"How are you doing with the flour there, little love?" Jean Claude looked over at Maddy, her pale face even whiter with flour smeared across it and her raven dark hair with little white dots in the small curls she had. He chuckled when she giggled, and grabbed two eggs. "Now this is special, you know." Maddy nodded eager and clapped her hands together. "Your mother's birthday is the day she was born, much like we celebrated your first birthday many months ago, do you remember?" Maddy nodded and bit her lip, her eyes sparkling. "We must make her the best cake she's ever had!" Maddy jumped up and down on her stool and banged on the counter top in her excitement.
"Let's just hope your father keeps her busy while we make it," Jean Claude muttered, though he knew Erik would surely be able to.
Erik sat beside Christine, who was sound asleep on the bed. Beside him sat a bowl of fresh cream, and he grinned as he tied off the blindfold. Christine would be waking soon, he knew, and he couldn't wait to see her face.
Christine stretched and mumbled upon waking, her nightgown sliding down her wrists. Raising her hands to her eyes to rub the drowsiness away, she encountered cloth which was blocking her vision, and she gasped and sat up, reaching for the tie at the back of her head. "Erik?" She called, and she fumbled with the knot as it was slightly tangled in her hair.
Erik grasped her hands quickly, pulling them back to her side and pushing her to lay down. Gently he touched her cheek. "Lay still." He purred, smoothing her hair and looking down at her lovingly, longing to see her eyes.
Christine frowned and if the blindfold hadn't been covering her eyes, she would've narrowed them. "What are doing?!" She whispered harshly. She reached out for him. "I've got a lot to do today," she told him, still grasping nothing but air. A tiny hint of a smile crept upon her face as her hand slid along his hard muscled thigh, and she faced where she figured he was. "Erik, are you naked?"
Grinning now, he pushed her to lay back once again, and briefly covered her lips with his own. "Maybe." He said playfully, reaching to the dish of cream then and dipping one finger in. Gently he pressed his finger to her lips and watched her face raptly.
Christine's eyebrows raised and she swirled her tongue around his finger suspiciously, wondering what he was planning. As she savored the cream and smiled softly, she realized there were certain advantages to having a creative husband. She shifted, feeling suddenly hot in her very flimsy nightgown. There was something so tantalizing about not knowing what Erik had in store for her, about having the blindfold covering her eyes. She smiled wider and lay still, her body almost quivering in anticipation.
Erik chuckled softly, reaching out to untie her nightgown and work it down her body swiftly. Once finished, he tossed it to the side and kissed her again, faintly tasting the cream and sighing softly. "How old are you today, my dear?" He purred as he scooped some more cream, trailing a line of it down her neck and moving forward to lick it away. A tiny sigh escaped his throat at the mixed taste of Christine's skin and the cream together, and he shivered.
Christine trembled and her mouth hung open. "Um..." She couldn't think straight. How old was she? How could she answer?! When was Meg coming over? Where was Maddy?! How much more cream did he have?! She shivered and clutched the sheets beneath her. "Twenty... three..." She shut her eyes beneath the blindfold, savoring the feel of Erik's mouth on her.
Once the cream was gone from her neck, Erik slid his mouth back up, tracing his lips over Christine's and spreading cream over her chest thickly before speaking again. "I see..." He whispered seductively, placing cream over her lips and kissing it away passionately. "Well then, I hope you have a lot of patience, my dear... for I intend to ravish you quite thoroughly..." He mumbled as he licked cream away from her upper chest, moving tantalizingly lower and lower.
Christine's eyes widened under the cloth covering them and she gasped, and then whimpered. Her mouth felt very dry indeed and she licked her lips, tasting the cream, before she gasped out, "Erik... You're going to ruin... your appetite!" She arched her back as he got lower, her head twisting to one side of the pillow.
Erik chuckled against her skin, moving his mouth lower and trailing his lips and tongue over her breasts teasingly. "This is well worth it, my dear." He whispered, taking her hand in his and squeezing it lovingly. Soon the cream was gone from her body once again, and he sighed as if disappointed, before leaning up to kiss her again, trembling in desire.
Christine cradled the back of his head, threading her fingers through his hair. So that's the end of the cream.. and this pleasurable torture! She kissed him as hard as she could, and as she tasted the cream in his mouth as she brought her tongue forth, she groaned and arched madly, squeezing him to her. Christine was simply not fond of patience, not when it came to this. It was her birthday, anyway, and he was meant to give her whatever she wanted... She wanted him, and she hoped she was fully communicating this to him.
Erik groaned into his wife's mouth, crawling over her body and laying atop her gently. The kiss grew in passion and need as Erik slipped his hands across Christine's stomach and to her face. He whimpered in need as he nibbled her lower lip, then pulled away. "Happy birthday, my dear." He whispered, before thrusting within her suddenly.
Christine gasped and squeezed him to her tightly, her head thrown back in ecstasy. She wrapped her legs around him and moaned deeply, seeking his mouth, and instead fastening her lips to his jaw because she could not see. She held him close as she moved with him, and sucked on his lower lip as she reached her final destination, his mouth.
Erik gasped in need, moving faster within his wife and shaking from the desire that flooded through his body. Vaguely he realized he should take this slow and drive his wife insane, since it was her birthday after all... but he couldn't seem to stop himself from blindly seeking his release. Nearly sobbing from the pulsing need in his body, Erik kissed Christine's neck, still tasting cream there and crying out as he felt himself grow nearer to his release. "Christine...."
Christine closed her eyes, feeling her long eyelashes scratch against the blindfold, and she cried out as she felt her release coil up tight in the pit of her stomach. She could focus on nothing but Erik's lips, his body against hers, as her other senses became stronger with her eyesight blocked. She gasped and mewed beneath him. "Erik... Oh Erik, I..." She couldn't continue, as she arched and felt herself nearly explode.
