章節 149: Chapter 149
"Get up, sleepy head," Erik said to Pearl. "It's after 10 am and you've slept way past breakfast." Pearl sat up and yawned.
"Damn. I'm sorry. I didn't realize how tired I was."
Erik laughed at her messy hair and half open eyes. She was absolutely adorable.
"After brunch, we are going shopping," Erik said.
"Shopping? For what?" Pearl asked.
"A dress," he said, picking her lazy butt up out of bed and carrying her to the kitchen.
"You can put me down, I can walk." She laughed and swatted at him. There was a huge spread of scones and fruit and bacon and other breakfast foods.
"Are we going to another ball again? I'm still recovering from the last one," she said, drinking her coffee.
"No. I'm taking you to the Vienna State Opera house tonight. We have a private box." He smiled as he put sugar in his tea. "You can't visit Vienna and not go." He explained it as if Pearl needed him to. She was all in.
"This is going to be awesome!" She walked behind him and slapped his bottom, heading to the shower. He yelped a little and laughed.
The opera had to be the most incredible part of her trip so far. Well, that and Erik. It was the most perfect setting for her to see her first opera. She told Erik she had never been to one. "I'm glad I am your first." He whispered during the performance. She smiled. "Did I tell you that you look beautiful tonight?" He asked.
"Only three times," She said.
"I need to step it up, then." He laughed.
After the opera, Erik took her to a small bar on a corner. It was decorated dark red and and smelled of cigars and bourbon. She liked it very much. He ordered them both a scotch and they sat at table. It wasn't crowded at all and they had complete privacy. The paparazzi had found them at the opera house and they were rushed out of there by his security.
"A friend of mine owns this bar. I told him we were coming. It's quiet for that reason." Erik said.
"It's nice. I like it." She said.
"Remember when I told you I would always be honest with you." Erik said. Pearl nodded. Here it comes, she thought. He was either going to confess his undying love like it's a weakness to her to try to own her or tell her he has a girlfriend or wife or something.
"I need to tell you something." He said.
"Ok." She said. She was so afraid what he was going to tell would ruin this perfect week. She closed her eyes and he continued.
"There's a reason I started this charity." He said. "And I want to explain it to you along with a little about myself. I think it's only fair to you that I tell you all of this. Normally I wouldn't but something about you makes me want to tell you everything. You haven't been afforded that respect from any man yet and you bloody well deserve it."
Pearl looked at him, stunned. She nodded and gave him the go ahead to continue.
"My best mate in primary school was named Robbie. We were inseparable. His father owned one of the largest retail chains in Europe. I would go to house for sleeping over and what not. I was young, maybe 7 or 8 when I first started to notice what was going on between his dad and mum. They would fight all the time. But it was quiet, not like the kind of fighting I was used to seeing or hearing about. They would have a talk and if his dad didn't like what his mum said, he would hit her or throw her down. Robbie was always terrified and spent a lot of time at our house. One day, Robbie didn't show up for school. I went to his house right after class let out, it was walking distance from the school, and rang the bell but no one answered. I went around the back of the house and the slider was unlocked. I walked in and I found Robbie and his mum inside, beaten to death. His dad had skipped town. I was 10 years old." Erik looked away. He was having a difficult time telling her this story. Her heart broke into a million pieces right there in the bar.
"Erik, I am so sorry. I can't imagine how traumatic that must have been. It wasn't your fault. You know that, right?" She said.
"I know. And there's more." He said. Pearl nodded again.
"I dated my real first girlfriend in college. I was 19 and she was 20. I thought I was in love." He began. "One night, I came back from holiday a day early and found her, in her bed, with a mate of mine. I saw red. I grabbed her and threw her across the room, into a wall. She started sobbing and when I looked over, all I saw was Robbie's mum, lying there, covered in blood." Erik's voice wavered a little and Pearl wanted so desperately to comfort him. "I panicked. I was terrified of my anger. I swore to myself I would never get close enough to someone to cause me to feel that kind of rage again. I was so afraid of being like Robbie's dad. I had women, yes. But I would use kinky and dark sex to form a wall between us so I wouldn't get too close to them and they wouldn't want to get too close to me. It was dark, Pearl." He said. "I haven't had real relationship since college."
"But, you're not like that with me?" She asked.
"No. After I heard what you said when you spoke last year, I felt you truly understood it all and that you might, in turn, understand me. And me knowing what you went through, I would never, ever hurt you. Also, I didn't want to be like that with you, sexually. I wanted to be myself with you." Pearl took a deep breath.
"You weren't wrong for reacting like that, when you found her in bed with another man. Maybe it was a bit excessive, but that is just testosterone mixed with a completely normal human response."
She said. "And I do understand. I fell into the arms of three men after I left my husband. He was the only man I had been with up until then. I believed everything they told me and they were only saying the things they did to get close to me because they saw me as weak. I believed them because I didn't want to hurt anymore. It was a defense in a way. Except for one, Dylan. He became my friend and I'm grateful. But my point is, understand how sex and love can be a both a weapon and a wall." She put her hand on his. "You have no idea how much I appreciate you confiding on me. Thank you." She said. She leaned over the table and kissed his forehead. A tear ran down his cheek. "You have no idea how good it feels to be able to say it to someone for the first time in my life and to have them understand" he said.
"Well, I'm glad I'm your first." She smiled. He stood up and came to her, picking her up from her chair and giving her a big hug.
"I'm going to hate leaving this place. This has been my favorite part of the trip." Pearl said.
"Really?" Erik asked and they boarded the jet.
"Yes. Really." She said. He kissed her.
"Mine too" he said.
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