Disclaimer: We own none of the characters from Phantom of the Opera.
Author�s Note: Behold our evil, naughty innuendo! And thanks to ALL our loyal reviews, we absolutely ADORE you! Oh, and if you haven�t yet, go read Sweet Seduction, by us!
Chapter Thirteen
Christine shot a beaming smile at Nadir as she worked around in the kitchen, waddling to and fro as that was only what she could do at seven months into her pregnancy. She added more flour to her mix, making sure that the dough was nice and soft as she prepared the dinner bread. Erik would be home soon, and she couldn't wait to find out how the publishing had gone. She pushed her hair back behind her shoulders before she pressed her hands into the dough to knead it, and began a light conversation with the Persian man keeping her company.
Nadir smiled toward Christine as he leaned against the countertop. Watching her move about reminded him so much of his wife carrying Reza, and he had to chuckle. "So what exactly are you making, Christine?" He asked curiously, looking over her shoulder as she worked.
Christine grinned. �Bread.�
Erik had spent the day with Jules, negotiating the publishing of a few of his more minor works, ones that didn't feel too personal. They were finding that money was a little more tight than usual now that Christine had taken her break from the Opera due to her pregnancy. Erik stepped to the front door of his home, swinging it open and gracefully hanging his fedora and cloak on the peg by the door. He remembered having Nadir come over to be with Christine while he was gone, as he was incredibly frightened that something would happen to her. Walking further into the home, he heard voices coming from the kitchen. He was about to step in, when he stopped and stood to listen instead.
Nadir nodded at Christine's explanation, never much for cooking himself. "I see... it looks very nice. I must say, I've never been one for playing with something like this." He said wryly.
Erik's brow quirked, confused by the conversation. He listened on.
Christine smiled and looked up at him innocently from her dough. "Well, would you like to touch it?" She loved the feeling of molding something in her hands, and making bread had always been one of her favorite things to do. Perhaps Nadir would like it, too.
Nadir took a step back feebly. "No no, that's okay... I really shouldn't. After all, I've never really done that before, and it's Erik's..." He patted Christine on the arm then with a smile. "He wouldn't like it if I put my hands in it before he does."
Christine frowned. "Are you sure, Nadir? It's very lovely and warm. I love thrusting my fingers into it. So soft." She squeezed the dough and giggled slightly. "See? It's easy!" She gave him an encouraging smile. "At least touch it, get the feel."
Nadir shook his head then, and gave a sigh. "I should really wash my hands before I do so..." He said, looking toward the sink and back at Christine. "But all right..." Reaching out, he pressed his fingertips into the dough, and smiled. "It is warm." He said, stealing a bit of it and laughing as he put it into his mouth. "Oh, and it tastes good too!" He said mirthfully around a mouthful of the dough.
Christine grinned, satisfied. "Mmm, well," she began, as she smoothed out the dough idly, "Erik's done it many times before. I make him. I'm so glad I didn't have to practically push your face into it." She raised an eyebrow. "I could show you how to hold your own, if you want. It's fun to do it alone."
Nadir shook his head then, smiling. "No, perhaps this should be kept as something special between you and Erik... and anyway, it doesn't seem to be half as fun if you're by yourself." He said reasonably, moving to sit at the table and watch Christine knead the dough.
Erik's eyes widened as the two spoke, becoming more and more frightened and angry. Christine and Nadir?! His mind cried, How could they?! The two people I trust the most! Striding toward the door, he pushed it open swiftly, expecting to catch the two in an intimate embrace. So when Nadir was sitting across the room with his tea, and Christine was apparently cooking, he frowned, confused and still hurt. "What is going on in here?!" He demanded, paralyzed with fear and rooted to the doorway.
Christine jumped slightly and turned with a bright smile. "Mon amour!" She exclaimed, and picked up the dough to bring with her as she waddled across the room to her husband. She shoved it in his face. "Nadir helped me with the bread!" She motioned to it with a head nod. "You want to have some quality time with it? It's softer than the rest of the times we've made it!"