Erik gasped, giving a strangled cry and moving harder and harder within his wife. His hand slid up to cup her cheek, and he reached behind her head, untying the blindfold and tossing it to the side. Able to look into her eyes then, he whimpered and felt his desire grow even more.
Christine's eyes were wide as she saw the dark desire in Erik's eyes, and she squeezed them shut as she cried out and grasped his neck and shoulders tightly. She trembled violently as she came, sobbing his name and arching her whole body against him.
Erik's eyes widened as Christine tightened around him, and with one more thrust he released, giving a large cry and knowing that it must have been audible downstairs. Somehow he couldn't bring himself to care, as he moved slowly inside of her as he came, trying to prolong the pleasure as much as he could. Finally he collapsed against Christine's body, burying his face into her neck and trembling as his arms came around her waist, holding her close.
The same smile that came upon Christine's face each time she felt sated crept onto her lips, and she ran her fingers through Erik's hair, and patted is shoulder softly as she did. She hummed softly to him the same song they'd sang together on their wedding day, smirking the whole time. As the song finished, she rose his face to look into his eyes. "I do very well hope that this was not my only birthday present from you," she told him playfully.
Smiling softly, he shook his head, leaning forward to place a tender kiss against her lips. "Oh, you will just have to wait and see, my dear." He whispered, laying his head against her chest again. His breath came in soft pants and he tried to breathe properly. More and more often he was finding that he lost his breath easily, and it was hard for him to admit to himself that he may just be growing old.
Christine sighed and stroked his cheekbones, holding him and accepting his weight joyfully as he rested. "Perhaps we shouldn't be so frantic anymore, mon amour. I'm afraid you'll hurt yourself." She frowned slightly and ran her hand down his bicep, and on down to his elbow. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Lifting his head, Erik smiled rakishly. "Of course not, Christine." He insisted, swallowing back any further words and instead kissing her forehead. Rolling from her body, he lay on his back, resting his hands on his stomach and staring up at the ceiling as he waited for his breath to fully return. "I love you." He whispered, reaching over with one hand to take Christine's, and he gently kissed her palm.
Christine, although still slightly worried, smiled and squeezed his hand. "I love you more." She grinned as she remembered the play fight they'd gotten into on who loved who more, and when Maddy walked in, claiming she loved both of them more than they loved each other. She placed Erik's hand on her stomach and closed her eyes. "We have five months left, Erik." She bit her lip as she gazed at the ceiling. "And then we can try for the other eighteen."
Erik laughed softly, rolling to his side and touching her cheek lovingly. "I don't know if any more than this next one would be healthy for you, my dear..." He said softly, worry clouding his features. "I don't want to tempt fate too much..." He whispered, a haunted look coming to his eyes.
Christine frowned and shook her head against the pillow, and reached out to run her fingers lightly over his marred cheek. "Nonsense, my angel... I will have more." She leant forward and kissed his cheek, pulling back to smile softly. "How would you control that, anyway?" She rolled off her side of the bed and stretched, walking near their closet. She chuckled on her way, remembering a time when she had been very shy and modest around Erik.... That hadn't lasted long. As she entered the closet, she called to him, "What shall I wear for my birthday, Erik?"
Stretching, Erik stood and swayed for a moment in dizziness, before walking to Christine's side and touching her back gently. "Well... personally I'd like you to remain just the way you are. After all... it would only make sense to wear your birthday suit on your birthday, would it not?"
Christine turned with a sly smile and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body to his. "I just knew something like that was going to be my answer." She kissed him soundly before moving away and selecting a dark blue dress. "This is my favorite," she whispered with an eager smile as she moved to grab a chemise.
Erik gave Christine a slap to her rear then, before walking to the dresser and grabbing his clothes. "Think of that as one of your twenty-three birthday spankings." He stated lightly, tugging on his pants and smirking over his shoulder at her.
Christine gasped and formed a pout on her lips as she pulled her chemise over her head. Deciding not to wear a corset considering she was with child and a small bump was forming, she began to slide her dress on, as well. Twenty-three birthday spankings! She gulped and grabbed the hairbrush on the dresser. "Please be gentle," she murmured, a smile threatening to form.
Erik laughed, buttoning his shirt and stalking toward Christine. "Oh, you know you don't want me to be." He teased, pulling her into his arms and kissing both of her cheeks, and then her lips warmly.
Christine kissed him back, her head reaching up to massage the back of his head, and when she pulled away, she was flushed. She dipped her head almost shyly as she spoke quietly, "I am eagerly awaiting this evening." She smiled and moved toward the door, calling out to her daughter as she did so.
Erik's eyes widened only momentarily, before he surged forward and grasped Christine's arms. "Wait!" Pulling her to turn, he pressed her against the wall outside their bedroom door and kissed her soundly. If that cake isn't finished and hidden yet... He thought to himself, wanting it to be a surprise, and still needing to go down and help with the finishing touches. Think, Erik... "Why don't we... go into the music room..."
Christine raised an eyebrow and shrugged, then smiled and took his hand. "The music room it is, then." She slipped her arm through his and grasped a handful of her gown so that she wouldn't trip as she moved down the stairs.
Sighing in relief, Erik escorted Christine down the stairs and to the room farthest from the kitchen. Leading her inside, he moved to the fireplace and added another log, then helped her to sit on the sofa. After a few moments he kissed her forehead, then moved toward the door. "I shall be right back," He said swiftly, smiling. "I must use the bathroom." Rushing down the hall, he burst into the kitchen and closed the door silently behind himself. "Are you ready for the decoration, yet?" He asked breathlessly.
