said matter-of-factly, intrigued by Erik's strange mood yet half panicking over his words. He swallowed thickly and took the seat next to Erik, hands in his lap.
Annoyed, Erik dropped the knife back into his hands and let out a growl. He still refused to acknowledge Raoul with his gaze.
"You want to end this," Raoul said softly, frown creasing his forehead. He could not fathom why he would want to end this now, but perhaps it had something to do with his mood the previous time. His mood that had gotten more and more playful and possessive all the same as their meetings progressed, and then the last meeting had been exceptionally dominating, different .
"I am in no mood to speak, Vicomte." Erik moved to stand just as the overture started. He once again held out the knife to Raoul. "Take the knife and I will take my leave."
Raoul stared at the knife, then up to Erik's face shrouded in darkness and angled away from him. He seemed impassive about this, but his gloved hand held a tremble that Raoul didn't miss. Raoul pursed his lips, mind turning over the various thoughts and ideas in his head.
So perhaps Erik started feeling guilty over these meetings of theirs after all. Having heard the stories from Christine, read his notes, and seen his wrath enacted in the form of a killing, it was hard to believe Erik felt guilt over something as seemingly mundane as this. Perhaps having entered Raoul and claiming him in the most carnal way weighed heavy on his seemingly barren conscience.
Raoul let out a laugh and Erik tensed. "Oh, monsieur, how terribly strange you are."
Erik let out a growl and turned to finally meet Raoul's eyes. "What?" His face was a sneer, golden eyes dark and angry.
"Sit down." Raoul stood to match the masked man and looked up to Erik with defiant eyes.
Erik very well fumed, narrowing his eyes even more as he scrutinised the boy, his lips a thin and straight line of displeasure. "I beg your pardon."
It wasn't a question and Raoul, emboldened by being fairly certain he knew what was going on, put his hands on Erik's chest and pushed. The man didn't budge, steady in his footing and, if anything, growing more irate. "Erik." Raoul shot him a pointed look. "I believe we have met often enough that warrants you listening to me for once. I do not mind begging for your cock, but do not make me beg for this."
With a flare of his nostrils Erik begrudgingly relented, easing down onto the chair and looked up to Raoul with a gaze hard as steel.
Raoul eyed down at him, for once in the position that Erik usually was. Without second thought he slipped onto Erik's legs and straddled him with his own. He ignored Erik's body tensing as he reached for the fedora and gingerly took it off and set it on the chair next to them. He took his time eyeing over the tense man beneath him, to study the intricacies of his angled face for once not hidden within shadow, the surprisingly intricate mask. He fought the urge to cup and caress his exposed cheek.
"Erik," he started, mindlessly running a hand over Erik's brown hair—a wig, he could feel it now—to ensure it was in place. "If owning my fine family dagger offends you in any way, feel free to return it."
"It is not mine," Erik grumbled, his low baritone velvet, even on a growl.
"Well, I have not touched upon it in weeks." Raoul shrugged nonchalantly, and his words made Erik's gaze settle on the almost fully healed nick on his cheek. Raoul surely imagined the guilt flashing within those mysterious eyes. The blond exhaled softly and took a moment to gather his thoughts. "Why do you want to end this?"
Erik scoffed. "You expect me to answer that with you in my lap?"
"Yes, it is a hard requirement."
Once again his nostrils flared, his body impossibly rigid in all the wrong places. Silence stretched between them as Erik stared him down.
"I could easily dispose of you, Vicomte," he said at last, a low growl that sounded menacing enough it sent shivers down Raoul's spine.
"If you wanted to, you would have done so well before all of this," he countered, idly picking at the cravat around Erik's neck. He wondered what the skin beneath looked like.
Undeterred, Erik continued, "I could kill you with this very knife. You did not restrain me, I could so easily slit your throat and watch the blood flow from your neck."
"My version of foreplay differs quite so from yours."
Erik let out a frustrated growl, eyes darkening. For all his talk, Raoul could feel his interest eager against his groin.
He tightly gripped the cravat and pulled Erik close enough that their noses brushed. He stared down into his narrow eyes, meeting his fiery gaze with his own steely one. "Erik, you mad man, I have given you my entire body," he breathed, repressing the shake that was threatening to leave him. "You owe me at least an explanation for this sudden need to cease what you started, for I can feel your body eager against mine and it makes no sense, indeed!" Even in the dim light he could see the brunet's blown pupils, the flush on his exposed cheek.
Erik snarled, his hands remained at his side.
"Even now you refuse to touch me to cease this." Raoul smirked now, emboldened by the control he seemed to have over this imposing man. "You seethe with contempt beneath me yet—"
"I had my plans!" Erik hissed at last, barely managing to not spit out the words as his hands raised to firmly hold onto Raoul's hips. "I had my plans, Vicomte, for all of this." He jerked his head to indicate the opera house and turned back to meet Raoul's eyes. "Yet you ruined them all the moment you stepped into my box."
"If that is all it took," Raoul started almost breathlessly, hadn't truly anticipated Erik touching him yet. "Perhaps a locking of the door would have been in order."
"Oh, shut up!" Erik snapped, eyes ablaze with fury yet his slacks tightened ever more against Raoul's and his fingers dug almost painfully into Raoul's waist. "I have half a mind to bend you over this balustrade and take you to show you who owns you!"
"There is no owning here, Erik," Raoul countered softly. "You keep seeing it as such, but perhaps you have failed to see my eagerness in all of this. I have always been a willing participant. Whatever has you wanting to cease this now, perhaps you should not listen to it."
Erik stilled.
Carefully Raoul reached up and at last cupped his jaw, carefully feeling the skin with his fingertips. "I have had weeks to report you," he murmured quietly, the air around them tense and uncertain. "Yet I have not done so. I could have told Christine about this, yet have not done so. I kept returning every week unless otherwise occupied, as did you. Surely you are wise enough to know what it all implies?" His heart raced, his pulse thrumming through his veins at words at last spoken. "I am not some idiot, you know." He swallowed and reached down to his waist, feeling upon the sheath of his dagger taken from him weeks ago. Deftly he undid the belt, sliding it through his slacks' loops, and taking Erik's hand and pushing the sheath onto his palm.
