Erik watched in stunned disbelief as she rushed to the door and left the room as quickly as she could, before he could even think of going after her. His shock quickly faded and he rushed from the room, unbelieving what she had just done. What was wrong with her? He had thought that everything was going so wonderful with them since they had come to the Giry's. Every night he made love to her, trying new things to enhance both of their pleasure. Every night she whispered that she loved him and now she was running from him and his touch? What was going through her mind.
Christine threw open the door of the cottage and ran outside, sheets of rain falling on her and drenching her within moments. She did not know where she was going but she began to run towards the open field she saw ahead of her, both hoping and dreading that Erik was following behind her. She could not handle all of the emotion she had inside of her, and his touch whispered how much she would lose if he were to die. Christine heard him call her name but she continued to run, heading towards a thicket of trees she saw not far ahead of her.
"Christine, please stop, my love!"
Christine felt herself slowly coming to a stop. It was not the fact that he had said stop, it was the way in which he had said 'my love'. It was so tender and loving, and filled with pain from the fact that she was running from him. She did not want to hurt him, that was the last thing she wanted. Slowly she turned around, the rain now coming down in heavy sheets. Erik stopped not far from her, his chest rising and falling from his labored breaths. Christine simply looked at him for a moment, feeling her love well in her heart for this man that would never have been her match if not for fate. His coat, trousers, all of him was just as wet as she was. His black, thick hair was hanging in front of his eyes and over the white of his mask, and she knew no other man would ever make her feel the way he did.
Now that Christine was actually there waiting for him to say something, he found he could not speak. She looked breathtakingly beautiful, the white of her dress clinging to her body and leaving little to the imagination. Her hair hung limply past her shoulders and her eyes were huge in her small, pale face. Her eyes were far to sad and all he wanted was to see her smile for him. He needed to see that.
"Why are you running?"
"Because I know I cannot make you stay."
The simple sentence answered every single question Erik had as to why his wife was acting the way she was. She was worried about what he planned on doing with Delauney. God, he should have known she would worry. He had been foolish to believe that she would allow him to go.
"Can't my love be enough, Erik?" she whispered, her voice strained and small.
"It will always be more than enough, love," he murmured, taking a step toward her, she, however, shook her head.
"No, it is not enough...it will always come second until you extract your revenge."
"Don't you dare imply that my love for you is not the most important thing to me, Christine. I will not be told such a thing from you. I am doing this for you! I am doing it to make sure you and my son are protected, you two are the only things that matter to me!" Erik's voice was fierce as he spoke those words.
"Then let me help you!" she cried. Erik shook his head.
"I will not lead you into danger."
"Then let me help you come up with some sort of plan that will assure me that you will come back alive!"
Erik felt guilty. All she wanted to do was help him. In fact he could use the help. He really did not have any sort of plan that would not get him killed. Christine was a smart woman, he was sure she could figure something out if they worked together.
"I would appreciate your help," he said, knowing it was the truth and what she wanted to hear. Christine gave a shuddering sob and began to cry in loud shuddering gasps. She just wanted to be the wife any man would want with him and he was allowing her to help him, and she felt bad for pushing away from him in the cottage. Erik frowned and went to her, cupping her face in his large hands.
"Why the tears, my love?"
"T-thank y-you..."
Erik realized how important this had been for her. He wanted her happy, and if allowing her to formulate a plan meant giving her happiness, he would allow that. But he would not allow her to come with him whenever they did make a plan. He pressed his mouth to hers, his tongue slowly exploring her mouth and causing his whole body to light with fire. Christine found a kiss in the rain rather romantic and her hands unbuttoned his coat and shirt, landing on his warm skin. She wanted to make up for pulling away from him and to thank him for understanding what she needed. She kissed his neck and pulled his shirt and coat off, leaving him bare-chested in the rain.
"Christine, we are outside, my love," Erik murmured. She sucked on his nipple, causing him to groan.
"I do not care," she whispered, feeling very naughty and wanting to experience something like this with him. They were far enough away that no one would be able to see them from the house, and the rain was thick enough to shield them from view. Erik found it incredibly arousing that she wanted to make love in the rain. He helped her remove her clothes and his trousers. He laid them out on the grass, even though everything was wet, but he knew their clothes were much more comfortable than the mushy grass. He laid her down and spread her legs, looking at her for a moment in all her glory. She looked like a goddess, the water dripping off her skin in tiny wet rails. Erik tried to follow some of them with his mouth but it proved impossible, but it did cause her breathing to excel.
"You are everything to me, my love, everything," he whispered. Christine reached for his face and removed his mask. Surprisingly he did not flinch, even with the fact that he was out in the open. At the moment there was only him and his wife.