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And the Winner Is
◄ Back to True Blood Fan Fiction Table of Contents
And the Winner Is
Chapter One
There I was the place I had already been twice and that was two times too many. That apparently abandoned warehouse where I had witnessed the Were pack master competition and then the war that ensued when an outside pack tried to take over. Now, here I was again. This time I was surrounded by all the men who claim to be in love with me. It was hard for me to believe that just 5 years ago dating was out of the question. Thinking of being intimate with a man seemed a goal I would never be able to obtain. Now, here standing in front of me was Bill, my first love in every way, the vampire that showed me how to love and hurt me so deeply I can’t seem to forgive him, yet I know deep down I will always have feelings for him. Sam, my boss, my friend and although we have kissed a few times something or someone always keeps us from taking the relationship any further. Alcide, now the pack leader of the Longtooth pack, we met when he was forced to help me with a job Eric had sent me on and there was instant chemistry but the timing was never right, plus the fact that I had killed his ex-girlfriend, seemed to loom over us. He still tried to date me ever so often. Then there is Quinn, pure muscle from the top of his smooth head down to his toes. He is the epitome of masculinity and when he shifted he is the most beautiful Bengal tiger. I really thought Quinn and I had a shot until I realized that he would always put his mom and sister before me, no matter what the consequences were for him and I wanted to be first for the man that claims he loves me.
Then there is Eric. Eric and I had some great times and when he lost his memory, his whole identity of himself, from the spell an evil witch had cast on him. Now anytime Eric is near me I feel so safe. It doesn’t matter what is happening the blood bond we have allows Eric to calm me. He knows all my feeling and emotions and I feel his.
OK, but what are we all doing here! Here I am faced with all of these fine specimens of men, or some form thereof since none of them are actually human. Then with the deep rumbling voice that I feel all the way through me, the voice Quinn uses when he is hosting one of his events, he asks, “Babe, you know how we all feel about you, can you choose one of us”?
Usually at a moment like this I would use my “talent” to find out what people were thinking, but since I was the only human in the building and as far as I could tell there were only the six of us in the building I was at a complete disadvantage. I was nervous and unsure about what was going on and all I could think to say was “WHAT? What is going on here?”
It is very hard to be in a room alone with all the men you have been intimate with in some way or another. For one reason or another I had seen them all buck naked. And believe me any girl would be lucky to have anyone of these men love them and make love to them. I have only made love with three of these men and one only once I can still tell you that any of them have a lot to offer a girl in that capacity.
Again, Quinn spoke up. “Sookie, we stand here before you because we have all professed our undying love for you and want to know if you can choose between us once and for all? If you choose the rest of us have agreed not to interfere in the relationship and will no longer harass you for your affections”. As if this weren’t enough, they actually thought I could do this would do this? Then Eric spoke up. “Lover, we know this may not be a choice you can make on your own. If you feel you can not make this choice then we will help you make it.” Then Quinn made a movement and reached up and pulled a rope. The black tarp behind the men fell. There was a ring, like a boxers fight in, only it was caged in and it was caged in with silver mesh!
“What do you mean you will choose for me?”, was all I could seem to come up with while I just stood staring at the cage. Then me being the person I am, “Who do you think any of you are to choose for me? What right do any of you have to make any decisions for me?” Bill stepped forward in that surly way only he can and reached to me in that low voice only he can and it still touches me down low, “Darling we know that each of us have pulled you in so many directions and we all deeply care for you and it is just apparent to us that you will never be able to choose between us since in some way we have all done you wrong. But we all want for your happiness and we want you safe and loved”.
Alcide came forward, “Sookie we have decided that a battle is the only way. We will prove our love to you by stepping into the cage two at a time and battle for you love” “What do you mean battle for my love? You five intend on hurting possibly killing each other over me? And then you expect me to “be” with the last man standing!?” I looked to the only man that hadn’t spoken yet, “Sam are you really going to be a part in this?”
“Sookie,” Sam said, “you know that I have hidden my feelings for years for you. When I finally realized how much you meant to me it was too late you had already fallen for Bill”. That was said with a slight sideways glare in Bill’s direction from Sam. “Don’t fear for me, although in human stature I may be comparatively smaller or not as strong, you yourself know when I shift I am equal to them all. Sookie, whatever the outcome, it will be worth it to all of us to finally know to finally have a decision made and then maybe we can all get on with our lives. Just as you are not willing to share us or be with all of us none of us are willing to share your affections. It’s time to make a choice or it will be made for you.” Sam always did have a way of making me look at things from the inside out.
“I can’t let any of you do this. You have no right to think that I would just allow the one of you that came out conqueror to scoop me up and ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after. There will be pain and bleeding and possibly worse and it will be my own fault. How do any of you expect me to live with that?” At this point tears are streaming down my face and my voice is shaky and I need to sit down as my knees are about to give way. Eric moves forward so quickly I barely noticed. He took hold of my elbow to steady me and motioned with his head and Alcide brought a chair. Not that I needed it anymore. Just a mere touch from Eric makes me feel so much better, damn blood bond. But I sit. I am still in disbelief. I can’t believe what is happening. I can’t believe what I am faced with. What am I going to do! I can’t let them do this. One of them may get seriously injured or even killed and that would be because of me. I look up at each one of them for a long second. I couldn’t believe what I was about to do, what I was about to say.