Erik started, eyes focusing back on Raoul and then glancing down at the sheath within his hand. "What is this?" he grumbled, frown creasing his forehead.
"The sheath you took that dagger from," Raoul chuckled softly, wetting his lips. "The blade should be protected, it will last longer."
"Why are you giving me this? It is yours."
A dry laugh escaped him before he could stop himself. "That has never stopped you before, monsieur." He took a breath and met Erik's eyes once more. "Unless you absolutely, vehemently detest me, keep the blade."
Erik's eyes narrowed.
"Are you dense?" Raoul huffed, then rolled his hips and bit his lips when Erik trembled beneath him. "I am saying I want your hands on me. I want you all around me, taking me, marking me as yours." He licked his lips and dared to inch closer to press his lips against the corner of Erik's mouth. "I want your lips on me," he whispered then, waver in his voice. He could have it all wrong. He could have misread this entire situation and put himself into so much more danger than he had ever been in before.
The sheath was unceremoniously dropped on the chair next to them and Erik gripped Raoul's cheeks and pressed their faces as he properly crushed their lips together in a kiss more teeth than tongue.
Raoul grunted into the surprise kiss, whimpering when Erik bucked up into him and ground their hips together. Wheezing, he forced himself to pull away, shaking his head as he took deep and steadying breaths. Before Erik could crumble from his apparent rejection he said, "Let me do this." He wet his glistening lips still tasting like Erik. "You have pleasured me enough, let me pleasure you at last, I beg you."
Erik seemingly wanted to protest but Raoul held a firm hand at his chest and stared coolly down at him. "No, Erik. You must not have realised what your cock in my mouth did to me that first time," he whispered, slowly rolling his hips and whimpering softly at the minute release it gave. "At night I thought about your thickness within me, taking me..." He pushed forwards, practically melting their bodies together as he wrapped his arms around the brunet's neck and inched close enough he could feel his hot breath on his lips. "Almost every night I touched myself thinking of you when it should have been Christine." He stole a kiss, lingering in it until Erik groaned and impatiently bucked up. "You have bewitched me, Erik."
His pupils were blown wide, barely any gold visible within his eyes as Erik stared at Raoul, his hands back on the blond's waist. He grumbled. "I possess many skills, Vicomte, but bewitching is not one of them."
"Then explain what you have done to me," Raoul whispered with a grin, cupping Erik's face once more and kissing his exposed jaw, licking his rough skin and angling his head backwards to expose more of his sinful neck. "For you are on my mind constantly." He moved to tug at Erik's cravat and started undoing the fabric.
"Vicomte," Erik growled lowly, hand tightly around Raoul's wrist and stopping him.
"Erik," Raoul countered. "If this is to remain, I wish to see your body as it is. I wish to touch your skin and kiss it as you did mine. You have seen me and I wish to see you."
Erik stiffened, his breath hitching and his hand faltering.
Raoul sighed softly and pulled away enough to meet his eyes, gently caressing his cheek with his thumb. "Erik, if you worry about the mask, I urge you not to. It can remain for however long you find it necessary, I will not push your comfort." He could see the thoughts in Erik's eyes, his worries and anxieties—his self-loathing. He leaned down and caught his lips in his, pressing firmly against the brunet to kiss his breath and thoughts away.
Erik's hand loosened and fell back to Raoul's waist. He parted his lips and allowed the kiss to deepen, tilted his head, and all was well again.
With renewed vigour Raoul pulled away and angled Erik's head to access his neck, to kiss and suck at the exposed, cool skin at last. He made quick work of the cravat, now allowed, and slid the fabric around Erik's lithe neck. "Your body," Raoul groaned against the cool skin, rolling his hips over Erik's with a reverent gasp, "does things to me, Erik. You have no idea." He slid his hands down his s chest to the buttons of his waistcoat, undoing them and pushing the fabric aside. He immediately started on his shirtsleeves, not missing Erik's rapid heartbeat beneath his lips and his sharp intake of breath. "Trust me," Raoul whispered against his skin, eyes closed and chest heaving. "As I have trusted you."
When before Erik had been imposing and confidence itself during their coupling, now he seemed infinitely uncertain and even self conscious. He must not realise Raoul did not give two fucks about what he may look like beneath the mask, for whatever the blond had seen of the man had been enough to pull him in and bewitch him entirely. Perhaps a time ago this would have worried Raoul, but now he couldn't fathom not having Erik like this around him. He needed more of the maddening man.
"Erik," Raoul murmured softly, hands splayed on his chest but not moving for the buttons. He gazed up to meet Erik's eyes, trying to discern whatever he may be thinking. "If you truly do not—"
"No," Erik interjected, exhaling a shuddering breath. Flames were in his eyes when he met Raoul's gaze. "Do it."
A cold shiver ran down Raoul's spine and he swallowed, taking a moment as they held each other's gaze before he grunted and started unbuttoning Erik's dress shirt at last. He definitely understood now why Erik had ripped his apart last time, but he feared what the Phantom may do if Raoul would try. Grumbling as he struggled, he grinned triumphantly when the shirt was at last loosened and he could push it aside.
Erik's pale torso was sculpted, muscled, scarred, and Raoul could feel his mouth water at the sight. "Look at you," he breathed with a smirk, sliding himself off Erik's lap and forcing his legs apart. He kneeled between them and reached up to put his hands on Erik's bare sides, shuddering at the cool on his fingertips. He slid to Erik's abdomen, grazing through the trail of hair and ghosted up to his chest, past his nipples and his collarbone and back to his chest. Raoul let out a shuddering breath, grin splitting his face. He looked up to Erik and stilled when he met the dark and lustful gaze of him.
"Erik," he breathed shakily. For a moment he had been overcome with the ability to finally explore and map Erik's skin as Erik had done to him, but then that dark gaze of his... It was too much and not enough all at once.
The Phantom reached down and held Raoul's chin, wetting his lips as he stared at Raoul's lips. "You had a plan, Vicomte," he said, low voice hushed and velvety. "Do not let me stop you." He leaned back in the chair and spread his legs even wider, lounging back in feigned nonchalance.
