Welcome mes amis, to Round Robins. This story, Mask Behind A Mask, will feature the talents of many different authors, to wit: Kay Blue Eyes in chapter one; ToryD chapter 2; terpsichore314 chapter 3; subsequent chapters will be by KatieKay90, Secretly Secretly, milegre, AngeMusique, Splendorous Night Unfurled, MJMod

Mask Behind A Mask

A/N Hello all, this is a major M rated chapter. This is the hottest scene I have ever written so be warned. Thanks for all of your unending support of me and the other amazing authors who have worked so hard on this and our other round robin project. I am really enjoying being a part of such a fun exercise in writing. Well, on with our story; please let us know what you think in your reviews. Tory

Chapter 2

Author - ToryD

Beta - terpsichore314 (Beta Extraordinaire!)

Erik smiled as he felt Christine's sweet breath caress his ear warmly. Turning, he gently took her into his strong arms. "What I am doing, my dear, is trying not to wake you," he said ruefully as he began to tenderly stroke her back.

"I couldn't sleep," Christine said with a contented sigh. She leaned into her strong husband's chest, enjoying the familiar closeness that they shared. "Why are you home so late?" she asked as she reached up to remove his mask.

Erik stiffened slightly at her question, hating the necessity of lying to his beloved wife. "I lost track of time," he replied evasively and pulled away abruptly, unable to face her because of his deception.

Frowning, Christine watched Erik begin to remove his boots as he prepared for bed. Something had been bothering Erik over the last several months, something that she knew he was purposely hiding from her. But what? her worried mind questioned. What could he be so concerned about that he was fearful to tell her, she, who knew his deepest and darkest secrets? "Erik, do you think we could get away from the city for a few days?" she asked hopefully, wanting only to grant Erik some time away from the unending pressures of the opera house. It would be a time for them to talk openly, and for them both to reveal their respective secrets. Smiling softly to herself, Christine placed a protective hand on her still flat stomach as she anticipated Erik's reaction to her happy news.

"I'm not sure if that would be possible, Christine," he said tiredly. "The rehearsals are not going as well as I had hoped." Erik turned and pinned her with a slightly accusatory glance. "Your fault if the truth be known."

Christine smiled at him coquettishly. "I have other things to occupy my time now," she said saucily. She slowly approached her husband of two years, teasingly undoing the ties to her lacy night dress.

Erik felt his heart begin to race at the look of promise in Christine's velvety brown eyes. "Such as?" Erik asked huskily as he stared intently at the tantalizing vision of his sexy wife before him.

Loving the feel of empowerment she had over the man who was her entire world, Christine boldly reached for Erik's belt, purposely trailing her fingers lightly over his firm stomach, secretly enjoying his sharp intake of breath at her touch. "I have my wifely duties that need my unfettered attention," she said in a throaty tone, exploding an instant heat in Erik.

"Christine," her name was torn from his lips, his uncontrolled desire threatening to engulf him. Lifting his own hand, he lightly began to trail his long fingers along the delicate line of her collarbone, still amazed even after all this time that she not only allowed his touch, but she welcomed it with an obvious answering passion.

As Christine pulled his belt free, she closed her eyes and savored the seductive touch of her husband's skilled hands as he tenderly caressed the tops of her creamy breasts. "Erik," she moaned his name in a soft purr, her clever hands quickly undoing the fastenings of his trousers. Flattening the palm of her hand against his taut stomach, she slowly slipped her hand into the opening of his pants, seeking him out with a wild eagerness.

Erik clenched his teeth tightly in the effort to try to maintain some semblance of control as Christine's soft hand began to circle the thick length of his throbbing manhood. "I need you now!" His whispered cry was uttered only a brief second before he scooped her up in his arms and carried her purposely towards the massive oak bed. His seeking mouth joined with hers in a quest to assuage the desire that threatened to overtake his entire being.

Christine met his insistent tongue with her own, as the heat of their shared passions enveloped them both.

Erik lowered her bare feet to the floor gently as he continued with his deep demanding kiss. With his hands he easily rent the front of Christine's night dress, enjoying the look of shocked desire that alighted in his beloved wife's eyes. Quickly divesting Christine of her ruined night clothes, he shrugged off his pants and lifted her to gently place her upon the soft welcoming bed. He joined her on the bed, watching her with an intense flare of passion within his heated blue gaze.

With her kiss-swollen lips slightly parted, Christine leaned up to kiss Erik's scarred cheek reverently, loving him with an unquestioned certainty to transcend all time.

