*Erica's dress above

As soon as we stepped out of the jet, a breeze of cool air surrounds me.
Eric waves off the pilot and stewardess who escorted us to the car, giving them instructions on how to come in the morning.

Once in the car, that he himself was driving, he spoke up, "Give me your phone?"
"Huh? Where is yours?"
He turned to me for a brief second, "I gave it to Stephan so I don't get any business calls. And you also have to leave it in the car."

"What if we have a emergency?", I asked curious.
"We are not going in a forest Erica! David has the contact of the hotel as well as Stephan!"

"If I am not wrong, it is one of your hotel? Am I right?"
He smirked knowingly, "Smart girl! But you didn't work on this project with me. It was one I inherited from dad on my 22nd birthday. So from then on, I have been managing it and getting a grasp on the business."

God! He has a typical prince life!

"How many hotels do you actually own? Other than the ones I know about."

"Curious? Are we? Well! I happen to own eight hotel chains from dad, that you ofcourse know of. But when I was done with my masters in business, I decided to work in some hotel for experience. That time I wasn't planning on working with Dad. But as you see, an Ashton working under someone else, those who are our competitors, was like a bad dream for our own business. Also, people were afraid I would not be honest with them. I was frustrated after receiving respectful rejections from those places.
So Dad offered me to work as his manager in California for few years. I was not given any special treatment and for the time being no one knew who I am. I lived there anonymously.
Evans approached dad with a wish to take over his work. And I didn't like that at all. And finally I decided to come out of the background. Rest you know...", Ok he was not a prince...he was a struggler. That made me smile proudly.

"Why are you smiling?", I shook my head clearly not wanting him to know, "But why do you hate Evans so much?"

"Evans is a pain in the ass! Both me and Eve never liked him, because he took away a lot of dad's attention. But after Eve, I was completely shattered, and he became the so called 'mental support' to dad. I was not keen on taking over but the fact that he was going to take the advantage of it irked me alot.
And thus I took over!"

I sighed, "Half of your life is guided by your anger Eric! Okay Evan is the worst human ever, but you taking over should be out of your love for your family business."

"You are such a mother Erica! I don't want to talk about serious stuff! We'll go back if you're going to talk all that!", He mused.
"Okay fine!"

And then our banters followed.
We have been talking alot these days. And he's mentioning Eve without any hesitation. So much that I myself feel I am in love with that little bud!

We reached the hotel, named 'Ashton's', with the owner's name below it, 'Eric Ashton'.
The way all this possessions scream proudly of there owner and well the owner too screams alot!.

He held my hand and we were led to the private suite which was on the ground floor. Something rare for Eric. I think he's in a good mood, for he didn't scowl or threw a 'i know my way' at someone.

When we got in the top floor, that was the owner's suite, my jaw dropped. It was set up so beautifully, ofcourse decorated for the night.

And I swear David planned many things, which we even were not willing to do. The thought made me blush.

The suite was nothing like a normal room. It was a open roof adjoining a glass roofed section that had a bed, which in turn was decorated very beautifully.
David needs a good lashing!

I looked towards the moonlit balcony, only to find a table set for two, with a huge candle in middle.
Candle night dinner. Huh? David is cliché!

"Erica?", I turn to him to only find him spreading his hand indicating towards the jacket I was wearing.
Now when I knew no one would see me except him, I was fine with it. Also, I have promised him.

Nodding, I slowly took off the jacket, and gave it to him. The fresh wave of air hits me suddenly making me self conscious.

When I look up at him, he's already keeping the jacket away. Out of my reach ofcourse.

He makes a call, and the waiter enters to arrange the table. Meanwhile, he held my hand and led me outside to the balcony that had a beautiful beachside view.

"Hmm...I never knew you were a beach boy!", I chuckled while he gave me a raised eyebrow.
"I am a lot more things, and you still have to explore alot!"
"That will be exciting!", I mused.
"Oh! Don't ask me...."

We fell in silence then, until the waiter announced our dinner is served.

I went to take a seat opposite him, but my chair was pulled back even before I could reach it.

Uh? Eric Ashton is being a gentleman!!

I was amused and probably he noticed the smile that was threatening to come on my face.
"I..David said I should pull the chair!"
I took the seat, "Ofcourse Eric!", I chuckled.

He sat opposite to me, and then started pouring vine in the glass kept before me. God! He was actually trying to be a gentleman! But his distaste towards this stuff could be seen from the small frown on his already confused face.

"Erica..here!", I took the glass from him smilingly.

The dinner was already served and I removed the lid to reveal my favourite Chinese noodles, with chicken soup and glazed salad.
When I looked at him, I saw the same served for him.

"You don't like Chinese noodles!", I pointed at his plate.
He nodded a little looking at the plate and then looked up, "I can always try...."
I swear it is David who told him to do so.
That man! He's not only giving him directions for date, but taking his own revenge on the poor soul of my boyfriend.

E R I C

She excused herself in between the meal!
I think I made a mistake...