Jean Claude nodded as Maddy ran to her father and jumped into his arms. "Is there anything certain we want the cake to read?" Jean Claude asked, his eyebrow raised as he studied the cake.
Erik shrugged, not really sure, as he carried his daughter across the room and looked down at the cake with a smile. Setting Maddy to the floor, he grasped a cloth tube of colored frosting, and made a crude, dark blue drawing of an angel. Taking the yellow frosting then, he made a halo above her head, then took the chocolate frosting and very gently placed a few locks of hair falling around the angel's shoulders. "There... a fine likeness, if I do say so myself." He said with a laugh, and wiped off his hands on a nearby towel. "Perhaps a very simple message?"
Maddy tugged on Erik's pants and stared up at him. She held her arms out eagerly. "I want to see, Papa!" Huffing frustrated, she did her best to climb steadily onto the stool, and peered at the cake. She grinned and clapped her hands. "Pretty, Papa!"
Jean Claude grinned and nodded. "Perhaps something that tells her how much we love her, how much she means to all of us?"
Erik nodded at Jean Claude's words, contemplating greatly. "Yes, that does sound good.. but how to put it?"
Maddy's eyes went wide. "Mamma! That's Mamma! She an angel, Papa!"
Erik laughed and nodded, patting Maddy's head and kissing her forehead. "Yes, she is..." He said softly.
"Perhaps, "Happy Birthday Christine, our angel?" Jean Claude suggested, his eyebrows raised. He shrugged and turned to Maddy. "Thoughts, little one?"
Maddy folded her arms and leaned on the counter of the cake, still examining the angel. "Am I angel, too, Papa?"
Erik's eyes softened considerably, and he tugged Maddy into his arms, cuddling her close and kissing her head lovingly. "Yes, you most certainly are an angel, darling." He said softly as he rested his cheek against her head gently.
Jean Claude examined the cake. "Well, we'll have to decide soon, you know how curious Christine is." He stood back from it. "You're the genius here, Erik."
Thinking, Erik looked to Jean Claude and nodded. "Yes, I suppose what you said would be wonderful. She certainly is an angel to us all." He said softly, setting Maddy to the floor and easing himself into a chair. Why am I so damned tired?!
Maddy placed a kiss on her father's cheek and moved back to her stool, demanding Jean Claude let her help write the birthday message on the cake. He indulged her happily, and just as they hid it away, Christine stepped into the kitchen. Jean Claude clapped a hand over Maddy's mouth, and Christine eyed him suspiciously before moving to sit in Erik's lap. "Hello, Maddy," she spoke, wrapping her arms around Erik's neck, "I haven't seen you all morning."
Erik cuddled Christine close to his body, kissing her cheek and nipping her ear. Thinking quickly, he spoke before his daughter could. "I've had Jean Claude keep her busy today, so we could spend some time together this morning..." He said, smiling down at her seductively.
Christine raised a thin brow and grinned. "Really now?" She motioned with her forefinger for Maddy to come to her. "And exactly what has been keeping you so busy, my little angel?" Maddy was about to answer but Jean Claude began tickling her, and scooped her into his arms to take her from the room. Christine raised an eyebrow and looked to Erik. "Exactly what is going on between the three of you, Erik?" She held a small smirk on her face, knowing fairly what could possibly be going on that would have Maddy's hair clomped with flour.
Erik shrugged, nuzzling her neck and sliding a hand beneath her skirts to slide along her upper leg playfully. "No idea, really."
Christine laughed and bit his earlobe. "Alright, but you get to clean Maddy's hair." She pecked him on the lips. "Any other surprises I shouldn't walk in on?"
Laughing, Erik simply stood and carried Christine to the living room, where the guests were beginning to arrive.
X
Christine hugged Maddy to her side and set her in between Nadir and Jean Claude, and then sat herself in between Meg and her husband. She took Erik's hand and smiled happily at him, and then bowed her head as Jean Claude said the prayer. After he finished with a solemn "Amen," Jean Claude mumbled, "Watch your plate, we've a pregnant woman at the table."
Erik laughed softly at Jean Claude's words, looking down at his plate balefully. It wasn't like he could eat much anyway, with his blasted mask in the way. Giving Christine's hand a gentle squeeze, he lifted his fork and began to eat.
Meg smiled at Christine as she sat across from her friend, and looked first at Maddy, then at Christine's tummy. "Another one.. Christine, I can hardly believe it. At this rate you'll never be back on the stage!" She said teasingly.
Christine smiled broadly. "Well, you enjoy being an aunt, don't you?" She winked at Meg and called lightly to Maddy. "Maddy, you love aunt Meg, don't you?" When the little girl nodded eagerly and giggled when Jean Claude wiped off her mouth, Christine's smile broadened. "You see?" Finished with her food already, she sat back and licked her lips. "I suppose I'll have to help Maddy with her food..."
Erik gave Christine a rough look, pushing his plate toward her and instead taking a drink of his wine. "You eat that and leave your daughter's food alone." He teased, running a hand through his hair and sighing softly.
Jean Claude pointed his fork at Erik. "You give up too easily!" He tried to motion to the kitchen, and instead just stood and grabbed his shoulder. "The cake," he said in a low tone, "We must go prepare it." He grinned and made for the kitchen.
Erik nodded, and stood as well, moving from the room and following after Jean Claude. "Where did you hide it?"
Jean Claude motioned for his cloak on the counter. He removed the cake from under it and unwrapped it. "Alright. You're the singer, so I'll follow your lead." He grinned, and moved back toward the dining room, carrying the cake.
Erik moved into the dining room quickly, and stood beside the door. Everyone turned to see the cake being carried through, and meeting Christine's eyes, he began to sing broadly. "Happy birthday to you..."