Erik felt humbled by her. This beautiful woman who saw past a scarred visage to rescue the man who dwelled in a private hell that only held pain. This amazing woman who had accepted him for the man he was, not the monster that the unfeeling world deemed him. His beautiful Christine, his wife. Gently kissing her lips, he felt overpowering emotion fill him. He wanted nothing more than to love this woman, to begin a family with her, to grow old and share all that the world had to offer. But as with all things in life, he had to pay a price. A high price that threatened all that he held dear. An unavoidable price that must be met in order to protect the life that God had granted him with his Christine.

Christine felt Erik's tension, and felt as if a hole were being pierced in her heart. "Erik?" she said concernedly, seeing his tense features. Reaching up, she caressed his furrowed brow in an attempt to smooth away the lines of his worry.

Erik caught her caressing hand and brought it to his soft lips, kissing the inside of her palm with a deep reverence borne of his immense feelings for his wife. "I love you, Christine," he said with a simple honesty that brought tears of joy to her soft loving eyes.

"Erik," she answered, her reciprocating love shaking him to his very soul.

Leaning down he took her trembling lips in a deep kiss, gaining entrance with his seeking tongue, savoring the sweetness that was only his Christine.

Christine reached up and threaded her hands into Erik's thick black hair, as she moaned in response to his drugging kiss. Feeling the fire of passion enclosing them, Christine arched up in a desperate unspoken plea.

Erik let her passions ignite his own, and with an ardor to equal hers, parted her slim thighs and began to caress her lovingly with his seeking hand.

Christine gave herself up to Erik's expert touch, clutching at his strong shoulders in an unsuccessful attempt to hold at bay the all-encompassing wave of ecstasy that enveloped her.

Erik reveled in the throaty moans his knowing touch elicited from her, thrilled that it was he who could bring her to such a peak of unbearable rapture. The urgency of her cries exciting him to the brink of insanity, he began to trail a series of light kisses along her neck, slowly inching towards her sweet yielding breasts.

Christine drew in a sharp breath as she felt Erik's tongue and seeking mouth pay homage to her erect nipples. Arching up to give him greater access, Christine felt as if her whole body was about to explode at his loving ministrations.

Erik trailed a line of open mouth kisses along her smooth flat stomach as he slid down to the sweet juncture of her thighs.

"Erik!" Christine cried out in excitement as she felt Erik begin to gift her with the most intimate of kisses. The warm sensation of his tongue slipped inside the tender crease, transporting her past the reality of this world to a plane that only held exquisite pleasure. Breathless, she drifted in a realm of unbearable ecstasy.

Erik, mindful of her low, pleading groans of undeniable bliss, continued the quest to catapult her to the highest peak of otherworldly existence.

Christine clutched at the bed with her hands, her body trembling violently beneath Erik's seeking tongue. Her moans of pleasure filled the room, the intoxicating sounds exciting Erik's senses, his loving assault driven by his unquenchable need. Christine's body began to shudder deeply as convulsive spasms began to radiate throughout her body. Erik pressed a gentle kiss to her as he reveled in her ultimate tribute to his loving.

Christine's breathing was beginning to return to normal when Erik moved up over her so that he could look deeply into her passion-filled eyes. Not uttering one word, he entered her slowly, feeling her enclose around his thick length as he came to rest joyously inside her. Leaning down he kissed her deeply as he began to rock gently within her.

Christine gasped, a renewed passion spreading within her as Erik set in motion a slow tantalizing rhythm. She arched up in an attempt to increase his unhurried pace, desperate to obtain the promise of ecstasy that awaited them both.

Erik felt his control begin to slip as Christine arched up to meet his deep thrusts with a forcefulness that threatened his very sanity. No longer able to restrain himself, Erik began thrusting deep and hard within her, his low passionate groans transporting them both over the pinnacle simultaneously in a brilliant spiral of breathless wonder.

As their breathing began to return to normal, Erik rolled over and tucked Christine protectively within his arms. Leaning down his kissed her temple lovingly. "I love you," he said in a voice for her ears only.

Smiling contently, Christine snuggled into her husband. "I love you Erik," she said with a patent truth that never ceased to amaze him. Exhausted after their exuberant lovemaking, Christine quickly drifted off to sleep safely within her husband's arms.

Erik held her close to his heart, his mind in turmoil at the untenable situation he found himself in. How could he go on with this double life, how could he continue to hide his secret from her? his anxious mind taunted him. Erik worried about the ominous threats he received upon Christine's life if he did not follow the carefully laid out instructions. He felt an overwhelming rage fill him at the thought of anyone harming his wife.

Unconsciously he tightened his hold upon her sleeping form, causing her to moan slightly in discomfort. Releasing his tightening grip, he began to caress her in a soothing motion in order to ease her back into a restful sleep. Leaning down he kissed her lightly as she settled back into a dream-filled state. Closing his eyes, Erik wondered how much longer he could protect them both, for surely the time was approaching when a choice would need to be made. A choice that would change the course of their lives forever.