Chapter 205

Dinner was served and it was delicious. "My god, I've eaten so much pasta I feel like a stuffed shell myself." Pearl said. Erik laughed.

A Dj was set up and started playing dance music, and the bar was becoming crowded.

"We should do shots!" Pearl said.

"Oh heavens no. Are you serious?" Erik asked.

"As a heart attack!" Pearl said. She motioned the waitress over. "Four shots of tequila please!" She said. Erik made a face like he was going to vomit.

"C'mon my love. We are here in the city we fell in love in. Let's drink to it!" She said.

Erik nodded reluctantly. After the second shot for each other them, Pearl convinced Erik to dance with her.

He was a wonderful dancer, moving his body with hers to the rhythm. After the song ended, Pearl led Erik to the bar. "Order us another round. I have to pee." She said.

He nodded with and bowed with servitude.

Pearl came back to the bar and saw a gorgeous blonde woman approaching Erik. Pearl had flashbacks of Rhys and Paul betraying her. Was this someone he knew? A Carys situation? She hadn't even thought of the idea of Erik talking to women. Her impression was that he hadn't had women around in awhile and had no interest in them, especially not since meeting her and having their love. She hung back behind him, within earshot. She wanted to trust him but the damaged parts of her told her to wait and listen.

"You're even more handsome in person." She heard the woman say.

She couldn't see his face but she could hear him. The woman tried to put her hand on his leg and he immediately moved it and turned his body away from her.

"You know, my girlfriend just told me that I was beautiful a little while ago. I don't see it. But she does and man! Let me tell you, I'm glad. I landed the most incredible woman alive." He said, slurring his words slightly and taking a drink of his bourbon, shaking his head to himself in disbelief.

"She's a lucky woman. If you ever find yourself looking elsewhere, you .... "

Erik interrupted her. "She's lucky? Are you mad? I'm the lucky one. She's amazing. So beautiful. You have to meet her. She will be back soon. She's got the most perfect face. And body. She's so beautiful she actually makes my heart hurt. And voice! My god, she sings like an Angel. She is an Angel! She saved my life... " he rambled.

Pearl felt her heart swell with so much love. This gorgeous blonde was obnoxiously hitting on him and all he could talk to her about was Pearl.

The woman seemed disgusted. Pearl decided it was time to interrupt.

"Hello, my handsome, charming, largely endowed, prince." Pearl said, stepping in between them.

Nightingale! What took you so bloody long? I missed you. I was just telling, I'm sorry, what was your name?" He motioned to the woman.

"Alexis." She said.

"Right. I was just telling Lexus about you. This is her!" He said, pointing to Pearl and smiling.

Pearl ignored her and kissed him.

He kissed her back and put his arms around her.

"I love you so much." He said.

Pearl looked at him and smiled.

They danced a couple of more times and Erik bought the entire bar a round. Everyone thanked them and several people introduced themselves. Even though Pearl knew Erik had a slight buzz, he remained gracious and kind and completely regal the entire time. Pearl looked and him.

"This is the best night of my life." She said.

"Always, every night is the best night of my life with you." He said.

"Let's go home, my love." She said.

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They walked into the estate, barely through the front door and Erik took her into his arms and kissed her.

"I want you so badly I can't stand it any longer." He said. He grabbed her hand and led her upstairs, making it into their bedroom but grabbing her at the door and pinning her against the wall. He lifted her up in and wrapped her legs around his waist, running his hands up her thighs.

"Fuck Pearl. You aren't wearing anything under this dress." He said, running his fingers in between her legs and spreading her folds, sliding them inside of her.

"No." She said, smiling slyly, moaning from his touch.

"God, you drive me mad." He said, unbuttoning his pants to free of himself from them. He lifted her higher, entering her body with his, thrusting into her and pushing her down by her shoulders onto him.

"Erik... ah god!" She shouted.

"I love it when you call out my name." He said. "You're mine." He whispered.

She looked into his eyes. "I'm yours." She said. This drove him even more insane and he grabbed her, carrying her to the bed, still inside of her.

Unrelenting, he stayed focused on her body while he plunged into her, devouring her neck and mouth with his.

"You're mine. My girl. My everything." He said. His voice was all it took to push her over the edge. Her climax had her entire body on fire and fluttering with pleasure and his came soon after. "Pearl." He moaned out as he emptied into her, releasing the tension that has been building all night from his desire for her.

They held each other and Pearl kissed his neck as she curled into him.

"I have never loved anything more than I love you, right now, in this moment." She said. Erik smiled and kissed her head as they drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.

***************************************

Pearl woke up and saw Erik still sleeping beside her. She had to pee, so she carefully moved his arm and walked to the bathroom. She turned on the water and washed her hands and was about to splash water on her face when she noticed it.

A giant ruby ring on her left ring finger. She grabbed a towel and dried her hands, looking at the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. It had to be worth millions. She turned around and saw Erik, standing behind her, leaning against the door in his jogging pants and no shirt.

"That is the late Queen Maria-José of Italy's ring. It was gifted to our family decades ago and it is one of my mother's most prized possessions. She offered it for me to give to you." Erik said. He walked inside the bathroom and stood in front of Pearl, against the wall.

"The night at the Chateau, the night I took care of you in your room... there was an exchange between us. Right before you passed out, you looked at me and asked me to take it all away. To hold you until it didn't hurt anymore. To never let you go." Erik said. "And I became fully aware at that moment that my life, as I knew it, was changing forever. That I was going to give myself to you, entirely. I promised you I would do those things.

You are the only woman that will ever exist as long as I live. You are the sun and the rain, fire and ice. You are Tuscany and LA, Rome and London and every town in between. You are every place that I've ever been and have always wanted to go. You are a slow dance in the rain and a walk through Christmas lights in the glittering snow. You are real. And unpredictable. You are every fantasy and temptation. You're brilliant and kind. You didn't just save my life, you have changed it forever. I am a better man because you make me want to be one and I'm not afraid anymore. You made that little boy that hid from monsters for years finally feel safe enough to come out into the light."

Pearl put her hand over her mouth. Erik walked to her and got down on one knee.

"Pearl, you have the body of a woman, the soul of a poet and the heart of a queen. You were born to do this just as much as I was. You were created to be a queen and to be my wife. Marry me, make me the happiest man that has ever walked the face of this earth and I will, in turn, fulfill the promise I made to you that night, to never let you go. Help me make this world a better place, give it your light. I love you. Be my queen." He said. Pearl could feel the tears steaming down her face. It was the most perfect proposal she could imagine. She looked into the eyes of the first man to ever truly love her, and that she ever truly loved... and told him no.

"I can't. I can't marry you. I'm so sorry."