Very slowly Erik began to understand what had been happening, but he needed to be sure. "You mean... you two have been... making bread?" He asked slowly, blinking a few times and trying to understand that everything was completely innocent. "You weren't..." He flushed slightly, looking away from his wife and settling his eyes on the cupboards. "It sounded as if the two of you were... well..." He couldn't finish though, and he ran a hand through his hair with relief.
Christine raised an eyebrow and looked at Erik as if he had lost his mind. "Are you feeling okay, my angel? You look red." She shrugged and turned, not willing to accept what Erik was hinting. Just the thought of being in Nadir's arms in comparison to Erik was disturbing. She and Nadir had become close friends, but she could never imagine herself by his side. She set her dough down and turned back to go to Erik, and held her arms out to him. "How do you properly greet your beloved wife?" She questioned, brows raised teasingly.
Erik chuckled, wrapping his arms around her as best he could, and kissing her lovingly. Her stomach pressed against his abdomen, and Erik felt again the loss of being able to feel her body pressed flush against his. However, the knowledge that their child was pressed between them now made him smile. "I apologize my dear." He said gently into her ear, before kissing her cheek, then bending to deliver a quick kiss to her bump as well, chuckling.
Christine grinned and patted her swollen tummy fondly. "He's growing strong." She looked over at Nadir. "He nearly knocked me over with one of his kicks today, didn't he Nadir?"
Nadir nodded with a laugh, standing to walk toward his friend. "Yes, it was quite amusing, really." He said with a grin, patting Erik's arm. "He'll be a strong man, like his father." He said kindly.
Erik looked mildly concerned about the kick, but had to grin at the knowledge that his son was strong. Kissing Christine's forehead lovingly, he rested a hand at the small of her back and rubbed gently there, knowing how sore she got from all the added weight. "You should rest." He insisted, taking the bread from her then and moving to the pan to place it inside.
Christine smiled wickedly and followed him, and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. "Are you insinuating something, my love?" She asked suggestively, and then gasped when the child inside of her moved powerfully. She placed her hands on her stomach and frowned. "Now now, don't be doing that just to show off for Papa." She turned and went to take a seat at the table, very cautiously lowering herself into the chair. "How was your day, Erik?"
Erik smiled, snorting at Christine's words to their child, and moved to sit next to her and take her hands in his. "It was... fine." He said, kissing her knuckles and stretching out a bit.
Christine tilted her head and brought a hand up to remove his mask, and she replaced it with gentle fingertips, running along the ravaged skin. "Only fine?" She questioned softly, squeezing his other hand in hers.
Erik closed his eyes, moving his face into Christine's caress and sighing softly. "Yes... but I think my day just got quite a bit better..." He whispered, letting all the tension from the rough day fall from him.
Christine brought his hand to her lips and kissed his palm, her eyes never leaving his. "Well, were you alright? Any difficulties?" The baby kicked once more, and she cursed softly, flinching before looking back up at him expectantly.
Erik rested a concerned hand on Christine's stomach, kissing her forehead gently. "No real difficulties... it was just trying to be around so many people for a such an extended period of time." He insisted, caressing her stomach with his hands and resting his forehead against hers.
Erik smiled seductively at Christine then, leaning forward to kiss her jaw line playfully. "Why not right now? After all, I am being so very brave..." He cooed playfully into her ear, resting his hands on her legs and nipping at her ear.
Christine closed her eyes and leaned her head against his shoulder, her hands on his forearms. She tried to scoot closer to him, but found it impossible because of her large bulge, and then stood, deciding to sit in his lap. When she was nearly sitting on him, she paused and sighed, then stood once more, and began to rub her lower back. "What's the point?!" She mumbled harshly to herself, and turned to retreat to their bedroom. "Now that you're home, my love, I think I will go rest." She was thinking of making a provocative suggestion, but frowned and shook her head as she moved out of the kitchen and toward the stairs.