Not needing to be told twice Raoul inhaled sharply, nodded, and pressed his lips to Erik's chest. He could feel the grumble of him on his lips, the sound reverberating through his sinful body and rasping at his masterful throat. Raoul kissed his abdomen, the dark hair trailing down, then back up to his chest. He licked up towards a nipple and suckled on the sensitive nub. He was rewarded with a soft groan and a tensing of Erik's hand on the armrest, bony hands clutching the fabric like his life depended on it. He continued his ministrations, hands ghosting over the cool skin as his mouth and tongue trailed all over Erik's chest. He could feel Erik's cock hard against his torso, the hardness grazing and rubbing against him as he moved over Erik's chest.
Erik's breathing was heavy, his chest heaving when Raoul pulled away and settled his hands on Erik's knees. Without hesitation he pushed his hands upwards, over the fabric on Erik's thighs, inching closer to the tent in his slacks. He ghosted past the bulge to work on Erik's belt, grinning when Erik exhaled an indignant huff. The belt unbuckling was now a familiar sound that had his own cock twitch eagerly against his slacks, but he ignored the heat inside him, too eager to pleasure Erik for once.
The Phantom raised his hips and Raoul breathlessly tugged his slacks past his knees and let them drop to the floor, his hands immediately returning to his drawers. Erik had already been leaking, a wet mark at the peak of his hard cock. "Oh," Raoul breathed hotly, wetting his lips. He wasn't sure when he started adoring this man's cock and, really, every being, but right now he needed to feel that weight on his tongue. He glanced up to meet Erik's dark eyes staring straight back at him. His throat dried and he licked his lips once more. He had half a mind to tease Erik as he always did to him, using his damned voice to mock and excite him all at once. But, he found he didn't have the patience for it, too eager to feel his heat in his mouth once again.
Impatiently he tugged at Erik's underpants, nudging against his thigh. "Erik," he purred, requesting.
Erik listened.
A smirk curved his lips at the sight of Erik's hard and eager cock rested against his stomach, tip coated in liquid and the flesh looking hot and angry. Without hesitation Raoul reached up and wrapped a hand around the stiff flesh, revelling in Erik's tensing muscles and strained gasp at the contact. With a rumble in his throat he licked at the salty tip, almost lightheaded as Erik bucked his hips up against his lips. "Patience," he breathed onto his hardness, grinning up to Erik who looked positively broken. "I have plans."
"Then hurry up," Erik snapped, usual silken voice hoarse and whiny. He almost sounded like he wanted to beg, but he seemed adamant not to do so, willing the words down.
"Absolutely not." Raoul pressed his tongue against the shaft and licked all the way to the tip, closing his eyes at the overwhelming urge to take him already as Erik stiffened beneath him. He pulled away and smirked when Erik's eyes darkened with annoyance. All things considered it was a miracle Erik wasn't forcing things along—he wasn't bound the way Raoul always had been. "You have taken your time with me, Erik," he purred, idly stroking up and down his thighs. "I will do the same."
Erik huffed and grunted, glaring daggers down at the Vicomte between his legs. "Insolent boy," he grumbled, eyes dark and hands tightly gripping the armrests. "I have half a mind to get up and bend you over the balustrade and take you for all of Paris to see."
Raoul let out a laugh and glared up to the frustrated man. "You have the strength to do so if you desire." He ghosted his fingertips over Erik's cock. "And despite knowing that, you allow me my fun." he wrapped his hand around the hard flesh and jerked upwards, grinning when Erik inhaled sharply and his eyes fluttered. "Because secretly you do not mind me being in control for once."
Erik opened his mouth to protest and then Raoul's hot wetness engulfed him.
Raoul bobbed easily down to the base, breathing harshly through his nose and greedily inhaling Erik's musky smell, his hair tickling his skin. He pressed his tongue against the shaft and gagged slightly when Erik's hips bucked beneath him. He parted enough that he could breathe comfortably, fighting the urge to close his eyes to instead glance up and meet Erik's dark and hazy ones. He shuddered at the intensity of the man's gaze, the glistening of the lips he compulsively licked. And still his hands remained on the armrests clutching so tightly such that his already pale fingers looked like the colour white itself. With a grin Raoul slowly pulled off, making sure to drag his tongue along the shaft as he left.
"If you must touch…" he purred wickedly, inching closer to breathe onto the twitching and leaking cock. "Feel free to do so."
As if a spring that had been wound too tight and snapped, Erik sprung into action, grunting as a hand shot onto Raoul's head and fisted his blond hair to tug him up and up until he could crash their lips together and very well bite into his mouth.
Raoul whimpered into the harsh kiss, grasping for air in between takings of his mouth and Erik's free hand shoving itself down his shirt. He gasped and pulled away from those eager hands, laughing almost manically. "Touch, Erik," he rasped, slowly settling back on his knees and distancing himself to keep the brunet at bay. "Not take completely over."
"I heard no complaints," Erik purred, nonetheless loosening his grip, allowing the strands of blond to settle back. He smoothed down the hair and smirked, wetting his lips as he leaned back into the chair, his body tight and aching.
The Vicomte swallowed at the acceptance of his wish, eyes blown wide and mouth salivating. This strange and wondrous man! Without second thought he wrapped his lips around Erik once again, bobbing down and deeply inhaling the musky scent of him until it filled his lungs and his existence, Erik all around him.
Erik's heavy hand settled on Raoul's head, a growl rumbling through his throat as he clutched the hair firmly enough for a strong hold and minutely thrusting his hips up into him.
He made a noise and reached up to fondle Erik's balls, feeling the tightness within them as he squeezed and elicited a strangled gasp from the spectre in his mouth. He grumbled and slowly pulled back, savouring the taste and feel of Erik inside him as he parted and hungrily looked up to him, meeting the equally hungry and lustful eyes. In this light the gold seemed to shimmer, glinting with mischief and anticipation.
