Hi! I would just like to say that I wrote this before I read Susan Kay's Phantom, So this chapter is not based off of that at all.

~Phantomofgryffindor

💟

Erik

She loved me!

She loved me!

I pressed her against the wall tighter than before, almost squishing her in the process. I wanted her squished. Against the wall, and—more importantly—against me.

Christine was a beautiful shade of red—her eyes were intoxicating, her lips irresistible. And her figure—all warm and flush, and sexy pressed tightly against me—Oh!

It was all I could do not to 'corrupt' her, then and there. I had to remain focused—at least, that was what my better nature said—I had to keep focused and could not give in to temptation....

My better side was loosing its influence on me.

"How long—How long have you loved me?" I asked, struggling to pay attention to anything besides how much I wanted her. "Well, that's a hard question, Erik.....I fell in love with you long ago, I just did not realize it. I know I loved you after you died....But then everything re-started and I forgot our past." I nodded, "That makes sense....I think..." She laughed, though it sounded more like a gasp to my ears. "Erik, this is useless." "What is, my darling?" She looked pointedly at me, "You and I talking right now. It's useless. We both would rather be doing other things." I noticed her cheeks heat up a little more after that sentence. I waited, as she seemed to take confidence from my being near her, "I know you want me—and, Erik.........I want you. Words aren't going to help us."

I stared at her for a second, taking in her form, and her face. Anxious and excited was she in that moment. I managed to nod once; an abrupt, jerky movement that betrayed how I was feeling in that moment.

"Kiss me, dammit!" Christine whispered, so softly someone who did not have my hearing abilities would have missed it.

I was pressed against her even tighter before that murmur was out of her luscious mouth. Slowly, teasingly, I slid my bare hands into her hair, which brought her head all the closer. I craved closeness with Christine.

She smiled, playfully; wrapping her wet arms around my neck, sliding her leg up and onto my hip. I felt my breath hitch, and hers soon followed. "Erik...." Christine whimpered. "Christine..." I murmured, pressing my mouth against her neck. Her hand moved to the back of my head, while my hands slid down to her waist.

Christine

"Christine, that wet thing needs to come off. You'll get sick, and we simply cannot have that...." His voice startled me, since I was expecting his mouth to be at my neck for quite some time. I looked into his face—his beautiful, wonderful face. Why had I screamed at the sight of him? Why; when he was my darling love, my perfect Angel. Why was I so blind?

I smiled at him, pushing my thoughts away so I could focus on Erik, "Yes, I know. It's not going to come off on its own!" He looked puzzled, which was silly. "Erik," I said, slowly leaning in. I kissed him quickly on his adam's apple; and he gasped softly, his hands pressing tighter against my hips. "Take the dress off me, if you are so concerned." I whispered into his ear, before letting my teeth graze his earlobe. He said nothing, simply stood there, looking at me; his gaze dark with passion, filled with what had to be lust. Lust directed at me, and only me. "You will be the death of me, Christine." "Don't say such things..." I mumbled, as he caressed me under the chin. "I love you." I said softly.