Erik stood, very confused, and trailed after his wife. "Christine? Christine, what is it? Are you hurting?" He asked, swiftly moving toward her and grasping her upper arm. Pulling her to turn and face him, he looked down at her face in concern. "What is it?"
Christine shook her head and turned away. "I'm just very tried." She sighed and pushed back her heavy hair. "I'm just tired." She nodded and moved for the stairs once more, disheartened. She loved carrying Erik's child, but the fact that she'd been cut off from certain possibilities made her upset with herself, and she did not feel as beautiful as she used to. If she could avoid Erik seeing her huge and swelled, then she would. She'd never been one to handle embarrassment well.
Erik frowned still, moving to walk behind his wife and gently put his arm around her shoulders, leading her to the bedroom and helping her into bed. "All right, if you are tired you must rest, of course." He said gently, moving toward the dresser and grasping her nightgown. Walking toward his wife, he moved behind her and began to unbutton her dress and pull it over her shoulders, knowing that it was difficult for her to undress herself because of the baby.
She inhaled sharply and moved away, turning to face him. She snatched the nightgown out of his hands and smiled lightly. "Thank you, I'll see to it. You should go talk with Nadir, I think he misses having another male to talk to." She sat very carefully onto the side of the bed and examined the nightgown in her hands, its see-through material bothering her in a way it never had before. She held it out to him and asked meekly, softly, "Erik, will you please give me the dark blue cotton one, instead?"
Erik instantly became concerned, and took the gown from her hands, setting it aside and kneeling before her. "Christine, something is wrong... and I insist that you tell me what it is now." He looked down at her hands and took them in his own. "You hardly let me touch you any more... are you upset with me?" He asked, looking nervously up into her eyes and trying to resist the need to cling to her body and beg her not to send him away. "Please, Christine... tell me what I've done... I promise never to do it again... just don't shut me away from you..."
Christine dipped her head as she fought back tears, not wanting to see the hurt look that was sure to be quite apparent there in his beautiful eyes. "You've done nothing, Erik, I'm just..." She shook her head and shrugged. "You've done nothing, angel, don't worry yourself over that." She looked down at herself once more, sighing disappointedly as she wished she could feel his body against hers. Well, she thought with bitter amusement, at least my breasts are becoming quite larger.
Erik shook his head, sitting beside his wife and reaching out to draw her into his arms. Once she was settled on his lap, he placed a loving kiss to her cheek. "I know what this is about..." He said softly, stroking his fingers over her stomach. "You think... that I do not find you desirable..." He said, an eyebrow rose. "Which is completely silly. I've never found you more ravishing. You absolutely glow, my dear... and every bit of you is beautiful... you carry a child within you... our child, a small boy just waiting to be brought into the world, and in my mind there is nothing more beautiful." Gently he placed his lips over hers, kissing Christine very softly and stroking his fingers up and down her back.
Christine's eyes widened and she sighed contentedly as she kissed him, closing her eyes as well. How she loved him! Always so understanding, so supportive. No, no, he mustn't see you like this. She smiled as she broke away from the kiss and stroked his cheek. "I really am tired," she told him carefully, trying to convince him as the shoulders of her dress began to fall forward. She snatched them back up and pushed wildly.
Erik frowned then, pressing Christine back against the bed and laying beside her. Gently he pried her hands from the dress, and tugged it down, exposing her upper body to his eyes. "You don't believe me." He said, pouting slightly as he looked into her eyes. "Let me prove it.... you are very desirable. Oh Christine... just looking at you..." He gave a small growl then, lowering his mouth to taste her neck and collar bone, moving his hands to stroke over her belly and up her chest, moving over her breasts playfully.
She gasped then, and brought her hands up to his shoulders, slightly beginning to resist. She hadn't felt this in so long, and the desire was overwhelming. He sure was a persistent one, she would give him that. But she tried to think logically. If she was alluring now, what would she be when she had the baby and if she couldn't lose the weight she'd put on? If he thought her beautiful now, what would he think when she was no longer plump, but slim and tiny? She sighed and moaned softly, tilting her head to give him better access. He hadn't pulled the dress over her swollen stomach, and what he was doing was quite pleasant. She would let it go on for a little while...