Exhaling a hot breath, Raoul slowly got to his feet, all the while not breaking their gaze, and reached for his suspenders. With practised ease he undid them and pulled them away, his slacks loosening around his slender hips. Idly he crouched down to undo his shoe's laces and straightened to step out of his shoes, the carpet of the box soft beneath his socked feet. Hands followed Erik's hungry gaze and unbuttoned the fastenings of his slacks until they loosened enough for him pull them down.
Erik looked much like a predator observing its prey, eyes dark and hands flexing onto the armrests. Yet he allowed Raoul this power over him—to have him watch instead of doing it himself.
With a mischievous smirk Raoul stepped between Erik's parted legs, brushing his knee against the leaking cock twitching between them. "If you will, monsieur?" he purred on a whisper, tilting his head inquisitively.
His nostrils flared and those golden eyes glanced up for a moment before Erik sat up and reached for Raoul, his persistent cool coming close to the warmth of the blond. "Do you know how tempting you look, little one?" he grumbled lowly, cold and slender hands settling on the fabric of Raoul's trousers. "Eager and willing." He exhaled a warm breath and slowly tugged the fabric down, exposing more and more of Raoul's toned legs he had not properly seen before.
Hungry eyes took him in and Raoul was breathless as he stared at Erik staring at him. His dress shirt and waistcoat were still secured around him, and for what he had planned that would soon change as well, but this gaze of Erik's, his face when he so warmly called him 'little one'… A shiver ran down his spine when cool digits touched his skin and elicited a strangled gasp, shaky hands settling onto Erik's arms, steadying himself.
Erik seemed as breathless as Raoul felt, teasing his slacks down until they finally passed his knees and dropped unceremoniously to his ankles. His golden eyes stared as Raoul stepped out of them, hungry gaze following up the lines of his toned calves, his thighs, and then onto the incriminating clothing still adorned by this specimen of a man.
His heart pounding in his throat, Raoul started shimmying down his underpants, his cock straining against the loose and thin fabric, tip leaking. Erik's eyes darkened impossibly so, fixed intently on Raoul's cock slowly springing free from the fabric. Under his scrutinising gaze Raoul took off his drawers entirely and stepped out of them, feeling lightheaded. He could see Erik's hands flexing, noticed the licking of his lips once again.
With a breathless chuckle Raoul put a hand on Erik's chest and pushed him back against the chair, following his leaning back. Easily he settled himself on Erik's lap, bare skin meeting bare skin and both men inhaling sharply at the sensation. Their cocks pressed together and Raoul bit his lips, trying to ignore it as he hazily met Erik's eyes. "Undress me, Erik," he breathed, hands settling onto the Erik's bare chest and roaming over the cool skin, grazing his nipples.
Reflexively Erik jerked his hips against Raoul's and let out a strained moan before he shut his mouth and sprung his hands in motion. Immediately he reached for the buttons of the fine waistcoat obstructing his view, fingering the fastenings undone and shoving the fabric aside.
"All the way, Fantôme," Raoul whispered sultrily, ignoring the heat aflame in his gut at Erik's bobbing Adam's apple at every swallow of his. He pinched a nipple.
Erik whimpered and hands easily shifted towards Raoul's shoulders, sliding beneath the expensive fabric and forcing the garment off Raoul's toned shoulders. With a soft thud it landed on the floor, but Erik paid it no mind as his hands already found the buttons of Raoul's shirtsleeves, hungry gaze eager to see upon the tanned chest once again, to witness Raoul in his ethereal beauty.
Raoul wrapped his hands around Erik's wrists, simply holding them and feeling those musician hands undoing his shirtsleeves and pulling the fabric away from his heated skin.
"I can already read the headlines," Erik marvelled breathlessly, hands roaming over the Vicomte's expansive chest, feeling over the hair upon it, the sculpted abdomen. He grinned wickedly and met Raoul's hazy gaze, making sure to roll the words past his lips, "Le Vicomte de Chagny taken by le Fantôme de l'Opéra." He reached out and pressed his cursed lips to Raoul's chest, kissing the skin while he splayed his hand upon his back and pulled him ever closer. "Never to be seen again, taken within his darkness..."
With a soft gasp Raoul cradled Erik's head, eyes drooping as the brunet's mouth worked on his bare skin. His words had his cock twitch against Erik's and a pathetic whimper fell from his lips. He had half a mind to have Erik take over once again, but perhaps he had become too comfortable, indeed. Steeling himself, he pushed against Erik's chest, hard, and the man relented, parting from his skin with a last kiss sure to leave a hickey as he grinned and settled back against the chair.
Raoul followed him, their chests pressed together and his hands splayed over the cool skin as he kissed Erik's jaw. "Where is that vial, Erik?" he purred, keenly watching as Erik stirred and wet his lips. "I want you to prepare me."
Erik fought to keep the wicked smirk from curling his lips, reaching up into his loose waistcoat and taking the familiar vial from a hidden pocket within the lining. He tilted his head to allow Raoul easier access to his neck, humming as he easily undid the screwed cap. "Tell me, Raoul," he purred, meeting Raoul's eyes. "Did you prepare?"
"Of course," Raoul said immediately, cradling Erik's face and locking their gaze. "Every time I come to the opera I ensure to be clean and proper for you..." He inched closer, their noses brushing together and breaths ghosting over lips. "After all, I never know when you might find me and take me away."
Erik inhaled sharply and swiftly closed the distance to crush their lips together, resisting the urge to snake his hands down to wrap around their cocks so hard and heated. He poured some oil on his fingers, gasping for air a moment before resuming the dizzying kiss. He put the vial aside and firmly seized Raoul's arse, squeezing the flesh with a soft gasp from the blond. His other hand snuck past Raoul's side and settled behind him, cool finger teasing the tight entrance.
Raoul hissed as soon as the cold finger touched him, holding tightly onto Erik's shoulders and leaning forwards to allow better access. Chest heaving, he nuzzled into Erik's neck and closed his eyes, his muscles tense despite his best efforts.
"Relax, little Vicomte," Erik rumbled, sounding ever so slightly breathless as he tilted to nuzzle into the Vicomte smelling like pine and wood. "You have done this twice before now."