Meg, Marie and Nadir grinned, and joined in the singing, Meg taking Maddy's hand in her own over the table an encouraging the little girl to sing as well.
Christine beamed and smiled broadly, never losing eye contact with Erik. She loved hearing him sing to her, and she appreciated the other's effort. When Jean Claude set the cake down in front of her, she grinned and her eyes flashed with a ravenous hunger, and she hoped she hadn't begun to drool. "Yummy!" She exclaimed. "Who should I thank so immensely for this cake?"
Maddy raised her hand and smiled wide. "Me, Mamma! Me, me, me!"
Christine raised an eyebrow. "No one else?" She looked up at Erik, smiling coyly at him.
Erik laughed at his daughter, moving forward and sitting back at the table. Setting the knife before Christine, he motioned toward the cake. "It was all your daughter. I must say, she is quite the cook." He teased.
Christine grinned. "Well, my little angel is also a genius." She looked around the table. "Thank you all so much for being a part of my birthday. It's been one of the happiest of my life."
Meg grinned at Christine then, grasping her hands tightly. "I wouldn't have missed this for the world!" She exclaimed, and Nadir nodded.
"Same with me... any holiday at this household is usually quite interesting."
After they all shared the cake, they moved to the sitting room, where they shared stories and laughter. Ayesha made her way into the sitting room and Maddy automatically tackled her, giggling and chasing her around the living room. Christine leaned her head on Erik's shoulder, and squeezed his hand. "Perform some tricks for us, Erik!" Her eyes were pleading. Maddy grasped the cat in her arms and cuddled to her while voicing the same request Christine had made.
Erik smiled and kissed Christine's forehead swiftly, then sighed and stood. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a coin, and moved to kneel before Maddy. Showing it to her, he grinned, winked, then closed his hand. When he opened it again, the coin was gone. He spread his fingers, shook them out, showed all sides of his hands to everyone in the room, but the coin was not to be seen. Reaching then behind Maddy's ear, he pulled the coin out and handed it to her with a smirk.
Then he stood and walked into the hall. Coming back, his hands were behind his back. "For you, mon amour." He said softly, presenting to her a bouquet of many different colored roses.
Maddy clapped her hands and giggled, the cat sliding off her lap, and she looked to her mother. "Flowers!" She exclaimed, and went to sit on Meg's lap beside Christine. Christine raised an eyebrow and took the roses, her eyes taking in the yellow, pink, red and white colors. She smiled up at Erik. "Thank you, my love."
Erik grinned then. "That's not all, my dear." He purred, before taking a few steps back and sitting on the empty arm chair. Suddenly the flowers began to sing, first very softy, then their voices mounted. One of the red roses began the song in a sweet voice. "Ave... Maria..."
A pink rose picked up the next line, it's voice a lower tone, and a bit thicker as well, "Gratia plena, Maria, gratia plena..." Next, three white roses, all one octive appart, began to sing "Ave, ave dominus, Dominus tecum, Benadicta to in mulieribus..."
The soft, lilting voice of a shy seeming yellow flower sang the next line, "Et benedictus, et benedictus fructus ventris, ventris tuae, Jesus..."
All together the bouquet of flowers sang then, "Ave... Maria..." The four red roses sang together, "Ave Maria... mater dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, ora pro nobis..."
The three white flowers sang passionately, "Ora, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis..."
Together the entire bouquet sang then, each voice unique, "Et in hora mortis nostrae, et in hora mortis nostrae, et in hora mortis nostrae..."
And one final red rose, the voice entirely too familiar, as it was Erik's own voice, finished out the song with a soft "Ave Maria...."
,br>
Christine's eyes widened and she sat enraptured. Maddy, normally giddy by miraculous happenings, sat with her little mouth wide open. Christine couldn't believe it. She looked up disbelievingly at Erik and tears came into her eyes. "Erik... That was amazing!"
Flushing slightly, Erik gave a small bow and leaned back, resting his hands in his lap and smiling lovingly at his wife. "Well... I do try..." He said playfully, before standing and crossing the room to draw her tightly into his arms.
Christine rested against him, her arms tightly wound around his waist, and she nuzzled her face into his chest. She sighed into his chest, feeling blissful and extremely happy. She turned in Erik's arms to face Meg and Maddy. "Would you like to spend the night with Aunt Meg tonight, my little angel?" She looked to Meg pleadingly, wanting to be alone with Erik, but other than that, wanting Maddy to get along better with her blonde friend.
Meg grinned knowingly, and looked down at Maddy with a broad smile.
Maddy yawned and shrugged, turning to let her head fall on Meg's shoulder and wrapped her arms around her neck. Jean Claude stood then, Marie on his arm. He gave Maddy a quick kiss on the cheek and then did the same to his niece. "Happy birthday, Christine." He shook Erik's hand, and then the couple made their leave.
Christine walked toward Meg. "She'll be a good girl, I'm sure. Let me just run and get a dress for her..." She hurriedly jogged up the stairs, and when she came back, she held a simple pink dress, and gave it to Meg. "Thank you so much, Meg." She embraced them and placed a kiss on Maddy's forehead.
Meg smiled kindly. "It's really no trouble, Christine.. I adore Maddy." Giving her friend a quick kiss to the cheek, she moved to the front door. "Have a nice evening!" She called, then moved from the house quickly.
Erik stood and pulled Christine against his body then, kissing her forehead and cuddling close to her. "Hmmm... what would you like to do now, my dear? Perhaps play a game of chess? Practice your singing? Or maybe you're tired from the day, and you'd like to turn in early?"
Christine smiled seductively and wrapped her arms around him as she moved against him enticingly. "I think the last option would be the best choice." She moved her mouth to kiss, running her tongue along his lower lip.
