"Is this your ship?" Ariel asked as she and Eric approached the ship.
"Yes. Father gave me it for my eighteenth birthday."
"When is your birthday? I don't think you ever mentioned it."
"January 7th." Eric replied. "What about you, since we're on the topic."
"April 11th."
"Oh, I just missed it then." Eric said. "Did you have a ball?"
"Of course. Everyone was invited." She smiled.
"Not me." Eric said. "How come I wasn't invited."
"Daddy and mother sent the guest list to our planner. Apparently they didn't want you there, I guess."
Ariel and Eric walked up the stairs to the ship. Eric asked the sailors if the ship was ready and everything was checked.
"I just don't want to get into a wreck like last time, with my wife on board and everything." Eric said.
"The lady is ready to go, Prince Eric." The head sailor said, giving him a solute.
"What do you mean last time?" Ariel asked as she followed him up the stairs to the steering wheel. "You were in a ship wreck before?"
"I was out sailing for my eighteenth birthday celebration. The weather was perfect but then a hurricane came. A lightening bolt hit the ship, causing it to catch on fire." He explained.
"Oh my." Ariel gasped.
"The fireworks exploded just as I jumped off the boat."
"Makes me scared to be here with you now."
"Don't worry, darling, the weather is perfect today." Eric assured her. "There's not a cloud in site. And we don't have any fireworks on board."
"Don't make me have to think twice to going with you next time."
"I'll tell you what. If we run into trouble, I'll be sure you are the first one off and safe."
"We better not run into trouble. I'll get off this ship right now."
Eric chuckled. "Ariel, darling, we will not run into trouble. We'll have a lovely day out on the waters."
The sailors lifted up the anchors, as the others positioned the sails, and the ship began to move. It took a couple of minutes for the ship to get a good distance from the port.
"Would you like to try steering the ship?" Eric asked Ariel, who was leaning against the railing watching her husband drive the ship.
"Me?"
"No the seagull." He joked. "Come here." Ariel stood in front Eric and he wrapped his muscular arms around her, placing her hands on the steering wheel. "Now look at you, I think you're driving the ship."
Ariel smiled. "I suppose I am." She turned around and faced Eric, staring up at him with her blue eyes.
"Stop it."
"Stop what? Looking at you?" Ariel asked. "Fine, I won't look at you again. Maybe for the rest of our life." She started to walk away but Eric grabbed her by her arm.
"I meant stop it or I'm going to kiss you, and I know you don't want that."
"Who said I don't want that?" She asked.
Ariel and Eric spent most of the day at sea. They arrived back at the palace around five and the two of them headed up to their suite together. Ariel opened the patio door, immediately, to let the fresh ocean breeze in. She stood at the door admiring the beautiful sunset.
Eric walked over to Ariel and quickly turned her around, placing his lips against her. He guided her over to the bed and lay down on the bed still kissing. A couple of minutes went by, and there was a knock on their door, followed by a male's voice.
"Eric." Grimbsy knock. "Eric, we must meet in the study and continue our conversation we had earlier concerning your future duties."
Eric pulled away and looked down at Ariel who was biting on her lips, obviously craving for more. "Grims, tomorrow. I'm busy getting to know my wife."
Eric leaned back down and placed his lips back on hers. Eric took off his shirt and threw it to the floor. His hands were wandering down under Ariel's dress, but when she realized it, she pulled away and shook her head. She was obviously not ready to go that far with him, and he understood that. But Eric's body wanted her. It even showed it. Eric figured he'd go her speed and when she's ready to consummate their marriage, he'll be ready.
"We should stop." Ariel said, pushing Eric away as she sat up. "I don't want to move too fast. I hope you understand."
"I completely understand." Eric replied. "I'm going to go see what Grims wanted."
Ariel watched as Eric put his shirt back on and exited the room. Why did I even let it go this far, she thought. More importantly, why did I let it stop?
Ariel was fetched for dinner not that long after. She was surprised when she didn't see Eric sitting at the table.
"Carlotta, will Eric be joining me?"
The older maid poured Ariel a glass of water. "Afraid not, dear. Once he and that old Grimsby start going, you won't see him until dawn."
"Oh... Okay, thank you."
"The kingdom is expecting news of a heir on the way in about a month, Eric." Grimsby said. "It's expected of you and Ariel."
Eric stared out the window and turned around so he was facing his adviser. "We're in no rush to have a child. We just got married a few days ago and we're still getting to know each other."
"Eric, rumors will begin with people speculating Ariel can't bear a child."
"Grims, I don't care what they think. It's a private matter."
"It's not a private matter when we're talking about the heir. It's both of your duties to produce a child within the first year of marriage."
"Ariel is not ready and I'm respecting what she wants until she is." Eric said, raising his voice a bit. "We're done talking about this. If there isn't more to be said, I'm going to have my meal."