Embarrassed, Raoul shook his head and mumbled something into Erik's neck, his hot breath sending shivers down the spectre's spine.
"What was that?" He breathed, wetting his lips and slowly pushing in.
"I've—" Raoul gasped and bit his lips, a whine leaving him. "At home, I took oil and I…"
Erik let out a noise akin to a bemused scoff and momentarily stilled—eliciting another whine from Raoul—as he regarded the Vicomte huddling himself into his neck and arms. "You have?" Incredulously he pushed his finger all the way in and smirked when Raoul arched his back. "You could have done it for tonight then, little one."
With heated cheeks Raoul huffed into Erik's neck, lips latching onto his pulse point. "You wanted to break up tonight, monsieur." It was half accusation and half deflective, least of all they had no relationship to break up, but it was true nonetheless. He pushed back onto the finger with a soft moan.
"You did not know that..." Erik frowned and huffed, holding Raoul tighter and working him a bit quicker, grumble rumbling through his chest.
Raoul barely noticed Erik's momentary moodiness, his cock aching and twitching quite distractedly under Erik's eager ministrations. Embarrassment still singed his cheeks, already regretting he had shared that information with Erik. It was true, but it still felt weirdly intimate to confess to having fingered himself while thinking of Erik and their meetings, even if Erik was currently inside him.
He gasped when Erik arched his finger and hit something within him that had him mewl against the black of Erik's cloak and jerk his hips forwards. "Please—" he breathed brokenly, clutching desperately at Erik. "Please more, I beg you…"
"Only because you beg so sweetly, dear boy," Erik purred into Raoul's hair, feeling Raoul's cock pressed against his abdomen, his own cock just as hard. "Keep yourself up, little Vicomte." He pulled away to reach for the vial and easily slipped it behind Raoul to slick his other fingers, gaze dark.
When a second finger pressed in, Raoul groaned and his eyes slid shut once again, his breath ragged. His hands dug into Erik's shoulders, but if it hurt Erik didn't mention it. Hazily, Raoul moved up to press their lips together once again, to taste Erik within his mouth and feel the graze of his teeth. Mindlessly he moved to cup his cheeks and tilted his head, gasping for air briefly before resuming the kiss.
Erik grumbled within his mouth, fingers momentarily faltering before he resumed with more vigour, pressing in up to his knuckles and arching them until Raoul gasped and arched his chest into him. "Oh, Raoul, I would have you come just like this," he whispered huskily, pressing another kiss against those soft and warm lips.
"You will not," Raoul warned on a murmur, yet all the same pushing back against the fingers and bucking forwards to grind their cocks together. "I will come on your cock, Erik, nothing else."
His breath hitched and then he pressed in a third finger.
"Fuck—" Raoul muttered weakly. "I'm ready, dammit..." Ge stole another kiss now that Erik seemingly allowed him, tasting strawberries and coffee. "Please, Erik…"
A breathless chuckle rumbled within Erik's throat, arm straining to fuck Raoul on his fingers. The Vicomte writhed upon him, occasionally brushing their cocks together and eliciting a whine from the both of them. "You had a plan, Vicomte, yet you look so disheveled now," he purred, smirking darkly.
Raoul huffed and bit at the skin where neck met shoulders. "One can enjoy a fuck while still continuing their plan," he breathed, grinding down on those stupidly deft fingers inside him with a reverent gasp. "In this case— I had this planned just like this."
"How lucky that I allow you." Erik almost slurred the words.
"Hah," Raoul scoffed lightly, then bit back a whine when Erik retreated his fingers. His heartbeat quickened impossibly so, the blond inhaling sharply at what he knew would come next. "You wouldn't want to stop this." He glanced up to meet Erik's s golden gaze, dark and dangerous as his hand swatted Erik's away from him. He reached further down and wrapped his hand around Erik's dripping cock, the man twitching and gasping softly at the touch after so long of nothing. "I have half a mind to finish you like this," he echoed, hazily glancing down at the cock stiff in his hand, jerking up a few times and smirked when Erik stifled a moan and bucked up.
"Raoul," Erik gasped brokenly, chest heaving.
Smirking at having Erik quite literally under this thumb, he aligned himself at last, wetting his lips. Then, he moved down and groaned when Erik pushed inside him.
Erik's hands shot up to his hips, fingers digging painfully into the skin as he groaned and rolled his eyes, his head drooping backwards and exposing his lithe neck.
Breathlessly, Raoul watched him, his own hands steadying himself on the cool chest. He wanted to say his name, get his attention, but something about how vulnerable he looked stopped him. Instead, he leaned down to pepper the exposed skin with kisses and suck at his rapid pulse point.
"Move, I beg you…" Erik whispered hoarsely, eyes closed and hands trembling despite their death grip sure to leave bruises.
His cock jerked at the plea not heard before, but he refused to get lost in it. "Touch me, Erik," Raoul purred, pinching a nipple and grazing past the other. "And I may consider it." His heart about wanted to leave his chest, sure that Erik could feel it through their joined skin.
Erik grumbled but snuck a hand between them, deft and nimble fingers wrapping around Raoul's neglected cock.
The hot-white pleasure flaring inside him had him double over and stifle a gasp, shifting over Erik's cock and eliciting a moan from him. "Fuck…" he whimpered, the heat of his orgasm so treacherously close already. Slowly he started rolling his hips, still trying to chase the tightness of Erik's hand working him.
Erik finally moved his other hand, sliding it up Raoul's back and splaying it out over his shoulder blades to press their chests together. "You are something else, Raoul," he gasped softly, hand ever working the tense man on his cock. He flicked his wrists and smirked when Raoul cried out and muffled himself into Erik's shoulder, hot breath panting over his skin. He started bucking his hips up, straining his legs as he tried to fuck into Raoul's heat more than the mere rolling of hips. He felt Raoul stiffen in his hand and he bit his lips before he leaned down to whisper at his ear, "Come for me, Raoul."