Erik sighed softly, drawing Christine closer and scooping her into his arms. He carried her swiftly up the stairs and into their room, laying her onto the bed and crawling over her body. His lips attached themselves firmly to Christine's, and he gave a small whimper of passion as his hands slid down to hold her hips firmly.
Christine moaned and ran her fingers through his hair, and then on down to his chest, where she began to hastily unbotton his dress shirt. She never took her mouth from his, feeling she had to be attached to him in some way or she wouldn't survive. Memories of the morning came to her and she groaned in desire.
Erik helped Christine's fingers in removing his shirt, and he threw it off of the bed, reaching behind his wife then, and beginning to untie her dress. His lips moved from Christine's, and he licked down her throat, before biting where her shoulder and neck met and groaning in passion.
Christine set work to his pants eagerly, undoing them in record time and slipping her hands down his taut abdomen. She sought his mouth with hers once more and kissed him deeply, wrapping her legs around his waist. She grabbed blindly at her chemise, and pulled it up over her head, throwing it to the side, not caring where it went. She ran her hands up and down his back, nibbling at his lips.
Erik groaned when her hands moved down his abdomen, and he trembled as he fit his body against hers. Gently Erik nibbled at her neck, before an idea came to mind and he pulled away suddenly. Looking down at Christine, he pulled her quickly to lay on her stomach, and then tugged her to all fours.
Christine gasped as her hair spilled over her shoulders, and she turned her head to look at him. "Erik...?" She saw the bed post before her, and wondered what was going on. She felt slightly uncomfortable from the cold, and all she wanted was Erik close, his body embracing hers.
Touching her cheek gently, Erik moved forward, kneeling behind his wife. Taking her hips in his hands, he pulled gently and nodded to himself, before he kissed down her spine playfully. Finally he could restrain himself no longer, and crawling so that his hands rested next to Christine's, his body stretched over hers, he put his legs between hers and pulled her stance a bit wider. "Relax." Was all he said, before he leaned forward a bit more, then thrust his hips hard against Christine's, driving his manhood deep within his wife.
Christine gasped and closed her eyes, feeling the exquisite feeling of Erik filling her. She took a deep breath and situated her arms to hold her up better. She blushed as she noted this was fairly new to her, and reached out to touch one of his hands by hers. She moaned softly as she moved a tad on his flesh, her mouth agape.
Erik gave a sharp ringing cry as he felt himself move deeply into Christine, and he whimpered repeatedly, not even moving. This new position caused a thousand sensations to rush through his body, and Erik could scarcely think straight. "Oh, Christine..." He whispered, his voice breaking as he slowly began to move within her body. His body shook almost uncontrollably and he nearly lost his balance as he began to move a bit faster. Reaching out, he took her hand in his own, squeezing it gently and nibbling at her shoulder.
Christine gasped and cried out his name, feeling him hit every right spot and knowing the most pleasure she had ever known from this new position. She moved in harmony with him, meeting his thrusts, moaning every time she did. She didn't know how long she was going to last with this excruciating bliss.
Erik's arms trembled and threatened to give out, and he thrust even faster within her, sobbing from the pleasure and resting his forehead between Christine's shoulder blades. "Christine... oh God I love you... Christine!" He cried, his voice strained and desperate sounding as he pushed harder and harder against her body, aware that the bed was moving along with their bodies and unable to care. Erik felt as if his entire world was comprised entirely of their bodies' meeting, of this extreme pleasure and the tension that was building rapidly in the pit of his stomach. A long moan came flowing from his lips, and he gasped for breath, moving as fast as he could manage as a low, keening sound began to form in his throat.
Christine didn't last long. The pleasure was too much, hearing Erik rasp and moan was too much, and she reached up to grab a handful of his hair and she came powerfully, shuddering beneath him and repeating his name over and over. She struggled to hold herself up, and she knew that if he didn't end soon she'd have to flip him over... She panted heavily and closed her eyes, her hands clutching the bed sheets so tight her knuckles turned white, the trembling not leaving her body.
The feel of Christine tightening against his flesh was far too much pleasure than Erik could handle, and he gave a volumous cry as he came. His voice choked off at the end as he fell forward and landed hard atop Christine, pressing her against the bed as he nearly lost consciousness. His chest felt as if it would explode, his head was muffled and he could hear the blood rushing in his ears. For a moment he was unable to breathe and the room was eerily silent, before his breaths came in great gasps, and he choked on the air he pulled in, rolling frantically from Christine and turning whiter than usual as he clutched his left shoulder in agony.
Christine's eyes widened and she sat up, wondering what in the world had struck Erik so suddenly. Oh God! His attacks! She pushed him to lay down and grabbed her chemise, throwing it over her head as she ran down the hall to the upstairs bathroom. She searched frantically for his medicine, and found it finally on the very back of the shelf. She sped back towards their room and sat Erik up, climbing on the bed behind him and easing him back, while she opened the medicine bottle and put it to his lips. "Drink, my love."
Erik panted softly and ended up spilling quite a bit of the medicine down his chest as he drank from the flask, and when it was empty he collapsed against Christine, whimpering as he trembled, the pain forcing tears from his eyes. By far, this was the worst attack Erik had felt in a long time, with each beat of his heart a white hot searing pain flew through his body, and he sobbed softly as he clung to his wife, willing the pain to slow even a little bit, and trying to take even breaths.
Christine's eyes filled with tears and she held him tightly, cradling him to her as paranoia swept over her. She didn't think he'd been this bad, and the thought broke her heart. She was in the same position she had been when they'd first become husband and wife, and she thought that after he became healthy once more that he would never suffer this again. She began to tremble herself, resisting the tears that threatened to fall. Thank God their daughter hadn't been there to witness that. She would've had a heart attack, herself. Christine felt like having an attack. She just wanted to take away her husband's pain.
