Everything was coming together well and by Saturday morning, the place looked amazing. Erik had volunteered himself to take photographs along the photographer the venue provided.
The bride and groom and their family and friends arrived early Saturday morning. Pearl greeted Grace and found her in a bit of a nervous state.
"Is everything alright?" Pearl asked as Grace began to her ready. Pearl had invited Nico to do hair and makeup for the day. He was more than happy to do it. Erik had arranged for him to have an incredibly beautiful apartment downtown London and this was his last week in the states full time. "Girl, your hair is a Gustav Klimt painting." He said to Grace. "The color is what fairy tales have been written about. Is this your natural color, you gorgeous ginger?" He asked. Grace smiled and nodded.
"Can I take a picture? My hair stylist boyfriend will not believe it." He asked.
"Grace, you seem a little down. Just nerves?" Pearl asked.
"Yes. And no. I'm a little sad. Really sad, actually. Ty has his best man here and mine couldn't make it on such short notice. She is working at the hospital and couldn't find anyone to cover." Grace said. "I'm grateful, and I don't mind standing alone. It just makes it hard, you know?" She said, with her head down.
Pearl nodded. She understood the feeling well.
"I could stand with you?" Pearl suggested. Nico stopped fussing with Grace's hair and Grace's eyes became huge. "I don't know what color of dress you'd prefer, but I have a couple with me that might work?" Pearl said.
Grace covered her mouth, in shock. "You would, you would be in my wedding?" Grace asked, stumbling over her words.
"Of course. I would love to help." Pearl said.
"I don't know what to say?" Grace said, wiping a tear from her cheek.
Pearl smiled. "Let me grab a couple of dresses and you can let me know which one you'd prefer." She said, taking her leave. She walked outside into the gorgeous sunshine and saw Erik and Jim standing on the back lawn setting up a tripod where chairs, an aisle and a flower and ivy covered archway stood.
"Hello my love. Where are you off to?" Erik asked as she walked by.
"I am going to get a dress to wear. I am the matron of honor." Pearl said, throwing her hair back and walking by.
Jim shook his head and Erik smiled. "That sounds lovely, darling." He said.
***************
The ceremony began and Pearl walked down the aisle with the best man. There were about sixty people there and they all gasped and cheered when they saw Pearl was in the wedding. Grace looked absolutely stunning in her boho floral gown with bell sleeves and a crown of daisies on her head. Her father, proudly arm in arm with her, smiled and waved as he walked her down the aisle with Grace's son on her other arm. There wasn't a dry eye in the crowd.
After the ceremony, Erik took pictures of the couple and their family and the reception took place soon after. As speeches were given, TyShawn stood up and spoke to his new bride, telling her how proud he was to be her husband. Then he thanked Erik and Pearl. "This day, this wonderful, amazing, perfectly splendid day would not be possible without two of the kindest and most down to earth people I ever met. How lucky are we to have been chosen to have this gift? They made us have the ability to celebrate our love without the worry of money, of stress. We could just love each other and enjoy each other and our families. Thank you, Prince and Princess. You have given such an amazing thing to us and to our families. I only hope to be able to also call you friend. Cheers!" He said. Pearl and Erik raised their glasses and the room cheered. Everyone thanked them throughout the night, shaking their hand and telling them how wonderful they were to give them this special day. It made Pearl feel good. Really good.
Later that night, Pearl and Erik sat on their patio, Erik rubbing Pearl's feet as they listened to a Miles Davis album.
"This was the perfect day." Pearl said.
"Everyday is the perfect day when you are in it."
Erik said, running his hand up Pearl's leg and leaning into her, kissing her thigh and moving upward, lifting her dress. Pearl closed her eyes and smiled. He got down onto the floor and pulled her hips to him, opening her legs. He kissed the inside of her thighs and moved her panties down off of her legs. Burying his face between her legs, he kissed and softly nibbled on her clit, sending chills up her back and neck.
"Erik. We are outside." She whispered.
"I could give an absolute fuck less about that." He said, in his perfectly British accent, his head between her legs, his body hidden from view by the ledge and balcony posts.
"Pearl! Thank you again!" Grace shouted up at them as she and a few family members drunkenly walked the wooded path behind their room. Pearl tried to compose herself.
"You're quite welcome!" She waved, her voice cracking and Erik continued without pause.
"Erik. You're going to get us caught." Pearl whispered to him. He grabbed her and pulled her to the floor of the patio. He lifted her dress higher and opened his pants, moving on top of her and entering her, right there, under the night sky.
"Ask me if I care." He whispered, thrusting into her.
"Do you care of we are seen?" She asked breathlessly.
"No." He said, pumping harder and pulling her body to his. She rolled him onto his back and straddled him, sitting upright and sliding up and down, making him groan. She rode him harder and faster, with Erik opening the front of her dress, his hands cupping her breasts.
"Pearl, you're going to make me cum." He whispered. She slid down onto him harder, taking all of him inside of her. He grabbed her hips and moved her faster until his climax came, filling her and causing him to cry out her name. She collapsed on top of him, catching her breath.
"This. This is what I never want to change about us." He said.
"Nothing will ever change this. Ever." She said, still lying on top of him on the floor of the balcony.