Chapter 168

"My. God. Almighty." Erik said as Pearl came down the stairs.

He swallowed and clenched his jaw. He could feel his cock throbbing and she hadn't even finished descending. She was wearing a short, black lace dress that was so tight she had to lay on her side to zip it. The front was low cut and the back was open. She had on red heels and red lipstick.

Pearl had bought a dress specifically for the launch party. It was at the Warwick on LA and Epic had pulled all the stops. She hadn't seen Jason in weeks and his email said he was floored with how popular the band was without even releasing their album yet. Jax was supposed to be there as well.

"Pearl..." Erik said. She smiled.

"How do I look?" She asked.

"I want to drag you upstairs and take off your knickers with my teeth." He said.

"That's exactly the look I was going for." She said.

"Mission accomplished, darling." He said, biting at her neck.

They arrived at the hotel and there were so many photographers outside, Pearl was actually blinded by it. Jim shielded them and stayed close until they were inside. The room was darkly lit with candles everywhere. The decor was dark red and black and it looked sexy as hell. There was a stage set up with their instruments and a Dj at another stage. The music was loud and the room was already crowded.

"Pearl!" Jason said. He walked over and gave her a hug. "I'm Jason. Epic records." He said and shook Erik's hand. "Erik." He said. "Oh I know. Great that you're here." He said. Erik nodded. A woman came over and handed them a glass of champagne. Pearl and Erik made their way to the side of the room where an area was sectioned off for them.

"Hey!" Blake and Iris motioned them over. They sat down on the wrap around couch and another cocktail waitress came and asked if they wanted something other than champagne. Erik ordered a scotch for them both.

"Surprise!!" Pearl hear a familiar voice and turned to see Fi. "Oh my goodness! You're here! What a great surprise!" Pearl said, hugging her.

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world." She said. "And I can tell you I am SO happy to see this!" She said, motioning to Pearl and Erik.

"Me too." Erik said, smiling.

The rest of the band showed up and Ian looked at Fi like he was going to attack her.

"Who in the fuck is this?" Ian asked.

"Ian, this is Fi. Fi, Ian, our rhythm guitar player." She said.

"I love a man with rhythm." Fi said.

"You have no idea what I can do." Ian said.

"Good evening. On behalf of Epic records I would like to thank you all for coming out tonight to the Poems for Wolves album release party!" Jason said. "Without further adieu, please help me in welcoming them to the stage!" The room roared with applause. "I'll be right back." Pearl said in Erik's ear.

"If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life." He whispered in her ear, quoting Oscar Wilde. Suddenly, something came over her and without even realizing it, or being able to stop it, she said, "I love you." Erik froze and had to make sure he heard her correctly. They were the only words he ever wanted to hear. He wanted to grab her and pull her into him.

And just then, Blake grabbed her arm and dragged her away, as she and Erik's eyes were still locked.

They took the stage and the crowd roared and cheered.

Dylan hit the first riff of his guitar and Blake pounded his intro. Pearl began to sing...

"And I will wait for you

I will stand in shadows

Giving you light so you can see

I will be the strength you cannot find

And the tears you're afraid to cry

So you feel you are enough for me..."

Erik watched her body move to the music and the words she sang were poetry he knew she had written and he felt like she was saying to him what he had been needing to hear.

"I will be the soldier of your solitude

And the savior of your silence.

The reason. The reasons.

And doubts, no more..."

He was the luckiest man in the world let alone in that room. She loved him. She said it first. She had chosen to believe again and he was going to do everything in his power to make sure he was worthy of it.

The rest of the show was amazing. Pearl was pulled a million diffident ways and Fi pulled her out to the dance floor for a song while Erik watched. Every man in the room had their eyes on her. He loved it. There wasn't a jealous bone in his body. It made him feel proud to see their eyes on her, knowing she was his.

After the song, Pearl finally made her way back to him.

"Well? How did we sound?" She asked.

"Your band is the best rock band I've heard in a decade. I'm going to need your autograph." He said, grabbing her ass. She kissed him and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm so glad you're here." She said.

"As am I." Erik said.

"Fuck." Fi shouted.

"What? Pearl said.

"Bitch boy is here with his baby mama. He's got some balls." Fi said. Sure enough, Rhys was at the bar with Carys. Erik clenched his jaw and his fist.

"I'll kill him." He said.

"Not if I get to him first." Dylan said. They watched them both doing shots and Rhys looked hammered. Ian laughed. "Real good mother, slamming shots at the bar. What is wrong with these people?" He said.

Rhys walked by and approached Jason at the table beside them. He shouted loud enough for the entire band to hear. "I had to come tonight even though no one bothered to invite me! I'm the reason for the season! These nobodies wouldn't have even gotten this record deal without me." He said to Jason. Carys laughed and told him to stop, kissing his cheek. Jax stood up. "They are talented, Rhys. You can't give people talent." He said.

"Pearl is pretty talented. She knows all the right moves. Good enough for whoring royal money!" He yelled. Erik went to stand up but Jim beat them all to it. "Didn't you learn last time when Erik kicked your ass? You must need to be reminded." Jim said. He grabbed Rhys by the back of the jacket in a headlock move that was so stealthy, he was out the door with him before Carys knew what was going on. Pearl walked over to her and smiled.

"I am so glad you got what you wanted. What a fighter you are. I can't thank you enough. Really. Thank you." Pearl said, hugging her. Carys looked freaked out and stepped back. "No hard feelings." Pearl said and walked back to Erik, who put his arm around her and kissed her forehead.

Fi let out a cackle and almost fell onto the floor laughing. "Dead. I am DEAD. That was the single greatest thing I have ever seen." Fi said, falling over and holding her stomach.

Dylan smiled and Ian went over and kissed Fi. Carys looked at all of them and scoffed, walking toward the door. She passed Jim on the way out as he was coming back in, unrolling his sleeves and wiping the blood off his knuckles.