Erik gasped for air, reaching up to touch Christine's cheek as he wheezed. "I love you..." He murmured, before flopping back onto the bed and tugging weakly at her arm, wanting her to lay beside him. He could slowly feel the medicine taking hold, and his heart was slowly returning to its normal rate. Erik took a few deep, shuddering breaths, then ran a hand over his face and gave a very relieved sigh. His hands shook as he reached out to grasp Christine and tug her tightly against his body, and he nuzzled her neck and cheek. "Do you have any idea how many times it has been now that you have saved my life, Christine?" He asked, his voice soft and quivering slightly.
Christine stared at him sternly. "Erik, you must see a doctor." She cupped his face in her hands. "I demand it."
Erik's eyes widened, and he shook his head swiftly, straining to escape Christine's touch. His eyes darted around fearfully, as if he was a hunted animal searching for an escape. "No! No, I can't possibly!! I will be fine, please... don't make me..." He begged, moving across the bed and nearly falling from it to the floor.
Christine followed him and stood in front of him, grasping his face in her palms. "Erik!" She said desperately. "I love you, do you hear me?!" She gazed at him helplessly. "Won't you please do this for me? I die when I see you in pain! Please do this for me. Please. I love you too much to let you suffer like this." She ran her thumbs across his cheekbones.
Erik began to sob, stuck between wanting so badly to give in to what Christine desired of him, and his rapidly mounting fear of seeing someone he did not know, of letting them touch him, letting them look at him, ask questions that he didn't know he'd want to answer... "Christine... anything you ask of me, I will give you... please, do not make me... I beg of you... do not ask this one thing of me..." He pleaded, tears streaming down his cheeks as he clung to her hands, wild fear in his eyes, making him shake.
Christine wiped away his tears. "Erik, please," she began desperately. "My doctor, the one that I've been going to, he's not like the others. He's respectful and he will not make you do anything you don't want or make you answer questions you don't feel like answering! His wife is the midwife that helped me in labor with Madeleine." She held his face gently and stood on tiptoe to kiss him softly. "Please Erik," she whispered, "I don't want this to happen anymore. Imagine if Madeleine had witnessed it."
Erik continued to sob, unable to control himself, and he backed away from his wife, hitting the wall and jumping in fear. "I can't... oh Christine, do not make my deny you! I cannot!" He exclaimed, sliding down the wall and landing roughly on the floor. "Christine..." He moaned, bending over in his grief and burying his face into his hands.
Tears of anger and pain rolled down her cheeks silently and she stood above him, her hands on her hips. "Deny me this, Erik... And I will never willingly submit my body to you again." She turned and wiped her tears away furiously. As she walked towards the door she hissed, "Stop being selfish and do this if not for me, than for your daughter." She turned before she made it out the door, and whispered, "I thought that I would give you the strength you lacked. I was wrong." She whirled around and headed towards the bathroom, the whole way chastising herself for speaking to him the way she did but knowing it was the only way.
Erik's eyes were wide as he sat on the floor, thinking about what Christine had just said. He blinked several times then, and realized that she was quite right. It didn't matter if he was afraid; this was for his wife, for his daughter, and for the child that was not yet born. "You're a fool, Erik." He said to himself softly, before standing and racing after his wife. Catching up to her down the hall, he flung himself against her body, clinging tightly to her and burying his face into her neck. "I'm sorry!" He wailed, nearly buckling under the strain it was just to stand. "You were right," Came his muffled voice. "...I must go."
X
Christine held Erik's hand tightly as they rode in the hansom, smiling reassuringly up at him. She stroked her fingers over his mask and hair, and then leaned her head forward to rest on his shoulder. "Everything will be fine, mon amour," she whispered, squeezing his arm and hugging it to her body. "I'm here for you. And I'm so proud of you for doing this." She leant up and kissed his mask, and then snuggled into him once more.
Erik trembled and nodded slowly, kissing her forehead and sighing softly. "We are almost there..." He said gently as he took her hand.
As the hansom came to a stop, Christine grasped Erik's face in her hands and placed her forehead against his. "Listen to me," she whispered, "I love you. None of these people on the streets will ever see you again, do you understand? It doesn't matter what they think at all. I'm the only one around whose opinion you should care about." She smiled and pecked him softly on the lips. "I'll be beside you always."
Erik nodded, kissing her soundly, then stepping from the hansom and helping her down. He looked around briefly, then met his wife's eyes and smiled lovingly. "Lead the way, my dear."
Christine grinned and squeezed his hand, and then slipped her arm through his. She shivered slightly from the cold, and quickly began leading them down the street and to the hospital, where her doctor was. As they reached it, she gazed up at it and sighed, then looked up at her husband. "Are you ready, my love?"
Erik nodded curtly, and pushed the door open, then looked around. This was his first time in a hospital, and he shook slightly as he allowed Christine to lead him to the stairs.
Christine saw her doctor's nurse and waved to her. She smiled warmly as she approached her. "I need Dr. Auclair to examine my husband." She motioned behind her to Erik. "It's urgent." The nurse nodded and went through a door, and then came out swiftly. "If you're willing to go in now, he'll see you." Christine nodded. "Come, Erik." She took his arm and led him through the door.
Dr. Auclair's eyes widened at her words, and he smiled briefly. "I believe my congratulations are in order... and very sick, you say? Well then, monsieur... please, sit down here," He said, motioning to a long bed swathed in a white sheet. "And let me take a look at you."
Erik gulped and complied, removing his fedora and handing it to Christine, he did the same with his cloak, then moved gracefully to the bed and sat down upon it.
"Now then... who is your physician, and when was the last time you went to him?"