With a cry Raoul jerked forward and came, his seed shooting over Erik's exposed chest as he unsteadily grasped Erik's shoulders. He could feel Erik's body tensing at the sensation and his cock twitching within him. He took a steadying breath before straightening himself and looking down at the man inside him. "Erik," he whispered breathily, sliding his hands up the ridiculously lean chest and neck before cupping his face and meeting those golden eyes. "Whatever happens, this can never stop." He cried out at a particularly harsh thrust and hissed at the jolt of sensation shooting through him. "You—" He jerked his hips forwards, smirking when Erik groaned and had to try his hardest to focus on him still. "You are an insane mad man," he continued. "And I need your cock inside me every single day."
Hazily, Erik met his eyes, breath unevenly leaving his cursed lips andhis hands firmly grasping Raoul's hips. It seemed he had no words to retort, so instead he leaned up and pressed their lips together.
The kiss was surprisingly sweet considering the cock buried within him, but Raoul revelled in it, finding Erik's lips and easily pushing past them with his tongue. Finally he decided to take pity on Erik's search for release and pulled away. With a grunt he steadied himself properly and moved up, feeling Erik dragging deliciously within him, and then he fell back down, their hips slapping together
"Fuck...!" Erik gasped, breath ghosting over Raoul's face. "Again."
Raoul grinned and obeyed, grunting when Erik was buried inside him once more. He jerked forwards and did it again, his sensitive cock brushing against Erik's abdomen and sending a jolt of discomfort and pleasure through his body.
Without warning Erik tightened the grip on his his hips and steadied the both of them, looking darkly up to Raoul.
Breathlessly, Raoul nodded and raised his hands to rest upon Erik's broad shoulders.
With a low growl Erik pressed his face into the crook of Raoul's neck and thrust up into him, all the while forcing Raoul down onto his cock—until he stiffened impossibly more and came at last, spilling inside Raoul with a stuttering of his hips.
He could feel Erik inside him—the warmth of him spreading through him with every burst of his cock. Raoul shivered and gasped softly at the sensation, glancing down to look at the imposing Phantom a mere man before him, and together they slumped back into the chair.
Erik's chest was heaving as he sat there for a moment, faded smirk on his face with his hands ever possessively holding onto Raoul's waist. Then, he moved them up the bare skin of his sides, ghostinh over the tanned skin. With a hum he grazed over Raoul's chest, pinching and toying with his nipples and the blond writhing above him. He could feel Raoul's cock twitch against him and he grinned, golden eyes mischievous as he started pushing Raoul off of him.
Raoul only winced in protest but allowed it nonetheless, had already expected it even after he had practically admitted his love. He bit his lips when Erik's cock slipped out of him and he felt more than empty as he stood on shaky feet. He cleared his throat and started looking for his clothes.
"Wait," Erik grumbled on a whisper, dark eyes looking upon Raoul's spent and flushed body, hands flexing onto the armrests. "Turn around."
Frowning, Raoul opened his mouth, then closed it and shook his head, trying to ignore the hurt of Erik wanting to leave despite his words. "If you wish to disappear as you always do, monsieur, you are more than capable of doing so—"
"No, little one." Erik smirked and got to his feet, towering over Raoul and swiftly turned him around. He pressed against his back, skin to skin, and ghosted his breath over the shell of the blond's ear. "Let me do this."
"What?" Raoul muttered, then winced when Erik bent him over the balustrade. He could object and Erik would stop, he knew this, but there was a certain calmness and perhaps even affection within Erik's voice that had Raoul allow the motion, his pulse quickening within his veins. When Erik's presence shifted to right behind him and his cool hands spread his cheeks he stilled, uncertain what the man was planning.
He managed to just about stifle a pathetic and strangled mewl when Erik's mouth pressed against him and his tongue pushed inside him. With a strangled gasp he braced himself against the wood, knees trembling. It was too much all too soon yet his cock twitched with interest all the same and he pushed back against the wetness. It seemed Erik was hellbent on having him come at least twice since he found out Raoul was able to, and though he really should be protesting it for the discomfort it gave him, he absolutely could not deny the overwhelming pleasure at the same time.
Grunting, he snuck a hand down to wrap around his hardening cock, hissing at the sensitivity of his skin. In tandem with Erik's thrusts of his tongue he stroked himself, jerking his hips backwards into the Phantom's face and thrusting into his tight hand, trying to find a rhythm. Erik's tongue worked inside him, thrusting and licking before pulling out and putting pressure right on the edge that had Raoul's mind reeling.
The tongue disappeared for a moment, only for Erik to attach his mouth to Raoul's perineum and administer his love to the sensitive skin. Raoul muffled another cry and pushed back against him, eyes screwed shut. "Erik—" he cried, knees weak and trembling. "Please—"
With a ridiculously casual hum, Erik parted and pulled away, much to Raoul's dismay. "You taste like me," he grumbled, cursed lips quirked into a grin. With practised ease he pulled Raoul to straighten once more, the Vicomte trembling within his hands. Gently he turned the blond around and pressed close before leaning down to press kisses to the flushed skin of his cheeks.
Raoul turned to press their lips together, caring little for where Erik's mouth had been not a moment before. He leaned heavily against him, steadying himself against the man with his hands on his chest. "Please," he whispered onto those cursed lips, his eyes blissfully closed. He could feel the smirk of the older man as the body holding him shifted.
Erik easily slipped down to his knees, dragging his hands along the warmth of Raoul before wrapping one hand around the stiff cock in front of him. Raoul gasped softly and shivered but did not stop him. Grinning, Erik leaned in and wrapped his lips around Raoul's cock.
Raoul moaned, eyes rolling back and hand instinctively falling into Erik's hair. "Fuck…"
As Erik bobbed down he slipped a finger between Raoul's thighs and felt at the slick of his hole. Satisfied with the slickness of it, he pushed inside and Raoul stiffened on his tongue before thrusting into him. He grumbled around the thick heat and stilled for a moment, Raoul's cock buried within his mouth and his nose pressed against the hair at the base of his length.
Raoul stifled a cry when Erik pushed another finger inside him, desperatly holding onto the wig. For a moment he was quite impressed at the way it was anchored on his head, but then Erik squeezed his balls and arched his fingers and sparks exploded within him. He hunched over, unsteadily reaching out to try and steady himself onto the chair behind Erik as his knees buckled. "Erik—!"