His resolve—whatever was left of it—crumbled. "Turn around, then. Let's get you out of that thing...." He whispered into my collarbone. I did as he asked, turning so my back was facing his front. "Do you know how long I have been waiting for you to return my love?" He asked the base of my neck. Teasingly, he undid the silk ties of my dress; reverently kissing all the skin my dress left open. As he made the space wider, I gasped at his burning-hot fingers. "I....Love...You!" I gasped. "Mmm...." Erik murmured, his mouth burrowed into me. "Lift up your arms...." He cooed, sliding his hands up and down my sides. I lifted my arms up, and my dress—and my two petticoats—was soon off, and puddled on the floor beside us. I spun to face him, "No fair, Erik. You are not the only one who gets to take clothing off. My turn." I hissed, sliding my hands up his chest; I slid his jacket off, followed by his evening shirt and cravat. "There." I said, satisfied. "You are inviting damnation....You're playing with fire, Christine..." Erik chuckled darkly, before he was pressed against me, the only barrier between us being his trousers and my corset. His chest was scorching. "You're fevered, Erik! Are you quite well?" I asked, shivering a little as his heat seared into me. Again, his mouth was on my neck, gently kissing me up and down. He paused, when I spoke, to reply, "Fevered for you, love—only for you." My heart was in my throat, thrumming with insane excitement as he said that. "If you were any more wonderful, my heart would burst, I fear.....As it is..." I stopped when he nipped my neck. In fact, all coherent thought left me then and there. "My lady..." He purred, fingers playing havoc on me by tracing my neck, chest, and face. "My Angel..." I gasped. He smirked at me, and bit my neck again, before sucking on the area he bit, until I knew there would be a mark. "Oh, I shall have to wear a scarf again!" I whimpered, as my love chose another spot to bite. "You shall have to do more than that to-morrow, love. Mayhap you'll not even be able to leave the bed..." I swatted him on the shoulder, "Indecent!" I cried, fighting back a laugh. His face was next to mine instantly, "I think not. Were you not the one to beg me to take your dress off? I am only acting upon your words." I giggled, feeling myself melt; I became a gooey molten lava cake—a cake that happened to belong to, and with, Erik forevermore. "Do not fight what you start, Christine..." He all but growled, pulling me all the closer. "Never leave me, Christine. Stay with me forever..." He crooned, and my body felt flush and overly warm in his embrace. I never wanted it to end, wanted to love him forever, to be with him for eternity's length. "Never. I will be by your side forever more." I promised. "Then...." He trailed, shuddering with emotion. I unhooked my leg from his hip, trying to get some distance for what I was about to do. "I love you so, so much, Erik." I whispered, putting a finger to his lips. He kissed my finger twice, before holding his arms out to me, a grin on his face. I beamed at him, before jumping into his awaiting arms, hooking my legs around him for support—and because I loved the feeling of his body against my legs.

He did not even stagger when I landed in my arms. Instead, he held on tighter to me, his heart hammering in his chest. "Shall we go elsewhere, Erik?" I asked, as casually as I was able. "Oh, if you insist, love." He started to move towards his bedroom. I pressed my head against his bare chest, letting my hands slide up and down along his chest, before moving to his shoulders and back. "Do you remember that day I came to ask you to have a picnic with me?" I asked, softly. "Indeed, I do..." I did not have to look at him to know he was smirking. "Well, do you remember what you said to me?" I asked, as we neared his bedroom. "Yes...." He trailed. "I remember being so embarrassed, and yet I was secretly thrilled..." I confessed to his chest, before kissing the expanse of skin before me. "Indeed...." Erik murmured.

Erik kicked the door to his bedroom open so hard I was left shuddering from the impact. "Sorry, love, but I did not want to put you down—You're placed perfectly, in my opinion." In response, I simply kissed the hollow at the base of his neck. "You prove my point extremely well, my darling. What's this, now?" I looked up to see Erik fiddling with my locket. "A gift from your Vicomte?" He asked bitterly. "No, no, Erik." I assured him quickly, "I bought it a little while ago to hold your engagement rings. Open it and see for yourself—fiancé." I could not help the tender smile that crept onto my face as I said that. Erik's golden eyes zeroed in on my smile, a matching one lighting up his face. "Do you really mean it?" He asked, still fingering my locket. "All of it, my darling fiancé." I repeated the name, because I loved it, and because Erik's face lit up when I said it the last time. I watched his face become aglow with love again. "Open the locket, then." I whispered, kissing the tip of his nose. "You truly don't care how I look?" He asked. I huffed, wishing he was less doubtful. Then I smiled, "I love you—because of who you are, and no matter how you look. I love everything about you, even that nose of yours. At least I won't have to worry about girls trying to steal you from me—scratch that. I forgot about Charmaine.......Well, mostly, I'll be safe from hordes of women trying to steal my Erik." I giggled a little. "Again with Charmaine?" He groaned. "Well, she did seem to make an impression on you..." I murmured, pressing my nose against his. "Hear this now; you are the only one I have ever loved, or will ever love. Do I make myself clear?" He asked, stroking the back of my head. I grinned, kissing his cheek, "I was hoping you'd say that." He laughed, a deep, rich, warm sound I adored. Erik opened my locket, touched the rings with reverence bordering on awe, then slid them on my engagement finger. "That is where my rings belong." I looked at him, remembering a question I had wanted to ask him since he slid them on my finger the first time. "Why do I have two engagement rings?" He looked sheepish, "I could not decide which one I liked better—or which one you would like better—so I bought them both." I giggled, "Why are you so silly?" "I couldn't very well ask you about it, or take you with me, now could I?" I shrugged, "I suppose not..." I looked down at the rings, "I love them both, you know." His arms tightened around me, pulling me into a hug, of sorts. "I am extremely glad you do....Oh, Christine, I love you to the ends of the world, and beyond." Erik cooed, kissing the skin just above my bosom. He looked up at me, desire written on his every feature. "This corset has to come off, Christine. I need you..."