Erik gave a small whimpering sigh, pressing his forehead to hers and looking into her eyes. "Christine, I love you... no matter what you looked like, I would love you... after all, don't you say the same to me? It is what is inside that is important... that is beautiful." He whispered, seizing her lips with his own then, as he held her close.
"But Erik, don't you see me?! I'm a whale! I remind myself of Carlotta's sister, do you remember, the huge one that came into the opera with her nose in the air and she demanded she had the closest seats they could manage? I'm making myself sick, Erik, by just looking in the mirror." She squeezed his arm and looked desperately up into his eyes. "I could hurt you!"
Erik looked down at Christine in shock. "How can you say that, after the things you say to me? Do you think to yourself that I make you sick as well? Christine, how can you expect me to attempt respecting myself if you cannot do the same?!" He demanded, tears filling his eyes. "There is only one of us here who is at all unattractive." He turned from her then, still sitting on the bed but no longer facing her. He couldn't bear to look at her tear-streaked face and hear the horrible words she said about herself. "I thought love was about looking beyond, Christine... but perhaps I was wrong..." A small sob escaped him, and he raised his hand to muffle it.
Inside, a dam broke, and Christine's tears began to flow freely out of her eyes, pouring over her half-shed dress and the cover to the bed. She buried her face in the cover and squeezed it tightly. All of these emotions came running through her and she couldn't believe the things she'd said and done to those she cared for most in the more recent months of her pregnancy. Her hormones were driving her mad. Last month she'd screamed at little Meg when she'd merely brushed her hair differently than she was used to, she'd slapped Nadir and made him fall and hit his head on the counter when he'd asked if she was still hungry, and she'd done countless unspeakable things to her husband, who usually seemed to be able to handle her tantrums more than anyone else. I've really messed up now.
Turning swiftly, Erik grasped Christine into his arms and pulled her close. "Shh... my dear, I apologize..." He whispered, kissing her head gently. "I should be more aware... I keep forgetting how hard this is for you..." He said softly, rubbing her back and holding her tightly against his body. "It is just that I love you so much, Christine... I don't want you to ever doubt that, and when you do... it makes me doubt myself..." He wiped his own tears away, then stroked Christine's cheeks lovingly.
Christine simply lay in his arms much like her soon to be born child would, and reached up to touch the marred skin of his right cheek. She smiled tremulously up at him and traced his lips with her thumb. "Do you remember when we first made love? When our baby was made?" She smiled shyly and laid a hand on her tummy as she still caressed his face.
Erik nodded slowly at Christine's words, capturing her finger in his mouth and grinning playfully at her. "Yes, I remember..." He said softly, stroking his fingers through her hair. "It was one of the most joyous moments of my life." He said, leaning down to kiss her gently.
Christine snuggled into her husband and kissed him back anxiously, happy to have this contact with him. Her upper body was still bare and she pushed towards the starched fabric of his shirt, groaning quietly into their kiss. She trembled with desire, for she hadn't been this confident in a very long time, and it was if the feeling was all too new to her once again.
Erik gasped when Christine pressed herself to him, and he smiled, beginning to slide her dress down the rest of her body. His hands caressed each inch of skin that was revealed, and he worked his lips down her neck then, nibbling and licking over her collarbone and tickling her sides playfully. "Christine..." He whispered, looking up into her eyes with pure devotion in his own. "I love you..."
Christine moaned loudly then, her passion flaring to new heights. She pushed him back and crawled as best she could on top of him, and held his face tightly in her hands as she thrust her tongue into his mouth. She tore wildly at his shirt, the buttons popping off and flying across the room. Eager to feel his warm muscles, she slid her hands down his chest and torso, groaning and tilting her head to kiss him even more deeply.
Erik gave an impatient groan, reaching for his pants and beginning to tug at them, trying his best to remove the article of clothing with one hand while his other stroked Christine's hips and her bump, then back over her legs as he trembled with desire. It had been far too long.
