“My Lord,” Emma’s voice was calling to him, but Erik ignored it, turning over in his large bed to bury himself in his pillow. “Your guest would like to speak with you, immediately.”
Guest? Oh right, Charles.
Taking in a deep breath, Erik rolled over on his bed and slowly opened his eyes, tiredly looking at Emma. “Fine, send him in,” he yawned to Emma’s curtsy, watching as she left his chambers. Erik threw back his comforter and slowly walked out of his bed and made his way into his bathroom, putting his hair into place before Charles’ arrival.
“Erik, I wish to speak with you.” Charles’ voice was firm, yet polite, and Erik turned to see he was standing in the doorway of the bathroom, still in his night robe as well.
“About?” Erik brushed past Charles and went over to his closet, skimming through his wardrobe to see what he would wear today. “I thought you wanted to leave first thing in the morning.”
“I did, but something has come to my attention.” Erik snorted in amusement, but waited for Charles to keep going. “You want compromise and I can give you just that.”
“What do you have to offer?”
Charles took in a deep breath. “You help me get my household back and in return, I will marry you.” Erik turned to look at Charles once more, seeing that he was serious.
“No.”
“No?”
“Charles, what ever made you come to that decision?” Erik walked over to him, peering down at him as he was slightly taller. “I told you I would help you for nothing in return. I don’t want anything from you. How many times do I have to make myself clear? Hm?” He could see Charles’ eyes starting to water with tears. “Don’t marry me to make it a fair deal.”
“So you want nothing in return?”
Erik knitted his eyebrows together in confusion. Did Charles want to stay? He couldn’t possibly, not after everything he said…
“What do you want, Charles?”
“You know,” he took a step closer to Erik, looking up at him softly. “We want the same thing, Erik. The need to be loved, wanted. I don’t have to read your mind to see what your heart wants. From the first moment Emma brought me in, I knew what your intentions were. If you were going to help me, I knew you would’ve wanted something in return. You seek to marry.”
“I told you it didn’t have to be you,” Erik retorted, no anger behind his words. “We’ve already discussed this, Charles. If I help you, I will let you go. You will leave Westchester, go forward, do not stray, and you will take your namesake back, bring Brian to justice.”
Charles shook his head, his beautiful eyes not leaving Erik’s. “That’s not what I want. I do not desire ruling a village. Let Sharon and Kurt bring it down, I do not care. I do not seek revenge. I am just a shepard.” Erik gave a nod of understanding, taking Charles face in his hands, feeling how smooth and soft it was against his calloused palms.
“I believe your lust is clouding your judgement, Charles.”
“It’s not,” Charles licked his lips, his hands moving to the knot of Erik’s robe, slowly unlooping it. “It’s lust that I feel, yes, but it never clouds my logic.”
Erik grabbed Charles by his wrists, stopping his hands from going any further. “You know how improper it is for someone in my position to have relations outside of marriage? Yours as well?” Charles shrugged, not really seeming to care.
“You’ve denied my proposal.”
Erik barked out a laugh. “Please Charles, that was no proposal.” He released the grip he had on his wrists and drew Charles’ finger forward, bringing the ring into view. “This is a proposal.”
“I thought it was a gift?” Erik shook his head, his face leaning closer to Charles’. “This whole time you planned on marrying me?”
“Ever since I first met you, Charles.” Erik pressed a kiss to his cheek, his arms wrapping around his waist to press his body against his. “You were different than the rest. I knew I couldn’t just let you go,” his lips moved down to his neck, starting to press firm kisses there.
“You only wish to marry me to sleep with me, do you not?” Erik pulled away to meet his eyes. “I believe you desire me as much as I desire you and the only way to fulfill that is to be engaged to marry.”
“We’re both at fault,” Erik’s hands moved to Charles’s hips, lowering themselves to the hem of Charles’ bottoms. “But do you accept my proposal?”
“Yes.”
Erik pulled Charles into a hungry kiss then, kissing him like he was starving for food, not having food for centuries. He guided Charles over to his bed, sitting him down on the edge while Erik started to kiss at Charles’ skin through the fabric.
“Erik,” Charles moaned when he breathed over the tent in his pants, sliding down the silk fabric and touching Charles in ways he had never been touched before.
“My Lord,” Erik jumped and blocked Charles from view, whipping around to see Emma standing in his room once more. “The carriage you requested his ready.”
“Emma, knock next time, please. And send the carriage away, I think Mr. Xavier will be here just a little bit longer.” Emma nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her. “Now,” he turned his attention back to Charles, pressing a loving kiss to his lips. “Where were we?”
Mayerine 