Chapter 240: Chapter 240
"The fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the ocean,
The winds of heaven mix for ever
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one spirit meet and mingle.
Why not I with thine?—
See the mountains kiss high heaven
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister-flower would be forgiven
If it disdained its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss the sea:
What is all this sweet work worth
If thou kiss not me?"
Erik read as Pearl sat on a wooden swing in the garden. People were leaving and the party was almost over. They had slipped outside with a book, hoping no one would see them.
"Ah! The romantic poets." Pearl said, twisting the swing and running her bare feet through the grass. It was still a bit chilly at night but she welcomed the cool air after enduring the stuffiness all evening inside. Erik was sitting on the grass beneath and to the side of her.
"Shall I continue?" He asked.
"Yes, please." Pearl said.
He started to read another but they were interrupted by Erik's mother.
"Your majesty." Pearl said.
"Your father used to read to me. When we were teenagers, falling in love." She said.
"Who was his author of choice?" Pearl asked.
"W. B. Yeats." She said. "He loved him."
Erik looked at Pearl and smiled. "Does he still read to you, mum?" Erik asked.
"Only in my memory." She said. "Everything should be arranged for the wedding in June. It's coming together well. We need to find you a dress, my lovely daughter to be. I was thinking we could go tomorrow morning. While all of your ladies are here." She said.
Pearl smiled. "That's a wonderful idea. Thank you." Pearl said.
"Some marriage advice, Erik. Never stop reading to her." Frances said. "I'll see you at breakfast then."
Pearl smiled at Erik.
"Don't worry nightingale, I wouldn't dream of it." He said, smiling and kissing her forehead.
*****************
"We can't find Blake." Iris said to Pearl, rolling her eyes.
"Shit. That man is becoming too predictable. I'm going to kill him." Pearl said. "Let's split up."
"I think I saw him go into the throne room. Not sure, though." Edward said. Pearl looked at him curiously. They all walked in and saw Blake, standing in front of the thrones, holding a bouquet of roses. The entire room was filled with candles and flowers.
"What is going on?" Iris asked.
Edward smiled. "I might have had a small part in this." He said proudly.
"And I may have, too." Erik said.
"And me." Dylan said.
Pearl looked at all of them and smiled.
"Iris. I know that your friends are finding love and happiness and you are seeing it and being the most supportive friend. But the thing is, you deserve it, too. I'm not the easiest person to love, yet you still love me. When my dad died, all I wanted to do was be angry and hateful. But you stood by me and made me realize I had more in my life than all that hurt. I had you. I'm no Prince Charming and I know I'll continue to be a giant pain in the ass, but I love you. And I wanted to know, in this palace, where even though I am not a king, you make me feel like one... if you would please be my wife?" He said as he got down on one knee and handed her a box. Iris opened the box and took out a beautiful asscher cut diamond ring. She gasped.
"I may have helped him pick out the ring today." Erik said.
"Me, too." Sebastian said. Pearl looked at him.
"What? I like shopping now." He said, smiling.
"Yes. Yes I will." Iris said, hugging him.
"She said yes! Fuck yeah!" Blake said. They all clapped and cheered.
Edward invited them all for a night cap. It was the perfect end to a wonderful party.
************************
"That was so sweet. What you all did for Blake tonight." Pearl said as they lay in bed, naked and sweating from Erik fulfilling his promise to defile her further after the party.
He was holding his hand to hers and running his fingertips along the lines inside of her hand, her legs wrapped over his, both of them entangled in the sheet.
"I never imagined it would be like this." Erik said.
"What?" Pearl asked.
"Love." He said.
She looked at him and smiled. "What did you imagine, then?"
"I don't know, really. Dinner. Dates. Sex. Then routine, I guess. Like my parents. I never imagined having a friendship and then also being so attracted to someone, to constantly want to make love to them. Not because of the want to have sex but because of the absolute need to be inside of them, as close to them as possible. I never thought I could love anyone like this. As
much as I love you." He said, looking over at her.
"Funny. This is exactly what I imagined it would be. Hoped, anyway." She said.
"You read too many books as a child. And apparently, I didn't read enough." He said, smiling. "It's really lovely, though. You know? Having you." He said. She leaned over and kissed him. "It is." She said, curling into him and falling asleep.
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