Erik's eyes widened, and he looked helplessly to Christine for a moment, before meeting the doctor�s eyes. "I have never been to a physician before." Erik stated simply, his eyes growing a bit fearful. Would he be turned out now?
Dr. Auclair's eyes widened, and he looked at Christine in shock. "Monsieur... pray, how old are you?"
Erik winced, and cleared his throat. "Of that I am... well, not entirely sure. I imagine around forty five, though." He said, rubbing the back of his head and looking to the floor.
Dr. Auclair nearly boggled. "You have never been to a doctor, you do not know how old you are..." He shook his head lightly, and stepped forward. "Then I must insist on a routine check up as well." He stated firmly, before grasping a small rubber hammer and beginning to check Erik's reflexes.
Erik watched curiously as the doctor did his work, before reaching out a hand for Christine, trembling slightly. He had no idea what to expect.
Christine gave him a reassuring smile and gripped his hand tightly. She trusted Dr. Auclair in his medical profession, and she knew if anyone would know just what was wrong with Erik, he would. Making light conversation, Christine stated softly, "I'm with my second child, Doctor." She beamed. "I think it will be a boy this time."
Dr. Auclair smiled broadly, looking up to Christine as he put his hammer away. "Really? That is fantastic!" He exclaimed, before turning red. He needed to check Erik's eyes.. but how could he check the right one? It was behind a mask, after all... With a small sigh, he looked to Erik kindly. "Monsieur, I must check your eyes.. however, your mask appears to be in the way... would it be possible to remove it?"
Erik's eyes widened and he gasped slightly, shaking his head and clutching Christine's hand so tightly that he vaguely realized his fingernails may be puncturing her skin. "No, it must remain." He stated, his voice trembling only slightly.
Christine looked worriedly to Dr. Auclair before standing and kneeling before Erik. "Erik," she murmured in his ear, "He's seen war wounds, men scarred horribly. It's alright, Erik. Be strong, I'm here. No loathe will be displayed here." She ghosted her fingers across his forehead. "Trust me that I trust him."
Dr. Auclair looked curiously at the exchange between the two people, and cocked his head slightly. What on earth could be behind that mask?
Erik looked down at Christine with hurt in his eyes. "You never... you didn't tell me that he'd wish to unmask me..." Erik whispered, a haunted look in his eyes before he slid them closed. After a moment he opened them and looked to the doctor. "As you wish, monsieur." He said softly, before reaching up and with shaking fingers, untying his mask and letting it slip from his face.
Christine stayed by his side, feeling horrible from his words. She kissed his knuckles before standing shakily, though still holding his hand. She sat down not to far from him, and rubbed his palm comfortingly.
Dr. Auclair gasped at the sight before his eyes. Never before had he saw something so...incredibly sad. Compassion filled his eyes as he stepped forward and reached out boldly, touching some of the worst scarring and shaking his head sadly. "Born like this, or an accident?" He asked suddenly.
Erik's eyes grew wider and wider as the man stepped closer, and when the doctor touched his face, Erik gasped. "B-born like this." He whispered, tears filling his eyes.
Dr. Auclair nodded to himself. "I thought as much." He stated, feeling around. "Does it hurt you ever?"
Erik closed his eyes, not sure he wanted to answer. "Once in a while." He avoided Christine's gaze, not wanting her to know that it ever caused him pain, surely she wouldn't think that it had...
The doctor nodded again, touching the place were his nose should have been. "Forgive me for my words, but this is fascinating to me. Mind you, incredibly sad as well.. but never before have I heard of such a thing." Shaking his head, he continued about his work, checking Erik's eyes and nodding in satisfaction. Moving to Erik's ears then, he again nodded to himself, and took a step back.
Erik chanced a glance to Christine, then looked back at the ground, waiting for the examination to be finished so he could return his mask.
Christine observed the doctor, watching cautiously in case something should upset Erik. When she saw his eyes drift to her, and then away, fear and pain filled her heart, but she forced it away. She stared at the ground, wondering if Erik would ever forgive her, wondering what it would feel like to be Erik. She reached out and trailed her fingers across his forehead lovingly for a moment before replacing it in her lap.
Erik looked again to Christine, holding her gaze for a moment and bringing her fingers to his lips in silent forgiveness, his eyes looking pleadingly into hers.
Dr. Auclair smiled at the obvious love the two of them had for each other, before clearing his throat. "Monsieur, you may replace your mask should you wish... and please, tell of your illness."
Erik eagerly placed his mask back on his face, and took a deep breath. He wanted to speak, but no words would come. Looking to Christine, he silently begged her to explain.
Christine squeezed Erik's hand and spoke gently. "He's had these attacks on his heart for a while now, where he cannot breathe properly and he can hardly keep himself standing. He hasn't had a large one in many months, but yesterday evening he had a horrible attack. The only thing that helps him is his medicine, after the attack has happened." She took a deep breath and glanced at the doctor apprehensively.
Becoming all business right away, he moved for his stethoscope and ordered Erik's shirt off. "Quickly, Monsieur. I need to take a listen to this heart of yours." He stated. While Erik removed his shirt, the doctor looked curiously between the two of them. "How long have you known him, Christine?"
Christine tilted her head to the side in thought. "For more than three years... nearly four, I'd say." She looked at him curiously. "Why do you ask?"
The doctor nodded, then looked at Erik. "And he's had these attacks the whole while you've known him, then?"
Erik spoke up then, his voice soft. "I've had them since Persia. For at least fifteen years now." He stated, and Dr. Auclair's eyes widened.
"My God! You are lucky you are not dead!" He exclaimed, and Erik gave him a wry smile.
"Yes, I suppose I am." Erik said as he set his shirt aside, and Dr. Auclair gasped audibly at the sight of the hundreds of scars across Erik's chest, back, shoulders and upper arms.