Christine moaned and moved her lips down his neck, pushing herself up by bracing herself on his forearms, and she nibbled at his pulse crazily, while her hands glided down his taut body. She stroked his upper thighs, so incredibly close to his manhood, and groaned as she placed her lips back on his.
Erik cried out in passion as Christine's lips and hands moved over him, and he kissed her fiercely, finally winning the struggle against his pants and gasping when the cool air touched his heated flesh. Pulling Christine over him a bit more, he whimpered, kissing a path to her ear and taking the lobe into his mouth.
She responded with haste, and grasping his shoulders tightly, she carefully lowered herself onto him, her head thrown back in delight as she did so. Her eyes squeezed tightly together, and she began to move, so slowly, enjoying the feel of him inside of her once more. Her eyes suddenly flew open and she stopped, looking down worriedly at him. "Am I hurting you?" She questioned, panicked.
Erik shook his head, eyes glazing with passion as his hands clutched her hips. "No... Oh God, Christine... don't stop..." He panted out, thrusting his hips upwards and whimpering as he hardly moved within her. "Ohh..."
Christine gasped and began to pant softly as she grasped blindly for his shoulders, but missed, and her palms landed on his pectorals, her nails digging into his flesh right above his nipples. She cried out and breathed hard as she moved rapidly on him, her eyes screwed tightly shut.
Erik gave a great cry, moving with Christine and clinging tightly to her hips, small whining sounds slipping from the back of his throat as his head thrashed on the pillows. "Christine... oh yes..." He panted, arching his entire body and groaning deeply.
Christine moaned and leant over him, still moving as she did her best to press her breasts against his chest. Not able to reach his mouth with hers, she sat back up and moved even faster, almost bouncing on him as her hair spilled over her shoulders and stuck to the sweat on her chest and back.
Erik sat up suddenly, turning Christine atop him so her back rested against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her body, kissing the back and sides of her neck and her shoulders as he moved within her. A tiny whimper slid from his lips as he turned his head, leaning forward a little to catch his wife's gaze. "Is... is this okay..?" He asked, forcing his eyes to say open even as they glazed in passion.
Christine groaned and leaned her head back against his shoulder, turning her head so that her lips would brush just underneath his earlobe. "Make love to me, Erik," she whispered passionately, her voice too hoarse to talk aloud. She reached up to massage his neck with one hand as her other rested on his forearm, and her eyes closed as she put her best effort into their lovemaking.
Erik turned his head to capture Christine's lips in his, pressing his tongue within her mouth and kissing her with every bit of need he felt within his body. He began thrusting up within her at a quick pace, his hands wandering to cup her breasts, to slide across her thighs and stroke over her stomach lovingly.
Christine�s mouth left his as she threw her head back against his shoulder, crying out loudly at the sensations he was creating in her, the ones she had missed so terribly much. Clutching his hair tightly, she moved with him, and dug her nails into his forearm as she felt herself beginning to reach her climax. "Erik!" She panted, turning her head to nip at his neck.
Erik's body started to fall back, but he braced himself up with one arm, letting his other hand trail down to touch her womanhood even as he moved swiftly within her, his head thrown back and mouth open in a silent cry of passion. His skin stuck against Christine's from the combined heat of their bodies, and the friction as they moved together was enough to pull a deep moan from within him.
As Erik touched her, Christine became dizzy and released with a loud shriek, still moving on him as if she couldn't receive enough. She cried out his name several times, and arched her back to it's fullest extent as she shuddered powerfully in his arms. She went completely limp as she continued to pant, her head resting in the crook of Erik's neck.
The feel of Christine's body moving against his, the sound of her cry of pleasure, the look on her face, all were enough to push Erik over the edge, and with a few more quick thrusts he released powerfully inside of his wife. His arm no longer held him up, and he fell back to the bed, Christine atop him. His arms wound themselves tightly about her body as he nuzzled her neck and cheek, gasping for breath and shaking from the after affects of such a powerful sensation.
