"In Between The Lines"
'Until I'm Completely Satisfied'
Part 4 Chapter 2
Summary: The Duke is making himself scarce after his recent embarrassment. Satine and Christian are using this to their advantage, however guess who arrives at their intimate rehearsal!
A two weeks had passed and The Duke was clearly keeping his distance from those present at the meeting; in particular Harold Zidler.
Toulouse had promptly filled Christian and Satine in with the details that, much to their collective amusement, The Duke had mistakenly played footsies with the owner of the Moulin Rouge. The general consensus was laughter and thankfulness that as a result he was making himself scarce, which meant more time for other ‘leisurely activities.’
***
Christian appeared from behind a small gathering of bushes and secured the top button on his pants. Moments later Satine followed nonchalantly, as if she had just been strolling down the street. No one would be the wiser as to their encounter unless upon close inspection, they sighted the slight sheen of perspiration on each of their foreheads.
The pair walked in blissful silence, but soon rounded a corner and into an alley beside the Moulin Rouge. Christian had his back against the hard stone wall. He forcefully pulled Satine to his beckoning lips and she eagerly followed; her hands ravaging his upper body.
Finally breaking apart, Satine smiled and breathed heavily, “Well, that was certainly a ‘goodbye’ to remember.”
“I know I won’t forget it,” Christian grinned.
“So I’ll see you for rehearsals later this afternoon?” Satine said, checking their plans.
“Yes,” Christian voiced as if his life depended on it, and continued to kiss along her collarbone.
Satine lifted his head and looked into his eyes, “I’ll see you at noon.”
“I look forward to saying ‘hello’ to you,” Christian responded devilishly.
Satine laughed and shook her head at his school boy antics. She went to leave, but he grabbed her by the arm and pulled Satine back into his embrace.
“Christian...we’ve been over this. I have to get back to my room early before they suspect anything.”
Christian ran his hand through Satine’s soft, fiery hair and pulled out a lone twig.
He handed it to her and as if he had just won points in their discussion said, “Well I don’t suppose that a twig in mademoiselle’s hair would be very subtle...”
Christian winked at her and then made his way out of the alley, back to his garret.
Satine watched him leave and then looked to the twig in her hand, smiling. How wonderful life was now Christian was in her world.
***
“Satine...? Satine??? Satine?!”
Christian stood from his seat in Satine’s dressing room and walked into her line of sight. He put a hand on her shoulder and she awoke back into reality.
“Hmm?”
Christian laughed, “I said, ‘Do you want to take a break Satine?’ But I guess you were already ahead of me.”
Christian sensed some distance from Satine; her thoughts were still somewhere else. He wrapped his arms around Satine’s waist, and drew her close to him.
“Where were you?” he asked softly.
Still in thought, Satine began, “Oh it’s nothing, really...”
Christian tilted his head to the side
as if to question her and say, ‘Satine, I know you better than that.’
Satine smiled at his seemingly small mannerism, which was able to
convey more than words.
“It’s, it’s just this script, I was reading my lines...and... The fact that the maharajah has so much power over the Hindu courtesan...and not just her, the penniless sitar player...”
Satine was clearly working through something which had been troubling her for some time. She removed Christian’s hands from behind her back and held them in front of her.
Christian stood patiently giving Satine room to express her feelings.
“I just want you to know, this isn’t what she...” Discarding the metaphor, Satine continued, “This isn’t what I had planned. I didn’t go looking for this life, it...it just kind of found me. If I could change it all I would, you know that right?”
Christian smiled lovingly, “Of course I do darling. But I have to believe everything happens for a reason. Just think, if you didn’t perform here, I may never have met you.”
“Don’t say that,” Satine said, softly placing a finger over his lips, almost afraid to hear her worst fear brought to reality.
“Satine, I’ll look after you...I promise.” Christian said, bringing her hands to his lips and kissed them reassuringly.
“We just have to make the best of the situation and I know you can do that,” he grinned, “As long as we’re careful, our ‘Evil Maharajah’ will never find out.”
Satine wrapped her arms around Christian, and he embraced her with his hands resting around her waist,
Satine, these walls keep a secret
That only we know
Satine brought her face to look Christian in the eyes,
But how long can they keep it?
Cause we’re two lovers who lose control
Christian was determined to make Satine see the lighter side of their hidden love,
We’re two shadows chasing rainbows
Behind closed windows...
Behind closed doors
Christian looked around Satine’s dressing room,
If these walls could talk, oh,
They would say “I want you more”
Satine nuzzled her cheek intimately against his and sang,
They would say “hey, never felt like this before”
And that you would always be
They both gazed into the other eyes and voiced,
The one for me
Christian continued his attempt to assure Satine,
Two people making memories
Just too good to tell
And these arms are never empty,
Satine looked to his arms wrapped snugly around her waist and giggled.
When we’re lying where we fell
Christian added,
We’re writing romance, making magic
Satine grazed his lips and whispered,
Taking chances
The air was heated and Christian breathed,
...Making love
Christian engulfed Satine’s lips with passionate force. He knew what they shared was special and was determined to cling to it will all his might.
Satine broke away for a breathless moment,
If walls could talk, oh
They would say “I want you more”
Christian kissed her beckoning lips but continued,
They would say “hey, never felt like this before”
And that you would always be
Satine ran her hand along the curve of Christians face and they both sang,
The one for me
Christian brought his literary skills to life professing,
If the walls had eyes... my,
They would see the love inside...
Satine returned his words of passion,
They would see me,
In your arms in ecstasy
And with every move they’d know
Both voiced the words they ached to hear,
I love you so.
Satine remembered how Christian’s love had freed her,
When I’m feeling weak
You give me wings
When the fire has no heat
You light it up again
Christian reminded her that she brought his love to life,
When I hear no violins
You play my every string
So stop the press...
Hold the news...
The secret’s safe between me and you,
Christian stepped out of Satine’s hold and gestured to the room,
Walls, can you keep a secret?
Satine laughed and pulled Christian back into her grasp.
“You amaze me,” she said quietly.
“Good, because that’s exactly how I feel about you”
“Make love to me Christian,” she whispered.
Christian brought her even closer and feeling the fire escalate between them, ran his tongue over her smooth lips before she reciprocated with hunger.
Their minds were a whirl when in the distance Christian was distracted by a rapping on Satine’s dressing room door. As if compelled by some cosmic force, the pair instinctively leapt apart just before The Duke entered the room.
**Lyrics "If These Walls Could Talk" Celine Dion, suggested by Mariclaire
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