"Well, are we going or not?" Pearl asked, finding Erik and Auggie at the door. Auggie looked a little rough and she saw that the maid had made him a large coffee to go. "Forgive me. I don't mean to stare. In that perfectly pretentious polo match getup, you look absolutely adorable." Erik smiled and led her to the car. "Thank you?" Pearl said, getting in. "Thank you for coming." Auggie said. The ride to Rome was about 3 hours long. They stopped for brunch at a small cafe on the way. "Ugh. I never drink like that. I was absolutely trollied last night. I blame you both." Auggie snarled. "You sound pathetic. You didn't seem too miffed when I found you in the pool house this morning with two girls. One with her knickers on and one without." Erik slugged him in the arm. "I was a perfect gentleman." Auggie said, defending himself. "I just hope I'm not too knackered to play today. I'm afraid if I run too hard I'll chunder up this brunch torte and mum will have my arse." The way he said
"This is great! Who knew polo was so intense?" Pearl said to Erik. They had a private area with a table and chairs on the lawn with a perfect view of everything. "Your brother is really good." Pearl said. "He's good at everything. He's always been the good brother. I am positive my family wishes he was the elder brother and next in line." Erik said. Pearl saw the look in his eyes and recognized it well. Self loathing. "I'm not so sure about that. Of all the men I've met, which isn't very many, but still important, you've been the most stand up, honest and good so far. I think there's something to be said about that." She said "That's one side of me." He said with a devilish grin. She looked down and decided not to dig further into that. "So, did you go to college? You know everything about me and I know nothing about you." "I did." Erik said. "I went to the University of St. Andrews. I have a degree in business." "Really? You seem so artistic. I would think some kind of degree i
I feel like this is the most dressed up I have ever been in my life, Pearl thought to herself, looking in the mirror. The Valentine red Badgely Mischka scuba gown with a pleated and side gathered bodice and ruffled high slit skirt looked elegant and beautiful on her body. It had a strapless, sweetheart neckline and the slit made her appear taller. That and the 4 inch Louboutin heels. The stylist did her thick, dark hair in a half up do, gathered and teased to create volume in the back with two tendrils left down, framing her face. "I have a necklace to match but you must take very good care of it and make sure to return it after the event. Erik insisted I bring it."The stylist said. She opened a velvet box to reveal a stunning Victorian style Burmese ruby and diamond chandelier choker necklace. Pearl gasped. "I don't think I would feel comfortable wearing that. It's worth more than anything I currently own." Pearl said. "It's worth more than some people's lives." The stylist said dry
"And now, on behalf of the polo association and the 37th annual charity ball of Rome, we would like to introduce his royal highness, Prince Friederike Pilsen-Chamberlain, the crown prince of Wales and future King of England." The crowd roared and clapped. "I'll just be a sec, darling." He smiled and said to Pearl, leaving her side for only the second time that evening. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the annual charity polo match and ball, I thank each and every one of you for the time and effort you have all put into this evening to raise money for such noble causes. One of those causes being the New Hope Foundation, a charity incredibly important to me. It has become an international success in it's assisting women of all nationalities with becoming independent of abuse and trafficking and allowing them the ability to achieve a better life for themselves and for their children by providing housing, education, counseling and grant money to help them find strength
Pearl was grateful to take her heels off. She walked over to Erik and asked him to help her unfasten the necklace she was wearing. "Pearl, we just walked in the door." He laughed. "I promised your uptight stylist I would take this off as soon as we got home." She said. "Well we better make sure we do what we are supposed to, then." He said. He ran his hand along her shoulder and Pearl felt chills run through her. He moved his other hand along the opposite shoulder and did the same. He loosened the clasp and lowered the necklace down her neck, running it onto her chest and then lifting it over her head. It was the most erotic way possible to remove a necklace. "Thank you." Pearl said. "You're welcome. I'll put it away properly. It was my great grandmother's necklace. The Queen Victoria." He said, looking at it. "Oh my. I didn't know that. I can't believe I wore it all night." Pearl said, in utter disbelief. "I didn't tell you because I figured the worry would take away your enjoy
Pearl awoke to Erik laying beside her. Even though she had denied him the night before, he was still right by her side when she woke up. Something she was not used to. "Good morning, beautiful nightingale." He said. Pearl smiled. "Good morning." "I slept like the dead. Sleeping next to you is the best sleep I've had in decades. I'm going to have to kidnap you just to keep you as my sleep mate." He laughed. "Yes. Come to think of it, I sleep really well when you're around too. Even when I'm not passed out drunk." She joked. "I have to have Auggie back to Florence this afternoon and I have an early dinner with my uncle in Venice. I will drop you off on the way. I was hoping maybe you could meet me there for drinks later this evening." He asked shyly. "Meet you? Again tonight? In Venice?" She asked. "Don't act so surprised, nightingale, I already told you I was kidnapping you. You're in Italy until next Friday, correct? Today is Sunday so that gives me only a week and four days to
After spending a small fortune at Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton, they were ready to check in to their hotel and get ready. Pearl had heard from Erik. He was almost finished with dinner and wanted them all to meet him at his suite at the Danieli. They had a suite at the Gritti, compliments of Holden Tomlinson. Pearl looked in the mirror. "The Prada Duchess dress." Fi said, smiling. "There isn't much to it."She smiled. It was a black dress with deep V neck top that had cross fabric barely holding in her breasts and a full skirt with an open back. It was elegant and daringly sexy. Pearl loved it. "This is a four thousand dollar dress." Pearl said. "Yes. And you're wearing it for a goddamn royal. I'd say it's worth it." Fi said. Pearl wanted to feel bad for using Rhys and his card. But she couldn't find one bit of feeling bad inside herself. Pearl put on way too much black eyeliner and shadow but the smoky eye looked perfect with the smoky color of the dress. Her hair was big and curl
The elevator door closed and Erik had his hands on her body within seconds. He kissed her and pushed her up against the corner, grabbing her leg and lifting it, running his hand up her thigh and grabbing her ass. She could barely breathe. The door opened and they walked into the suite. "Oh my god," Pearl said, looking at how luxurious and elegantly decorated the suite was. He pulled her into a large bedroom and turned her around gently, unzipping her dress. Turning her back around to face him, he moved the straps of her dress down, sliding the dress off and onto the floor. She stood there in nothing but panties and heels. He looked at her, taking her in with his eyes. "My god. You are so hauntingly beautiful. It's breathtaking."She moved to him and took his tie off and began unbuttoning his shirt, then opening it and running her hand down his chest. He closed his eyes and let out a soft moan as she moved it off of his body. He unbuckled his belt and she moved her hands to his zippe