Christine mumbled something incoherent and moved off him, and to his side, where she wrapped an arm tightly around his middle and rested her head on his chest. She gazed up at him shyly, still catching her breath, and smiled. "Erik you're so... I love you... I missed that." She snuggled into him, closing her eyes at the pure bliss she felt.
Erik smiled lazily down at his wife then, brushing a few damp locks of her hair behind her ear and kissing her forehead. "I missed that as well, my love." He breathed, cuddling closer to his wife and burying his face into her hair with a sigh of pleasure.
Christine frowned then and sighed onto his warm skin. "I'm sorry I had been so much of a prude before, my love. I just..." She blushed and looked up at him. "I didn't know that... what we just did was possible." She grinned and bit playfully at his bicep before laying her head back down and nuzzling his upper body. "I love you so much, Erik."
Erik smiled broadly, kissing Christine's nose and cupping her cheek. "I love you, Christine... more than anything. You and this baby, " He began, touching her stomach, "Are everything in my world... I don't know what I would have done if you had not returned to me..."
Christine shook her head and stroked his jaw line. "Please, my love," she began softly, "Please do not think back to those times." She shuddered to think about what her life would've been with Raoul. Their son gave a forceful kick, and she squealed. "Ow..." Her lips formed a pout and she motioned to her swollen belly. "He's your son, tell him to stop."
Erik laughed, leaning down to run his lips over her tummy. "Now now... be nice to your mother." He cooed, nuzzling her flesh and smiling up at her. Leaning forward then, he pressed his lips to hers for a moment, savoring the sweet aftermath of their lovemaking.
Christine grinned and stroked his cheek. Her eyes went wide then, and she pressed a hand to Erik's chest. "Where's Nadir?!"
Erik looked down at Christine curiously, before smiling. "I believe he let himself out when I went after you, my dear... I have a feeling he knew what would eventually occur between us." His eyes sparkled as he pulled his wife a little closer, kissing her cheek sweetly.
Christine nodded and ran her hand idly along his chest and neck. "Erik," she began softly, "When you heard me and Nadir talking..." She grinned up at him. "What did you think was going on?"
Erik flushed, looking away and clearing his throat. "Well... the way you were talking... it sounded as if..." He shook his head, face growing more and more pink. "As if you two may be doing something... together..."
Christine raised an eyebrow and twisted so that her upper body was pressed against his. "Like what?" She questioned innocently, resting her head atop her hand on his chest.
Erik gave Christine a glare, sighing. "You know what I mean... it lead me to believe for a moment or so that you and Nadir may be... well..." He gave a frustrated sigh. "'It's lovely and warm, I love thrusting my fingers into it'?! Christine, it sounded very suggestive!" He said finally, flushed bright red from embarrassment.
Christine's amused expression left her face, though a hint of it was still there as she asked incredulously, "You'd think me to betray or sacred vows that we pledged before God?! You'd think me to love anyone but you?" She huffed and rolled her eyes, and slapped his chest lightly. "And with Nadir!" She shook her head and laughed, though it was slightly bitter.
Erik swiftly took Christine's hands in his, bringing them to his lips. "Christine, it was only for a moment or so, I assure you... and after a life time of rejection... I find myself waiting for the bottom to fall out of anything." He said, his eyes wide and begging for Christine to understand.
Christine smiled reassuringly, playfully. "But... But, Erik! I don't even speak that way!" She stared at him innocently and patted his chest. "It is lovely and warm though, right?" She asked, running her fingers down his jaw. "You'd like to thrust your fingers into it?"
Erik whimpered very softly, squirming at her words and leaning up to capture her lips with his own. A tiny sigh slipped from his lips as he kissed his wife, loving her more and more with every moment that passed.
Christine whimpered and pulled away. "Is that a yes then?"
Erik gave a tiny predetorial growl, flipping his wife beneath his body and sliding his hands down her sides, before kissing her passionately and answering her question in the best way possible.
Chapter Fourteen