We would definitely not be sleeping very much tonight.........

Erik

My heart hammered in my throat, as Christine looked at me coyly. "You'll have to earn it, Erik." "Earn it?" I laughed incredulously. "Have I not earned the right to love you, after all that has happened?" I asked. "Well, yes..." She huffed, leaning forward. "I want a proper kiss first. You've only teased me with butterfly embraces!" She pouted, parting her moist lips enticingly. "Oh, very well then..." I pretended to sigh. She grinned, leaning forward.

The kiss I gave my Angel was anything but chaste, and pure. That I know.

Christine did not complain, though. No; instead, my loved moaned my name the second our mouths were parted. She smashed her mouth back on mine before I could do much besides gasp for air.

I had not met this Christine before, and I was rather besotted with her. I staggered towards the bed, slipping my shoes off. "Are your shoes removed? I cannot recall if I took them off..." I mumbled into her neck. She quivered in my arms, before loosening one of her legs from its tight embrace around my hips. She twisted it until I could see her leg was clothed in nothing but a thin gauzy stocking. I closed my eyes, trying to regulate my breathing. "You...." My breath hitched. "I?" She giggled, repeating a dialogue I remembered fondly. "Do you know what you do to me?" I asked her. "Mayhaps I do, mayhaps I don't." She replied, sliding her leg into the place it was before. "Those will have to untangle themselves from my hips, if we are to get anywhere..." I growled. "Take them off yourself. You'll get no help from me." She grinned. "Indeed........Then I shall have to touch you to remove your legs. I wanted to warn you, love." She giggled lustfully, "Well, then, go ahead. Why are you waiting?" My heart hammered even louder, "I've changed my mind. I want those legs on me all night." "The fickle Phantom!" She grinned, her tiny, delicate hands slipping lower than they should have. "Ah-ah-ah, now." I chided, shaking my finger at her. "That is not allowed, Christine." She laughed at my chiding's. I kissed her neck again, and the area under her chin, "Wait, my love. I beg you to have patience, my Christine." "My Christine is it?" "Oh it is, Christine. You are mine now." She looked at me for a moment, "I am not yours yet. I seem to recall hearing one must perform a certain act before they truly belong to someone." I stared at her, "Are you serious?"

She regarded me gravely, "More serious than I have ever been, Angel. I'm not yours yet, my love. But we both know I will be soon. And soon, you will be mine." The air rushed out of my lungs. I touched her cheek gently, "I have always been yours, Christine. You never noticed that?" I pressed my face against hers. "I belong to you forever, Christine." She blushed, smiling softly. "Erik, I love you. M-Make me yours."

I looked only at her, as I climbed onto the bed, careful to avoid my coffin. I vowed to throw it in the lake as soon as I could. Christine looked up at me, her eyes wide and trusting. "Do you truly mean this?" I placed my hands on either side of her corset, preparing to rip it open. "If your answer is yes, if we continue—if we go through with this—you are forever mine. I kissed the hollow of her throat, and up every side of her neck.

Her hands slid to either side of my face, pulling me to face her. "Erik, I mean it. I love you. I'm ready." I stared at her, shocked. She pulled my head down to hers, kissing me with reckless abandon, and full blown passion. I was the one almost drowning in passion, this time. Still kissing her, I ripped her corset open, and fell upon her, worshipping her form, as the corset fell off of my Angel.

The last bits of clothing separating us disappeared.

"Erik!" Christine cried. "Yes?" I murmured into her. "I love you!" She screamed, arching her back.