"These, I assume, you were not born with?" He demanded, eyes hard. Erik shrugged.
"Some are not as accepting of my face as you seem to be, Doctor." He said simply, keeping his eyes to the floor.
Dr. Auclair felt grief well within his chest as he imagined the many ways society must have hurt this man, and he moved forward, fitting the earpieces of his stethoscope in place, and he gently placed the round metal bit to Erik's chest. "Take a deep breath for me... good, now let it out...."
After a few moments, Dr. Auclair's face turned white as a sheet, and he pulled away, removing the earpieces with shaking hands and running his fingers over his face.
Erik looked fearfully at the doctor, then to Christine. He trembled as he clutched tighter to Christine's hand.
Christine frowned deeply, her forehead creasing horribly. "Doctor, what is wrong?!" She demanded, clutching Erik's hand as tightly as she had while giving birth to Madeleine.
Dr. Auclair sighed softly, shaking his head. "It is nothing so horrible as I must have made it seem, I was only surprised." He insisted, swallowing hard. "Erik's heart is quite.. irregular... it beats increddibly uneven..." He shook his head slightly, then continued. "It is no wonder you have these attacks, monsieur! Every time your heart rate increases, the beats grow more and more uneven, until there are great lapses between each one. And when that happens, you have the attacks." He stated simply, running a hand over his face again and sighing. "If they are not stopped, you will continue to have the attacks every time your heart rate goes up... and eventually it will kill you, as simple as that. I'm not going to lie to the both of you... Erik, you are in a great deal of danger."
Erik drew Christine against his body, trembling himself and placing a kiss to the top of her head. "I will not die, don't you worry about me." He insisted, before looking back to the doctor with worried eyes.
Dr. Auclair sighed softly, sitting down in a chair near them and scrubbing at his face with the heels of his hands. "Yes, there is a medication I can give you... but it has certain side effects..."
Erik leaned forward and looked eagerly at the doctor. "To hell with the side effects. Give me the medication." He stated. "I don't care what happens as long as I live, for Christine..." He stated.
Dr. Auclair felt tears rise in his eyes, and he sighed heavily. "This side effect I believe you would care about; both of you would."
Christine glared at him. "Life is better than death!" She insisted, hugging to Erik tightly.
Dr. Auclair sighed. "Erik will become infertile after a period of time." He said softly, unable to meet their gaze. He couldn't bare to see the hurt that would be in their eyes.
Erik simply gaped, unable to believe what he had just heard. "What...?" He croaked out, tears filling his eyes. No more children?
Christine's mouth dropped open in consternation. She blinked back tears. "After... after what period of time, doctor?" She asked, willing the tears to hold back.
That will depend on Erik himself, his body, how strong it fights off the medication's effects... at the longest, three years, I would imagine... but it cannot be known for sure."
Erik shook his head then. "No. I will not take it, then." He stated firmly. Looking at Christine, he touched her cheek. "I want to give you your children, all twenty of them." He said, a small twinkle in his eyes. "I cannot do that... if I am infertile, Christine... I cannot... I will not be half a man to you." He stated firmly.
Christine shook her head, still dazed a tad from all that she was trying to take it. "He will take it," she told the doctor. "Otherwise he will not live to see any children." She looked up at Erik and stroked his mask, as a single tear fell down her cheek. "It is what we must do, my love."
"No!" He cried, wrenching away from Christine and falling to the ground in his grief. "No..." And then everything in Erik's vision went black.
Dr. Auclair jumped up when Erik went unconscious, and frowned deeply, kneeling beside him and propping his feet. He looked up mournfully at Christine, apology written in his eyes for having to deliver such horrible news.
Christine cradled his head in her lap. "He must take it," she told the doctor gravelly. "I cannot live without him, Dr. Auclair, for he is my very life. If he dies because of my selfishness..." She shook her head. "One child was enough! I want Erik, I want my husband." She stroked his forehead. "You say this will help him? He will grow very old, with me?"
Dr. Auclair sighed. "Well, he will definitely have a much better chance, Christine. The medication will stop the attacks frequency if it doesn't stop them entirely. For him to take a medication that stops the attack after it happens... that is not enough. The damage has by then been dealt." He sighed. "If he doesn't take this, another attack... Christine, I do not know if you realize this.. he is very weak. He must have felt this weakness, I find it amazing he has been able to do anything within the last month at least! Just the beating of his heart, the feel of his muscles, his eyes... it all points to an extreme physical weakness for a long period of time. I will not ask how often he has been exerting himself lately, but... another attack like the one he had last night, and I would not expect him to survive it." He shook his head. "This man either takes the medication, or very soon he will die. That is a certainty even this extraordinary man cannot out run."
Erik began to move slightly, and groaned as his eyes fluttered open. He looked up at Christine and sighed in relief, beginning to sit up. "Ugh..."
Christine smiled down at him. "I certainly hope you've remembered the conversation, or you may want to faint again." She stroked his forehead as the smile left her face. "You must take this medicine... We have three years, Erik... It will be fine, did you really expect me to want twenty children after the pain I went through with Madeleine?" She smirked, and then became somber. "Please, Erik. I love you and I need you. Maddy needs you... This unborn child needs you."
Erik sighed, touching her cheek. "You are sure you will not regret this later, mon ange?" He asked, trembling slightly. "I do not wish to disappoint you..."
Christine nodded. "But are you willing to make the sacrifice, as well? You control yourself... I am merely trying to influence you. It is your decision in the end, though I would only have you alive and spending the rest of my days with me."
Erik sighed softly, touching Christine's cheek and kissing her forehead. "My mind was made up right away... but I would have changed it for you, my dear." He whispered softly. Looking then to the doctor, he sighed. "Sir, I will take that medication."
Chapter Twenty