Adult-FanFiction.org : Books

No Easy Way	By : secretlysecretly Category: M through R > The Phantom of the Opera > Het Views: 7568 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Chapter 10

As they moved to the gentle rhythm of the music, Marianne felt herself losing herself in his embrace. This peculiar man she barely knew was stirring emotions within her that she couldn’t control. Although he was infuriating, she couldn’t help but feel a strange attraction to him whenever they met. She couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eyes after the appalling way she had behaved the last time she encountered him. It was as if whenever he was near she would lose herself and forget her position and the way society expected her to act.

Erik on his part felt dazed. Holding her hand in his was a foreign experience to him. All this was so new to him. The people around him didn’t regard him with fear or repulsion; they simply accepted him as if he were a common man. Of course there had been a few curious looks directed at his mask, but that was only normal. However, the most amazing fact of all was that he was holding in his arms a beautiful woman that didn’t seem to cower with fear in his presence.

A few days ago this respectable young lady had been in his arms as he kissed her ferociously; and, miracle of miracles, she had been responsive to his caresses. He never would have thought that a woman would willingly stay in his arms; and the fact that she didn’t seem to abide to society’s stereotypes that saw women as obedient, fragile creatures aroused his interest even more. She was passionate, strong, outspoken, courageous, even infuriating at times, but all of this made her all the more appealing to him.

He ventured a look into her eyes, but saw that she was avoiding his gaze. She had been hesitant a few minutes ago when he had asked her to dance with him and he could certainly understand why she would feel embarrassed having to face him so soon after their encounter in the woods. However, he wouldn’t allow her to hide from him. He wanted to see the real Marianne, the one who had visited him at his house and didn’t hesitate to speak her mind freely. He decided to catch her attention and tightened his grasp on her waist, pulling her to him.

Marianne was mortified. She lost her step and looked away from him, almost as if she were trying to escape his company. As Erik seized his movements, Marianne felt her body tensing in his arms. Erik drew his arms away from her form and simply stood there before her, silently urging her to acknowledge his presence.

Marianne wouldn’t meet his gaze. Erik, unable to remain still any longer, touched her cheek gently and met her eyes. As she tried to pull away and averted her gaze from his, Erik tenderly yet steadily kept her in place.

“Look at me Marianne.” he spoke in a soothing voice.

Marianne cautiously raised her eyes, meeting his. The kindness she saw there froze her in place.

“You need not be afraid of me. I am not a monster set out to ravish your body.” Pausing, he allowed all of his longing for acceptance to pour into his eyes and voice and added hopefully.

“Give me a chance to get to know you.”

As he spoke, Marianne felt her heart constrict in her chest. Without thinking, she brought her hand up to caress his uncovered cheek. Erik was beyond words. This was the first time in his life that he was regarded with tenderness. He raised his own hand grasping hers and slowly brought it to his lips, kissing her palm with reverence. Never leaving her eyes, he brought her hand down to rest on his heart. Marianne felt her heart melt.

Unbeknownst to them, Baron Olivier Dervaux had witnessed the entire scene unfold before his eyes. He clenched his jaw, trying to keep himself in control despite his fury, but could stand this no longer. Putting a smile on his face, he exited the ballroom and approached the couple trying to look indifferent.

“There you are my dear.” he said, smiling calmly.

Marianne was instantly pulled out from the haze she had found herself in. She saw Erik flinch at the sound of Olivier’s voice and compose himself immediately before turning to look back at the Baron.

“I’ve been looking for you for quite a while. You promised me one last dance, remember?” Olivier continued, allowing his annoyance to seep into his voice. As he spoke he didn’t even cast one glance at Erik who was now standing peacefully next to Marianne.

“I am sorry Olivier, but I lost track of time. Er-… Monsieur Destler was kind enough to keep me company as I stepped out to get some fresh air.” She blanched as she realized she almost used Erik’s first name and saw the tall dark man out of the corner of her eye smiling amused at her slip.

“Oh, I forget myself. Olivier, I would like you to meet Monsieur Erik Destler. He is the new occupant of the estate neighboring to mine. Monsieur Destler, allow me to introduce Baron Olivier Dervaux, a friend of my family.”

The two men shook hands.

“Glad to have made your acquaintance Baron.” Erik said, the half smile never leaving his face.

“The pleasure is all mine, Monsieur Destler.” Olivier replied with a cold smile. “Will you please excuse us? I owe the lovely lady a dance.” he continued, grasping Marianne’s hand and bowing his head to Erik ironically.

“Certainly Baron, I would not like to deprive you of the Duchess’ company” as he spoke the words, Erik graciously brought Marianne’s hand to his lips bowing to her, and then turned on his heel and left the couple alone on the balcony.

Marianne watched the masked man leave, oddly enough feeling disappointed. Although her mind was telling her that it would be a mistake to pursue any kind of relationship with this peculiar man –be it friendly or otherwise, she couldn’t help but feel a strange force pulling her towards him whenever she found herself in his vicinity.

She felt Olivier approach her and before she knew it, her hand was in his and they were dancing to the gentle music. As she floated around in her childhood friend’s arms, she never seized searching Erik with her eyes as he walked through the crowd of people. She could see him conversing with some of the guests amiably, but as the rhythm of the music picked up and Olivier started swirling her form around in a waltz, she lost her neighbor from her sight.

