Chapter 196

Pearl awoke the next day to find a bouquet of a dozen roses on her bed and a letter from Erik.

"I have an obligation in town today, but I will see you very soon. Get up, get dressed, have a wonderful breakfast and then meet the driver out at the car. I have a surprise for you."

Pearl felt giddy. Erik had laid out an easy outfit for her to put on. Dress slacks with a stretch top, no button or zipper required and a v neck stretch sweater she could pull over her head with no problem, and slide on flats. She smiled at his thoughtfulness and how caring he was, how he held her all night, and when she tried to move, he would cling tighter. She felt foolish falling for a man she didn't even know, although something inside of her made her feel like she knew him but just didn't remember him. It was so incredibly complicated in her mind.

"Good morning, your majesty." Pearl said.

"Again, it's Frances. Have some breakfast." She said, motioning her to sit.

Pearl poured some coffee and started to eat a bagel.

"Frances, do you think it is possible to love someone you don't really know?" Pearl asked.

Frances looked at her thoughtfully. "Like love at first sight?" She asked.

"Kind of. Yes. And no. More like, you just love them because they are who they are. Not because of some cliche amount of time or all the other rules required to love." Pearl said.

"If there is one thing being a mother has taught me, my eldest son primarily, is that the world has little use for such rules." She said, smiling. "Remember Jane Eyre. Chapter seventeen. As she is watching Rochester among his guests." Frances said.

It was Pearl's favorite novel. She had it personally memorized. She thought back to the scene where Rochester came home with guests. And the line came to Pearl's mind. "He is not to them what he is to me, he is not of their kind. I believe he is of mine- I am sure he is- I feel akin to him- I understand the language of his countenance and movements: though rank and wealth sever us widely, I have something in my brain and heart, in my blood and nerves, that assimilates me mentally to him." She repeated to his mother. Frances smiled, adoringly. "Yes, Pearl. That is exactly what I wanted you to recite. You know how you feel. You knew you loved Erik the day you were born. You just had to find him. And now you have, my darling. Memories can be remade. Love him in the flesh, today." Pearl hugged her and thanked her.

"I have to go. I have a date." Pearl said, smiling.

"Go. Have a wonderful time." She said.

Pearl walked to the car to find Charles and Jim waiting for her. "Hello. I'm Pearl." She said to Charles. "Yes. I'm Charles. It's lovely to meet you again, dear Pearl." He said. Jim opened her door and helped her inside.

"How are you feeling?" Jim asked on the ride.

"Better every day." Pearl said.

"Good." Jim said. Pearl smiled. Jim was a good guy, she liked him very much.

Pearl fell asleep and Jim woke her when they arrived. He opened the car for her and helped her out.

"Oh my god." Pearl said under her breath.

It was Pemberley. My god it beautiful. Charles led her to the front entrance and standing there was Erik, dressed in full dandy attire. High waisted gray pants with a white dress shirt and matching cravat, a linen vest and a jacket with tails and top hat. Pearl nearly fainted.

"Well, you are looking mighty handsome and very Darcy." Pearl said. Erik extended his hand to her. She put her hand in his and he kissed it.

"I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?' 'I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun." He said, quoting Mr. Darcy. Pearl gave him a big smile and he led her around the property in a private tour. She closed her eyes and imagined Elizabeth Bennet there, marrying her perfectly imperfect man. After a couple of hours of walking around, Erik pulled her to him.

"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." Erik said, quoting Darcy again. Pearl felt weak. She looked at him and kissed him. He was giving her the perfect day. And after the talk she had with his mother, she knew it in her heart what she felt for him.

"I love you, Erik. I don't know how or why, but I feel it in my entire being. I love you." She said. His face showed relief and complete peace for the first time since she had opened her eyes in the hospital.

He kissed her and held her there for the longest time. After a long car ride of them driving separately, Pearl could barely contain herself when they got to the house. He opened the car door for her and she leapt out, grabbing onto him and kissing him. "Take me to your bed." She said. He looked at her with a fire in his eyes that both terrified her and enticed her beyond belief.

"Are you sure?" He asked breathlessly.

"Absofuckinglutely." Pearl said, kissing him again. He picked her up and carried her into his bedroom, laying her on his bed gently. He lifted her shirt carefully over her head.

"Wait." Pearl said.

He immediately stopped. "What is it?" He asked. "Are you ok?"

"I'm nervous. I've only been with one man." She said.

Erik looked into her eyes. "Everything about you is perfect. I'm the only man you're going to be with from now on, you have nothing to be nervous about. I will be gentle with you." He said.

She nodded and bit her lip. He gently kissed her neck and down her body. Lightly touching every part of her with his hands and mouth. He slid her pants and her panties off and then he stood and took his clothes off in front of her, letting her see him. Pearl watched him disrobe completely and was in shock at his tattoos and muscular body. He was so unbelievably sexy. He stood in front of her, looking at her bruised body, and moved over her, kissing every single bruise and cut, whispering thank you and I love after each kiss. Tears fell down her face and she watched him, kissing her and thanking her. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen and felt. He worked his way up to her forehead, kissing her bruise there and then stopping at her mouth.

"I love you, Pearl." He said before he entered her. She gasped and cried out his name. "I have wanted this, to feel you like this." He said, moving slowly at first. "Are you ok?" He whispered.

"Yes. Yes don't stop." She said. He rocked his body gently, picking up the pace based on her response, looking into her eyes the entire time. "Oh god, Erik." She moaned as he felt her climax grip him. He groaned and thrusted harder, feeling himself close. Pearl felt like her entire body was on fire. She felt him tighten above her and he whispered her name as he filled her, his orgasm taking over his entire body.

He held her right to him and they both said nothing for the longest time.

"How are you?" He asked.

"I have never in my life been better than I am right now." She said, smiling. Erik looked over at her and smiled back. He felt like he had just made love for the first time in his life, he was giddy like an 18 year boy. He had never had sex that made him giggle and blush before. What was it about this woman that never ceased to amaze him and made him always want more?

"Good morning, nightingale." Erik said to Pearl as the sun shone into his bedroom.

"Good morning, Prince Charming." Pearl said.

"Pearl?" Erik said.