Invigorated, Erik resumed the thrusts and arching of his fingers inside Raoul's heat, pressing his tongue against the cock and his free hand steadying Raoul on his hips. Raoul's cock twitched and jerked inside him with every bob of his head, dragged away and pushed inside with every thrust of Raoul's hips.
"Please, I—" Raoul gasped, thrusting into Erik's wet heat and pushing back against those ridiculous fingers inside him. "Please, please, please…" He dissolved into a sob, eyes screwed shut. And then he exploded, body screaming and cock stiffening once more. With a final thrust of his hips and arching of Erik's fingers he pushed in all the way to the base and released himself into Erik.
Erik took it easily, eyes closed and inhaling the musky scent of Raoul all around him. His tongue licked the softening cock, cleaning it as best as he could. He stopped Raoul from pulling out, instead pulling his fingers out and glancing up to meet the Vicomte's gaze.
Raoul breathlessly stilled, staring down at Erik with those cursed lips around his cock; he looked sinful. And then the brunet made a point of slowly, agonisingly slowly, pulling away, dragging his tongue past the sensitive skin and grazing his teeth enough to elicit a hiss from the blond. He stopped at the head, making sure to swirl his tongue around the tip and clean every bit of him. With lidded eyes Raoul watched, heart pounding so hard he feared Erik may very well hear.
And then Erik pulled away with a plop and sinfully parted his lips to show Raoul his own seed still within that cursed mouth.
His nostrils flared and Raoul's own lips parted at the sight, a familiar hunger and want sending a shiver down his spine. Without second thought he reached out and touched Erik's lips the way Erik had done so often to him. He swiped his thumb over the misshapen lips and then pushed inside, gasping reverently when Erik closed around him, their stare unbreaking. With wide eyes and a raspy throat he then whispered, "Swallow."
Erik obliged, his mouth tightening around Raoul's thumb as he swallowed the seed down. He had no time for any other thoughts before Raoul dropped to his knees in front of him and replaced his thumb with his mouth.
Eagerly, Raoul cupped Erik's cheeks and pressed himself closer, their skin pressing together as he licked inside Erik's mouth and tasted him once more. Cold hands settled on his waist and pulled him impossibly closer. He felt the graze of Erik's teeth on his lips and he whimpered, anchoring himself by cradling his head.
Then Erik parted, chest heaving and visible cheek looking flushed. He took a breath and stared at Raoul, who looked equally well-kissed, and then grumbled as he got to his feet. With practised ease he took his cloak from the floor and reached for Raoul's hand. Then he situated himself on the chair and pulled the Vicomte into his arms.
Raoul stumbled omtp Erik's lap, relieved to get off his shaky legs as tiredness overcame him all at once. Without thinking he sighed and rested his head against Erik's shoulder. He felt Erik drape the heavy cloak around him before he wrapped his arms around him and protectively held him. The warmth caught between them and the cloak pulled at his exhaustion and Raoul grumbled as his eyes slid closed. Happily he dozed within Erik's embrace, letting the music of the opera flow over him and the steady heartbeat of Erik comfort him.
It took him another few minutes of sitting like this when he realised.
He opened his eyes and blinked, pulse quickening. He stirred and glanced up towards Erik, watching the man sit in contented quiet, his eyes closed. He actually seemed at rest.
"What?" Erik grumbled, cool eyes opening to settle upon Raoul's. "One needs not to look at you to know you are thinking."
"You're stil here," Raoul said quite matter-of-factly, though slightly breathless.
The statement lingered in the air for a moment, the Phantom's contented ease slowly fading into the measured cool Raoul dreaded to see.
"Do not misunderstand, Erik, I—"
"Hush, little one." Erik pursed his lips and looked out over the stage, clearly refusing to meet Raoul's eyes.
"No, Erik, not this time." Raoul frowned and straightened enough to properly look at Erik's face. The cloak shifted and exposed his chest to the cold air, but he paid it no mind. "You always leave. After every encounter you make quick work of leaving, yet now you are still here."
The Phantom huffed and adjusted the cloak once again, covering Raoul up to keep him warm. "Well, Vicomte, I dare say your words from earlier have something to do with it. Though," he added when Raoul's eyes widened. "Do not misinterpret that as it being the only reason."
"You mean—"
"I told you I had plans, little one. I told you how you ruined them," Erik continued on a murmur, frown creasing his forehead as he idly carded some loose hair behind Raoul's ears. "But I must confess I am not half as angry about that as I should be." He stilled at Raoul's gaze, eyes widening ever so slightly before he turned away, taking a shuddering breath. "When I started this thing between us, I had intended for it to be a shift in power dynamic more than anything. Yes, you are an attractive man and had life dealt me different cards I may have pursued you in the traditional sense, but as it is I am a cursed corpse walking this dreaded earth with a strong infatuation for that which he cannot have."
"Infatuation?" Raoul whispered breathlessly, unblinking.
Erik winced and closed his eyes. "I needed to hear you say my name—to whisper it and cry it out as I touched you. I needed to know what your mouth would feel like around me, what your body looked like beneath your suits, I— God, you say I have bewitched you yet here I am blabbering about my feelings to my supposed rival!" He laughed breathlessly, deliriously. "Something about you makes me want to do things differently and it is fucking maddening that one single man can have this kind of effect—"
Eager lips met his and Erik grunted in surprise, Raoul pressing close against him and practically entwining their bodies in the messy kiss. His eyes slipped close as he felt the familiar pang of tears but he willed them down, breathing heavily through his nose as Raoul invaded his mouth.
"You madman!" Raoul gasped on his lips, opening his eyes to meet Erik's glassy ones. "God, no wonder you wanted to stop this," he breathed, pressing his lips onto Erik's jaw and peppering kisses onto the skin before moving down his neck. "And I thought I was overwhelmed." He snuck a hand between them and pressed it against Erik's chest, feeling over the cool skin before he ghosted it down and grazed past the hair trailing down. He glanced up to meet Erik's bewildered eyes, his own dark and defiant. "Fuck Christine, Erik."
