A Second Chance

DISCLAIMER:

Title: A Second Chance.
Author: Larissa
Summary: She has the courage to save his life and give him a new one. Based on Susan Kay's and Gerard Butler's phantom.
Rating: R.
Pairing(s): Erik/Melanie and Erik/Christine.
Feedback: desired and appreciated.
Characters: Erik from Susan Kay's book "Phantom" and from Gerard Butler's interpretation.
Disclaimer: I do not own Erik, Christina and Daroga. The other characters listed in this story are all mine. I do not make any money out of it.


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When the duke and Melanie entered the dining room to have breakfast that morning, they couldn't imagine the surprise they would have.

They both entered the room and stopped by the door at the sight before them.

The curtains had not been opened yet and the room was half dark. Erik had his back towards the door, his arm was resting on the fireplace, his head leaned over so his forehead rested on his arm. He was watching the flames as they danced before him; his black cape falling from his shoulders down to the ground. He was quite a sight…

“Erik!” Melanie called him. “Where are you going dressed like that?”

Erik slowly turned around, facing them. Both the duke and Melanie felt the blood leave their faces and their legs went weak as they saw the white mask covering half of Erik’s face shining through the dark room as the light from the fire fell over it. His hair was now black and he was fully dressed with his own coat, trousers and gloves.

He had become once again the Phantom of the Opera, the man everyone feared.

Melanie felt like she was going to faint and placed her hand on her father’s shoulder so she wouldn’t fall. She shivered, but not with fear… with excitement.

He remembered his past and now he is going to kill us so we won’t call the police… My God… have mercy of my daughter… the duke thought as chills went down his spine.

Erik stared at them for a while. Then he turned around and took the heavy traveling bag he had brought from his lair, placing it at the duke’s feet. He opened the bag and father and daughter could see millions of golden coins shining inside it.

Erik leaned forward and took a few of them with his gloved hand, offering them to the duke.

“Here it is, sir. Part of everything I have and that is hidden in the underground of the Opera Populaire. Please, accept it to pay for our trip to India.”

The duke’s mouth was slightly opened with surprise by the softness in Erik’s voice as he took the coins.

Erik turned to Melanie and got down on his right knee in front of her and the duke as he kissed her hand.

“Sir, would you be so kind to give me the honor of having your daughter as my wife?” he asked facing the duke.

“When we return from our trip I can buy lands and build a palace, just like she deserves… and, perhaps, give you grandchildren. That’s all I’ve ever wanted my entire life.” He continued.

Melanie felt tears roll down her cheeks as she took Erik’s hands in hers and forced him to stand up. Once he was up, she threw herself in his arms and sobbed like a little girl.

“My angel, what’s wrong? Did I say something that offended you? I thought you wanted to marry me…” he said, scared by her reaction.

Melanie placed her hand over his lips, stopping him from saying anything else.

“These are tears of happiness, my love. When I saw you with these bags and dressed like this, I thought you had recovered your memory and was going away… after her…” she said with her body still shaking.

Not giving Erik a chance to answer, she took his face in her hands and pulled him down to her, pressing her lips over his.

Erik kissed her softly then stepped back. He looked at the duke, feeling a little uncomfortable. They had never had any kind if intimacy in front of him and he was afraid Melanie’s father would get mad.

“I give you my permission to marry her Erik, if that’s what she wants. But I need to talk to you about this money that you say is “part” of all you have. And we have a few things to arrange before the trip. Do you think we could talk in my office?” the duke asked.

“Of course, sir. But, if you please would let me first change clothes. The undergrounds of the Opera are not a clean place.”

“Of course. Go. I’ll be waiting for you in my office.”

Melanie waited until her father had closed the office door behind him and ran upstairs after Erik.

She knocked on the door and entered the room. He was standing by the desk, taking his gloves off and turned around to face her as she closed the door behind her.

“Melanie. What happened?” he asked in a worried tone.

“Nothing… I just want to kiss while you’re still dressed like that. The mask, the cape, the gloves… they made my imagination run free…” she said as she walked towards him, her eyes moved up and down over his figure.

Erik gave her a crooked smile and opened his arms to her. She did not wait to throw herself in his arms once again as he wrapped the cape around her.

She buried her face in his chest and held him tightly, feeling safe, loved. He leaned his face down and captured her lips, pulling her fully against his body. She pulled the back of his coat and shirt up, caressing his bare back and shivered as she felt him getting hard in response.

His tongue searched for hers and they both moaned in passion.

It took all of Erik’s force of will to break the kiss and step back.

“Melanie… I can’t go on with this. I promised your father I’d go talk to him. Please, I need to change clothes.”

“I know… but it’s so nice to stay like this with you…” she said as she placed soft kisses on his neck and his chest through the opened shirt. She slowly moved her hand down and began caressing his length through his pants.

Erik jumped up and stepped back, placing his hands on her arms.

“Oh my God, don’t do this or I won’t take responsibility for my actions. Melanie, I want you… too much. But, your father is waiting, and if we go on with this I won’t leave this room today. Please, my love, help me resist you.”

“I don’t have strength for that anymore Erik. After I saw you dressed like this, something inside of me got out of control. All I want is that you take me… now.” She said as she moved towards him.

Erik placed his hands on her shoulders to keep her away. He knew that if she touched him he would send everything to hell and do what he had been yarning to do for so long.

“Now I’m the one who is asking for patience. We are so close of being together forever… let’s not ruin this by being too... eager. You’re father will be looking for you really soon. Imagine what he’d say or do if he discovered us here?! You shouldn't have come in my room...”

Melanie looked at him, her eyes half closed, her lips parted, her expression was of pure lust. Erik felt like she had been hypnotized…

“I’ll leave only if you hold me and hide me under your cape.” She said while caressing his mask covered cheek.

“Melanie, I ca…”

She didn’t let him finish his sentence. As soon as he loosened the grip on her shoulders she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Erik put his arms around her waist, pulling his cape around her.

“Melanie, if you ever leave me, I’ll die. God, I love you!” he whispered softly against her lips.

He caressed her back through the fabric of her dress as he kissed her mouth, her neck. She slowly set down on the bed, pulling him over her, the cape falling on each side of her, covering them.

He kissed and bit her neck, down to her shoulders. She moaned softly and spoke love words in his ear. Erik pulled her skirt up and caressed her thighs which were covered by the silk stockings, sliding his hand down to her core, where he touched the soft, warm skin.

He stood up on his knees and began working on his trousers, but he heard steps on the corridor.

“Monsieur Erik, monsieur le duc asks you to hurry. Breakfast is already served.” Came the voice from the corridor.

“I’ll be right there.” Erik answered out of breath, his voice raspy.

He stood up and helped Melanie up as well. He pulled her to him, giving her a soft kiss on the lips.

“Please, my love, I need to pull myself back together to go talk to your father. We can continue this later… if you want…” he said with a small grin.

“Later… later…” she mumbled as she walked out of the room, a dreamy smile on her face.

Erik took off his clothes, washed himself and put on clean ones. With a quick glance in the mirror, the mask looking back at him, he turned around and made his way downstairs to talk with the duke.