I tried to recall all the things.

1. Open the car door for her.
2. Always walk behind her.
3. Answer all her questions.
4. Shoot glares at men ogling at her.
5. Pull the chair for her.
6. Serve her drink, and eat the same meal as her.
7. Keep her engaged during the meal.
8. Ask her for a dance.
9. Kiss on her knuckles at the end.
10. Demand a kiss at the end of the night, only when you do all nine points above.

Shit! I never knew this could be so bloody hard.

"You looking deep in thoughts!", She came and took a place on her chair.
I shook my head, "No nothing!"

I gulped the spicy noodles down, because I swear I don't like them at all. But anything for her.

Soon after, the waiter came in with something in his hand. I scowled looking at him, "I told him you don't have to disturb us now!"

The man flinched but Erica soon intervened, "I called him Eric!", She turned to the waiter, "Please serve.."
He came forward and pulled the plate from before me, before keeping a plate of Italian lasagna, the one I like the most, and left.

I was dumbfounded, while she was looking at me with a raised eyebrow.
"W_what? I mean h_how?"

She sighed and leaned forward, "You don't have to be a gentleman with me Eric! Ideally, I should be the person you should be most comfortable around and have to be yourself. You think I have not noticed how you're trying to adopt those cliché methods to impress? Well, for your kind information, after you I don't think I will ever like a gentleman.."

A grin suddenly came on my face!
That's the one I can't live without... someone who appreciates me for the way I am.
"I was just trying to give you one lifetime experience of the 'otherewise' Eric! You have to bear me forever!"

"That's my pleasure sir!", She laughed.

This can't get more perfect.

*

"Erica he said I should dance with you! I mean that man knows how much I hate dancing!", I cursed David as she giggled lying beside me, "He even said you love dancing!"

She looked up placing her hand around my neck, "He was lying! I can dance only because it's required in balls."

"I think we need to know a little more about each other!", I suggested and she nodded in affirmation.

Currently we were lying on our bad, staring at the stars above while her head was placed on my chest and my hand wrapped around her shoulder.
Our other hands were engaged in tracing each others palm lines.
As much as this was unusual for us, we were at peace, like this is what we always wanted. We both were comfortable with each other.

I felt her looking up and staring at me.

"What happened? My face is too handsome! Isn't it!?", I mused.
She smiled, "It is! But I was just wondering if I would have been ever able to keep myself as bare as I am right now, in front of any other man! What did I do to deserve you?"

Keeping herself as bare as she is right now.
Her mind again went to those marks, like the hundredth time this evening.

She may have thought I didn't notice, how she occasionally kept on hiding her marks from my vision by placing her hair, or arms on her shoulders. When I was in washroom and came out, I noticed how she trying to pull her dress up to hide as much as possible.

She needs a permanent reminder on how much I adore her the way she is!

I changed our position in a second, pushing her below me and hovering upon her.
She is beautiful would be an understatement. Because she looks heavenly tonight, and as much as I try to push it aside, the attraction I am feeling for her is moving to an entirely different realm.
A desire to make her mine tonight and claim whatever she owns as mine!

But I will not..
Because I don't want her to regret.
She was not just another fling, a bed mate, or a fuck buddy!
She is something precious! Very precious!

"I don't know what you did to deserve me. Or what I did to deserve you! But have this thing straight embedded in your every ounce of body, that you for me, are the most beautiful woman there is!", I could see her eyes widening at my declaration but I had something important at hand.

I leaned down and placed a sloppy kiss on her jaw. Her whispery gasp then, simply fueled whatever it was.

I took her both hands in mine, and pinned them down on her sides.
Then I looked at those marks, which are the proof of how strong my Erica is! How majestic a fighter she is!? And how much I should cherish the fact that I got her!

I leaned more and kissed the mark that ran over her collar bone.

"Eric...what are you....", I placed another kiss on the one just below the first one, causing her question to be hung in air.

I looked up briefly to find her eyes tightly shut.
This is the extreme of what we've ever done together.

I got back to work and kissed the one near her left arm joint. Then one on her shoulder. Then one just above her left breast. Another running near the centre of her body. Then one just near her cleavage.

When finally done, I pulled myself up and placed my lips on hers, clearly taking her offguard. But it didn't take her long to return my kiss with equal passion.
This kiss was a promise!
That marks or not, I will never stop having her...
Although marks just make me want her ten times more!

When she was breathless, I moved back.
She opened her eyes, and something shifted in me when I saw them filled.
"Erica..."

Not an answer, but I was pulled in her arms for a very tight hug. I could feel her uneven breathing fanning my neck.

She didn't say anything. And I think silence was all we both needed tonight.

But I had a wish! Heck! Order that is!

"Uh Erica! I have an order! Tomorrow you're moving your things in my room!"
I felt her body go still but in few seconds, I heard her chuckle, and then her arms tightening more around me, even if that was possible!

After years today, it felt I was finally home...

TVPOL will be updated tomorrow....stay ready!