Erik gasped softly and swallowed, exhaling a shuddering breath. "Raoul?"
He laughed at how uncertain Erik suddenly looked, the imposing Phantom of the Opera reduced to a mere man at Raoul's words. He licked his lips and palmed Erik beneath him, smirking when the brunet hissed and unsteadily grasped waist. "Erik," the blond purred quietly, pressing the hardening cock up against Erik's abdomen. "I want you, Erik." His fingers wrapped around the hard flesh and Erik whimpered beneath him, hips reflexively jerking upwards.
"But—" Erik exhaled hotly, feeling his trembling hands and teary eyes and cursing them—too many thoughts and feelings overwhelming him.
"Focus on me, Erik," Raoul whispered, flicking his wrist and eliciting a strangled gasp from Erik. "Nothing else matters. I want you as you want me." He pressed their lips together once more.
Erik melted into the kiss, let out a moan at a particular motion of Raoul's hand around him. "Let me—" he breathed onto Raoul's lips, only for the Vicomte to kiss the rest of his words away.
"Let me see if you can come twice as well, Fantôme." Raoul smirked mischievously. "Let us see if I can come a third."
"Raoul…" Erik whispered brokenly, tears dripping down his cheeks.
"We can talk more later, after the performance." Raoul pressed another sweet kiss to Erik's lips and wiped his tears away. "But now, let me please make you understand."
For a moment Erik looked at him, then he nodded and wrapped his arms around the blond and pressed their bodies flush together.
Considering they had just fucked, Raoul was still adequately stretched and prepared. And so, he nuzzled into Erik's hair as he angled Erik's cock up and positioned himself. Then he sunk down.
Erik tensed and let out a half-stifled cry, biting at Raoul's skin beneath him as a tight heat enveloped his cock once more. Reverently he looked up to the blond, caring not for the lust and desire glinting within his eyes. When Raoul met his gaze he simply caught his lips between his and kissed him like his life depended on it.
It seemed Erik finally understood.
Raoul grinned against his thin lips and rolled his hips over Erik's cock buried deep inside him. Faintly he heard Christine's aria, but he rather decided to focus on the sounds Erik was making, his grunts and moans, the icy cool hands firmly on him. The cloak around them captured the heat of their sex and Raoul already felt sweat on his forehead, could feel Erik's hands slick around him as well. "Touch me," he breathed, groaning at a thrust angled just right. "I want your hands on me, Erik, please."
Obliging, Erik mindlessly snuck a hand between their joined bodies and touched Raoul's eager cock, lingering for a moment. "You could come by friction alone, Raoul," he whispered breathlessly, a smirk slowly curling at his lips. "I could have you grind against my abdomen, having to decide on riding my cock or—"
Frustratedly, Raoul jerked forwards and pressed their foreheads together. "If you don't touch me within five seconds I swear to God that I will get straight up from—" The rest of his sentence was lost to a whine as Erik's deft fingers wrapped around his aching cock and stroked him. "Fuck," he breathed, nuzzling into Erik's neck and closing his eyes as he let the sensations flow over him.
Erik let out a soft gasp at a particular roll of Raoul's hips, grunting and thrusting up into him. "Raoul, I'm close..." His voice was hoarse.
"Good," Raoul breathed against his neck, biting his lips at a flick of Erik's wrist. "As am I." He jerked forwards and whined when Erik's cock dragged inside him. "God, your cock feels so good inside me, Erik," he purred straight into Erik's ear, nibbling on his earlobe. "I would have you inside me all day if I could." He felt Erik stiffen impossibly more inside him and he screwed his eyes shut, leaning heavily against the tense man. "Come inside me, Erik, fill me up."
"You—" Erik gasped and then whined as his whole body tensed and he came once again, hips jerking up into Raoul's heat until he stilled, chest heaving.
"Come on," Raoul panted, biting his lips as he fucked up into Erik's hand. "So close. God, your hand…"
Without thinking Erik raised Raoul off of him, the blond whining, and pushed two fingers inside him, feeling his own seed but paying it no mind.
Raoul jerked and let out a moan, fingers digging into Erik's shoulders. "Fuck!"
"Quiet!" Erik hissed, chest heaving as dark eyes stared up at the man chasing his release. Then, he arched his fingers.
With a strangled cry the heat in his gut finally released, his cock twitching and shooting his seed out over Erik's chest with every thrust of his hips. He whined and slumped against the firm body holding him, panting and completely exhausted.
With a small noise Erik retreated his fingers and settled the cloak around them once more, breath slowly evening. He eyed down at the Vicomte in his arms, his eyes closed and cuddled up against him. "Three times."
Lazily Raoul glanced up, then craned his neck for a messy kiss. "All 'cus of you," he slurred sleepily, tiredly leaning back into Erik's embrace. "D'you understand now?"
The tears returned and Erik swallowed the lump in his throat down. "This is hardly…" He couldn't find the words for anymore objections, for once his mind blank. Instead he looked once more at the dozing Vicomte. "I have to make some changes to my opera."
"What?"
He let out a laugh. "You don't know, nobody did. The whole reason I have been absent is because I have been working on my own opera. Don Juan Triumphant, it was meant to be— to be a way for me to win Christine over. I was going to ask her to marry me instead of you." The words practically came falling out, all of his scheming and cunning completely disarmed by this strange and wonderful man in his arms. "It was going to be a tragedy, typical opera. The music is dissonant, it's not exactly of this time, I'm sure the directions I'd have given would have made everybody quite irate. Christine would've been Aminta, this—"
A snore beneath him had him stop. He blinked and looked down at Raoul.
The Vicomte had fallen asleep.
Erik made a noise and stared a moment longer before carding some hair away from his face. "Yes, I must make some changes, indeed," he murmured, reaching for a handkerchief from one of his pockets and carefully cleaning off his chest. He then reached behind Raoul and cleaned what he could reach, the blond frowning but otherwise not waking.
Satisfied, Erik tucked the handkerchief away and leaned comfortably back in the chair. He, too, closed his eyes and let the music of the opera wash over him.
They had the time, they could sleep for a moment.