"Christine....I love you, Angel!...." I cooed, kissing her holy flesh.

We kissed and caressed, passions boiling over so I thought we might explode into a million little pieces. Dark passion swam by my vision, and I succumbed to its call, Christine soon following.....

❦

"Christine I love you..." I cooed to her shaking form. I was on top of her, quivering as much as—if not more—than she was. The darling Angel was mine. Finally and truly mine! Forevermore, she was mine.

"Erik, I love you...!" She replied, her hair forming a wonderful halo around her radiant face. I pressed my face into her neck, still shuddering gently. "D-don't ever leave me, Christine." I felt her nod at me, "Erik, don't ever leave me." Christine tapped my overheated chest. "As if I ever could! Christine, I know you think I am strong—but I'm not that strong. I am much too weak to leave you." I shivered, despite being overheated and under sheets. "Good. I never want to be parted from you again!" She cried, her chest heaving. "Well..." I trailed, "We are parted right now...."

She coughed embarrassedly, "I meant that I always want to be by your side!" "I know." I grinned. "Why, you lascivious creature!" She exclaimed, swatting me on the arm. I laughed unabashedly, "You didn't seem to mind me earlier." I sat up on my elbows, looking down on her—my Angel, my love, my treasure. She fumbled for a response, huffing adorably when she found nothing. I smiled down at her, pressing a tender kiss on her enflamed mouth. She sighed into me, slinging her arms around my neck. Christine turned us so we were on our sides, still kissing. She slipped her leg onto my hip, her breathing coming faster as our kissing deepened.

❦

A slow smile spread across my face as the night's events settled into my consciousness once again. I opened my eyes slowly; at once seeing the beautiful Angel wrapped around me, her even breathing like a heartbeat—my heartbeat. I settled back down into the bed, scooting closer into Christine's embrace.

Before, I thought nirvana was waking next to someone you loved. It was so much sweeter to waken next to someone who loved you.

Christine stirred, opening her eyes slowly. She stretched out her arm out, placing her hand on the back of my head. "Erik?" She mewed, stroking my hair. "I'm here, love. I'll always be here." I assured her, lying down on top of her. She looked up at me hopefully, "You promise?" "I vow that as long as I live, and forever after, I will be with you." She smiled radiantly. "You know I feel the same, don't you? I love you, Erik. I never want to be parted from you—my heart, my soul." I kissed her in response, my arms sliding around her neck.

"All I've ever wanted, Christine, was to be loved for myself. All I ever wished for was for you to love me for myself." I cooed into her neck, as she stroked my hair again. She hummed absently. "J'adore tu, I love you." Christine cooed.

"Are you truly here, my love?" She smiled lovingly—lovingly!—at me, "Of course, my darling. Where else would I be?"

I leaned down, and kissed her enthusiastically. "I love you, Angel!" Christine whispered. "I love you, Angel!" I answered.

I climbed out of the bed, kneeling by her side. "Christine, I have over a million reasons to ask, but I'll go for the one perhaps most important—Christine, I love you. I picked her up with a flourish, sitting her on my knee. She giggled, placing her hands on either side of my face. "Christine, say you'll be my wife..." "I thought I already told you—yes! I was under the impression I was already going to marry you!" She huffed, grinning. "Oh, I am just trying to be certain that, yes, you will marry me; and that yes, you really love me." "Believe me, I love you. I want nothing more than to be your wife, Erik!" I kissed her bare shoulder, before looking up at her, "So you really will marry me?" She rolled her eyes, "Yes, Erik! I. Will. Marry. You!"

I kissed her deeply, the river of emotion we shared running faster and louder.

❦

I looked down on Christine, who was again asleep. I kissed her perfect forehead; looking at her form curled up against me, legs and arms wrapped about me. I sighed. What did that other Erik think, right about now? Why did he leave his Christine?

All I knew was that if I was the Other Erik, and the other Christine told me she loved me, I would not have left her. Never. I knew I would never leave my Christine, either. Never. There was nothing that would take me from my Angel. I scooted closer to her, nuzzling my face into her neck, her hair falling over my face like a velvety chocolate curtain.

Nirvana....