She gasped in surprise when his lips were suddenly pressing against hers with bruising force. She pushed away from him, angry. How dare he touch her when she was furious with him. He took her hands and pinned them above her head. Christine instantly became frightened. Would he force her? His lips found hers again and she turned her face away.
"Would you force me to get what you so desperately want?" she demanded. Erik froze. She had found him out. The realization had come to Christine and she could not hold it in. His violence toward her was a way of masking his obvious arousal for her. He wanted her and though it disgusted her it explained some things to her. He was a violent man, that was who he was, and he did not like to show any weakness. She had found a weakness and he knew it. And he did not like showing that he was vulnerable, vulnerable men did not survive in this harsh world.
"I am many things, Christine, including a murderer, but I will never force a woman to lie with me," he growled, shoving himself roughly away from her and stalking from the room. Christine could only stare after him in disbelief, not because he had not forced her, but because he had confirmed Raoul's words that he was a murderer.
xXx
Erik glanced over at the woman lying beside him and sighed in disgust. Natasha had been getting into her carriage when Erik had stormed out of the house after his argument with Christine. She had invited him to her home and like the pathetic man he was he accepted. That had been hours ago and he had spent his passion on her willing body along with his anger and she never complained. He had needed a woman and he and Natasha had always been good together.
If Christine was not willing to give herself to him he would have to find other means of pleasuring himself. Natasha being one of them. She shifted in her sleep, exposing a perfect breast to his view. He sighed, if Christine was not so damn difficult he might not be here right now.
xXx
Christine heard Erik come into their room a few hours before dawn. After removing his shirt he climbed into bed, careful not to touch her. She could smell perfume on him and she had no doubt where he had been all night. She did not care, he was free to do whatever he liked as long as he stayed away from her. Tomorrow she would go to her father's estate; there was much he needed to explain.
Answers?
"Papa?"
Gustave Daae looked up to see his daughter standing in the doorway of his study. He smiled but inside his mind was reeling. He was so happy to see her but he feared she was there to ask questions that he might not be able to answer. He stood and went to her, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close. If only she knew how much it hurt him that she was not there in the house every day.
"I am so happy you are here," he murmured, meaning it. She smiled up at him but he could see all the clearly the haunted look in her eyes. This marriage was changing her and he knew it might not be for the better. He watched her sit down and clasp her hands in her lap. She looked down at them and fidgeted nervously. Gustave sat down across from her and waited for her to speak.
"Papa...you know why I have come," she whispered, it was not a question but a statement. It hurt him in a way that she had come solely to find answers to the questions she had but he knew he did not deserve anything more from her.
"You want answers," he answered. She nodded and looked at him expectantly. Gustave sighed.
"There is almost nothing I can tell you," he said sadly. Christine's eyes were flooded with disappointment. Gustave had to look away.
"Please do not look at me like that, sweetheart," he pleaded. Christine was near tears.
"How do you want me to look, Papa? How am I supposed to behave when no one is willing to tell me anything?" she demanded.
"Christine-"
"I have a right to know!" she cried.
"I cannot tell you, Christine!" he said again. Christine stood, tears now coursing freely down her face. She faced her father with an almost desperate air.
"Do you know what kind of a man Erik is?" she demanded. Gustave was taken completely by surprise. He had expected her to rant about how she should know why her own father gave her away in marriage, but she was going for a different approach.
"I am aware of some things," he said slowly.
"Believe me when I tell you that you know nothing! He is cold and heartless and the only thing he wants from me is my body!" she cried. Gustave's eyes grew dangerous as he grabbed her hand and forced her to stay still.
"He forced himself on you?" he demanded. If the bastard had so much as laid a hand on his daughter he would kill him! Christine, however, shook her head.
"No...but he is waiting for me to give myself to him...he has such a temper, Papa, it scares me," she whispered, almost becoming the little girl she once was in the face of old fears.
"We argue all the time, we have not had a decent conversation at all...he goes to other women's beds and does not care that I can smell them on him!" she sobbed, wanting her father to realize what kind of a man he had put her with. She sat down heavily and buried her face in her hands. Gustave went to her and pulled her into his arms, allowing her to weep against his chest.
"I am so sorry, my love, I am so sorry," Gustave whispered repeatedly. Christine moved closer.
"I just want to understand," she whispered. Gustave knew he would never be able to tell her most of what was going on but he could tell her part of the reason why she was now married to Erik.
"Christine...what I can tell you is the reason why I allowed you to marry Erik, partially the reason that is," he said. She looked up at him with watery eyes.
"Why?"