Erik on his part was trying to appear nonchalant as he made his way through the unfamiliar faces around him. He could feel his blood boiling at the thought of the Baron interrupting his interlude with Marianne, his temper rising with every single step he took away from the couple. He knew that his venom was uncalled for, but could not bear the thought of that infuriating woman in another man’s arms.

Taking a glass of champagne from a passing servant, he reached a quiet spot in the room that offered him a perfect view of the dance-floor. He let his eyes travel to the woman that had aroused his jealousy and as he took in her gracious form, he kept repeating the same phrase in his head.

‘This is just a weakness of the flesh’ but the very moment that the thought crossed his mind, he knew he was lying to himself. This woman was arousing his interest and not just with her voluptuous body and luminous eyes. She had to be the most strong-willed woman he had ever set eyes upon. From the first moment they had met, she had not ceased to provoke his anger with her words. Yet, he couldn’t expel her from his mind. He watched Marianne’s serene expression as she danced with the Baron and something inside him snapped.

Suddenly, he felt a suffocating need to flee this crowd the soonest possible. With one last glance towards the dancing couple, he turned towards the door and disappeared into the night.

Marianne was exhausted from trying to appear cheerful in the presence of her longtime friend. She had been dancing with him for the better part of the evening and had lost sight of her mysterious neighbor long ago. As the music came to an end for a few minutes, she took the opportunity to cease dancing and feign fatigue so that she could leave the party soon.

“Marianne, would you like me to fetch you a refreshment?” asked Olivier politely.

“Thank you very much Olivier, but I’m fine. Actually, I feel a headache coming up, so I think that it’s time for me to take my leave.” she responded tiredly. “I bid you goodnight.”

“If that is the case, please allow me to escort you to your house my dear. There is no use in my staying here when you are absent.” he retorted, smiling broadly.

“That is really not necessary Olivier. I wouldn’t want to-”

“It would be a pleasure Marianne. Please excuse me while I call for my carriage.”

Erik poured himself another drink as he stepped out onto the veranda, trying to find some peace of mind. He took off his tailcoat and vest, and threw them upon one of the chairs as he turned his gaze towards the sky. The moon was casting its glow upon everything around him. He took in the sight and realized that his mood had not been sated during all of the time he had spent trying to free his mind of Marianne.

His steps led him to the stables where he prepared his horse and a few minutes later he was enjoying the feeling of the fresh air cooling his warm skin. He galloped for a while before he realized that he had crossed the boundaries of the neighboring estate. He dismounted his horse and advanced as if a benevolent force was pulling him to the mansion.

As he stood staring at the house in a bedazzled state, he heard the sound of hoof beats approaching. He saw a carriage approach just as he hid behind an oak tree near the house and remained silent as the vehicle came to a halt before the manor’s door.

Before long, the carriage door opened and Olivier stepped out, holding out a hand to Marianne who exited after him.

“Thank you for escorting me Olivier.” Erik watched as Marianne smiled at the Baron radiantly and felt his heart contract in his chest.

“It was a pleasure my dear. I am always happy to be by your side.” As the Baron spoke the words, Erik felt his hands clenching into fists.

“Goodnight Olivier.”

Erik let a breath of relief escape him as he watched Marianne turn and prepare to walk into her house, but the feeling did not last long as the Baron made it clear that he wasn’t prepared to let her go so soon.

Olivier grasped Marianne’s hand in his own and brought it to his lips but didn’t stop there. As she stood before him bathed in the pale moonlight, he felt an incontrollable urge to bring his lips to hers. He wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her lithe body closer to his, leaning his head in search of a kiss.

As Erik watched the scene that was playing out before him, he felt his heart withering in his chest. It was as if he was once again standing at the terrace of the Opera Populaire, watching another couple of lovers about to profess their love to each other before his eyes. However, his torment did not last long as he saw Marianne press her palms against the Baron’s chest, pushing the latter away.

“Goodnight Olivier.” her voice echoed again in the cool night air, as she spoke the words again with finality and disentangled herself from the man’s embrace.

Erik watched in disbelief as Marianne stepped into the house and closed the door behind her, leaving a perplexed Olivier rooted to the spot, barely having the time to bid her goodnight in return. As the Baron mounted the carriage once more and drove off into the night, Erik felt relief wash over him at the thought that she had not allowed the Baron’s lips to touch hers, as he himself had done but mere days ago.

He saw a window light up on the second floor of the mansion and a few minutes later the window opened and Marianne stepped out onto the balcony.

Erik couldn’t believe his eyes. It was as if a goddess were standing before him. Apparently she had changed into her nightgown and as she stood with the light from the room glowing from behind her, he could make out her ample curves through the thin material that covered her body. Her hair was undone and cascaded on her shoulders as she closed her eyes and felt the night breeze upon her sweet face.

He stood there and let her ravishing beauty intoxicate him, long after she had stepped back into her room and left him unseen in the dark.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: Please, tell us what you think!
- 9
- 10
- 11
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

No Easy Way