Search for the Opera Ghost: Rewrite

XVI.

Erik lay on his side while gently stroking Zuri's hair. Thoughts ran through his head as he looked down at her sleeping form. She was so sweet and yet he wondered why she did not want to talk to him after they had make love. She seemed detached from him. Of course, he thought with a laugh, why wouldn't she be. He had done the worst kind of thing that could be done to a woman.

He dipped his head to gently kiss her neck softly. She weakly slapped his hand as her eyes slowly opened and she acknowledged where she was. "Erik?" She questioned as she turned on her back and looked at him in confusion.

"Yes pet?" He questioned as he kissed gently on her lips.

"It wasn't a dream."

"No my dear." He pulled the sheets off of her, revealing her naked body. "It was not. You were wonderful." She sat up and pulled the sheets to her chest. "What is the matter?"

"I'm not sure."

"You said that last night was not what you had expected. Was it disappointing?"

"No...I just felt like we were both withholding from each other."

"Withholding?"

"Maybe it is me. I hope I did not disappoint you."

He tipped her chin towards him, her eyes purposely glancing away from his. "You don't trust me fully yet. I can see that. I don't blame you either. The only way we will feel the passion you want to is when you fully trust me."

"Erik...I can't do this. I have to leave soon. This will only make leaving you harder."

"You are not leaving me."

"What do you mean? I have to leave you. I am getting married."

"I thought you despised the man you have to marry."

"I do. I wish I could stay, but I can't. My father will beat me if I don't get home."

"You wish to return to your father who will marry you to a man who does not hold your best interests in heart?"

"And you do Erik? Can you be honest that you are totally doing this for my welfare?"

"Zuri, I want you."

"You can't always have what you want."

"Look at me." She glanced in her eyes as her body tensed. He caressed her hips in long strokes. "Can I do anything to earn your trust?"

"Let me go home. I will always hold last night dear to me, but I have a responsibility."

"Don't you have a responsibility to yourself first?"

She bit back a sigh of pain as she heard his words. "Erik." She started as a tear rolled down her cheek. Zuri clutched the sheets tighter. "I want so much to be with you...but we would never...we could never have a life together."

"You can, because I am offering you no choice. You are mine and rightfully so."

Zuri shot him a surprised look as he pulled her back down on the bed. He propped himself up on his arm to look at her seriously. "I am not yours."

"Back in the medieval era when a woman was either raped or taken before her marriage she would have to either face her shame alone or marry the man who took her virginity."

She could not believe what she was hearing, "You intend to marry me?"

"No. I am not going to let you leave and sacrifice your life when you obviously want to be with me."

Zuri grew angry, "I am not some woman who will be bullied around Erik. Neither you or my future husband will do so."

She bit back another comment as Erik kissed her lips harshly, his tongue pushing between her lips while being pleased that she opened to him. His tongue caressed hers while a hand wove into her dark hair and pushed her head closer to his. Erik possessed her mouth for only a few moments before releasing her. "No man, and let me make this perfectly clear, will ever touch you besides myself." He paused for only a moment then said, "In your journal, you said you wanted me. You also said that you would pay any price to learn about me. This was before our encounter of course. Tell me that if I let you leave to go home that you will be happy. Tell me the truth. I want to hear it from your lips and if you lie I will know. If you lie like you have been, it will mean that our night together was for nothing. Tell me!"

"I...can't be happy."

"You have a choice to make Zuri. Make it. Or should I remind you why i'm the best choice?"

He sat up quickly and pulled her up and onto his lap while ignoring her cry of shock. She moaned as he wrapped an arm around her lower back and forced her to bend back slightly. "I'll show you the passion you think I am withholding." His lips found her neck and began an endless tirade of kisses up and down the column of her neck. He stopped then sucked on the junction of her neck and shoulder.

Zuri reached up to grasp Erik's hair as her body began to flush pink with heat. His lips trailed down over her chest, pressing kisses all over until she writhed in his arms, begging and pleading for the one thing he could satisfy. "Erik...please!"

"But mon chere, you are the one that is misbehaving. Lying is a very bad habit. Why should I give you what you want? Shouldn't I take what belongs to me when I want to?" She growled as he laughed at her, "Very well then. However, you owe me the truth."

She bit her bottom lip harshly as his lips found a peak and took it in his mouth. Arrows of heat shot straight to her abdomen as he continued doing so. He bit softly then continued to suck hard. After doing so, he traveled over to her other breast and repeated the ministrations. Her body never felt such a fire as the one he was stoking in her. "Erik!" She begged as she gasped for air.

"Yes..."

"Please, please, finish this."

"I haven't got to the good part yet. You will miss out."

"Erik!" Zuri cried out in an exasperated voice. She grasped clumps of his hair in frustration as he lowered her beneath him then gently pressed a kiss against her lips. He then parted her legs and slid into her welcome body. Erik growled as her warmth surrounded him.

Erik felt her fingernails rake his back as her legs wrapped around his waist. He thrust harshly into her then pulled back and repeated. Erik watched as her body writhed beneath him in pleasure. She begged and pleaded for him to continue. Erik could not deny her anymore. He nipped softly at her ear lobe as he continued to thrust into her body.

Zuri cried out as she cam ecloser and closer to climax. "Oh God...Erik!" She shouted out loudly, stars burst behind her eyes as she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his as tears fell down her cheeks. She felt Erik slip his tongue between her lips to caress her tongue as his seed coated her insides. Erik groaned in her mouth while threading his fingers in her hair. After pressing a soft kiss against her lips, he pulled away from her then began to roll off of her but was stopped.

Confused, he looked at her as she gently stroked his hair. "Stay with me...if you will. I just want to forget reality and be yours...if only for a while."

Erik gently kissed her lips then kissed down her jaw then neck. "You are mine." He murmured then smiled to himself knowing that she could not dispute his claim of her now.