“I will choose”. “I will choose and the rest of you will have to live with my decision as you have stated before. No interference, you will let us be happy and you will not try and dissolve the relationship”. Dissolve that was a nice way to say they weren’t going to kill each other off after the decision was made. The men in front of me looked astonished. They looked nervous. They looked like they all needed a chair. Now how do I go about this? I need to think about this. Where do I begin? Do I just put names in a hat and draw from them? Best two out to three? No, maybe they were right, maybe it is time to choose. I want to be, I need to be happy and I know that any one of these men would give his life for me to keep me safe and do everything within his power to make me happy. “Gentlemen, this isn’t going to be easy! But I would like you all to stay and stay put until I have finished and then one I choose will walk away with me and then maybe we can all get on with our lives.” The huge warehouse was so silent. I knew my vampires weren’t breathing, but I wasn’t sure the other men were either.
“Alcide”, I said my voice a little unsteady, “you and I definitely have physical chemistry and we have had some very pleasant times together and any girl would be lucky to have you. But I don’t think you can ever truly see past the fact that I killed Debbie, even though it was in self defense, and I think anytime we have issues this would some how waft into the equation. I care very much about you and your well being and wish you luck in your future, but I don’t think we could ever have a long lasting relationship.” Alcide looked at me with understanding on his face and sadness in his eyes and said, “Sookie, if you ever need me I will be there. You will always remain a friend of the pack”. Wow, that was so difficult but it was only going to become more difficult. But I thought he took it graciously. Next!
“Quinn, you are an amazing man and an amazing creature. I really had hoped that you and I had found each other at the right time and would be able to continue our relationship into something spectacular.” “Babe, I” and I cut him off with a wave of my hand. “Please listen, this is very difficult as it is. Quinn, I truly understand how important family is having so precious little of it myself. But I do need to know that if having to choose between me living and dying or you rushing off to be with your mother, I need to know that I would live. And I would never want to put in that position. Besides, I think that the bond Eric and I have and the fact you were witness to it may be too much for you in the long run.” Then I walked up to him and stretched to whisper in his ear so very low so the rest couldn’t hear. “Know that I will always protect your secret, no one will ever know that you killed Andre and know that I know you did this out of you feelings for me to keep me safe”. With that he turned his head and put his huge hands on either side of my face and laid the softest of kissed on my kisses on my forehead.
With a deep sigh and a tear in my eye I knew I had to continue. I took in a deep breath and looked at the faces before me one more time. “Sam”, and there was a visible drop in his shoulders and he looked at the floor. “Sam”, I repeated, “you are very important to me not only as my boss but as one of my best friends. You have helped me through so much but I need for our relationship to stay as it is. I need your support not as a lover but as a friend, I know we have had our moments but I have so come to think of you as part of my family. Sam, I love you. I will always love you. But my love for you is different and has grown beyond anything I could have ever hoped for. Do you think we can maintain that relationship or do I need to find another job?” “Sook, you know you have a job with me for as long as you want. I love you, and if your friendship is all you can give me and not your heart then this is what I will take”. Sam always makes me feel good.
Now, here I am faced with the hardest decision of my life. The one I have struggle with and avoided making for a couple of years now. One that is continuously tearing my heart out and it was time to do this. Eric and Bill both standing side by side tense and unblinking. I started, “Bill” and he grew even tenser and a smug look went on Eric’s face, “Eric”, I continued, and the first reactions switched men.
WHAT’S THAT NOISE… A SIREN…. Amelia burst into my room waking me from a dead sleep… that was the most intense dream I think I have ever had! I was still trying to focus on Amelia and trying to awaken from my dream state. It was just a dream. I really wasn't about to make a choice between Bill and Eric. Not quite awake yet I was thinking to myslef, what is my subconcious trying to tell me? “Sookie”, Amelia screamed, where is the fire extinguisher. Amelia had been practicing magic out of her range again.
________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter Two
I jumped out of bed still half asleep running to the kitchen and opened the pantry and grabbed the fire extinguisher. After putting out the fire on my new kitchen table and feeling pretty pissed about the scorch marks my adrenaline was definitely pumping. Amelia was being very apologetic about this. But for me it was time for her to think about going home or at least moving out. I was thankful that Ophelia had a couple of weeks ago that gave me some piece back in my life. Having her live across the hall and using the bathroom just across from me really left me feeling intruded upon. Not that I had any personal life to speak of anymore. I was upset about my table and feeling really confused by the dream I had just had. So instead of saying something I might regret or didn’t fully mean or did mean to Amelia I just went back to my room.
I decided a nice hot shower was in order and after I stepped out I heard a knock on my bedroom door. Amelia came in and told me that she performed a refinishing spell and fixed my table. With what had just happened all I could do was sigh and cut her a glare to which she took as a definite hint to leave the room. Not that I didn’t appreciate her effort, but if she wasn’t hear I wouldn’t have needed it done in the first place. Having Amelia around for company was nice sometimes and her magic had come in handy more than once. But I was ready to be alone again.
I had some errands to run before going to work so I gathered up my library books, seems I was doing a lot of reading with the absence of a social life, my grocery list, my purse and out the door I went without a word to Amelia. So I hopped in my car and headed to the library. As I searched the books, romances mostly, I found my mind wondering back to my dream. What did it mean? Was I reading too much into it?
OK, but what are we all doing here! Here I am faced with all of these fine specimens of men, or some form thereof since none of them are actually human. Then with the deep rumbling voice that I feel all the way through me, the voice Quinn uses when he is hosting one of his events, he asks, “Babe, you know how we all feel about you, can you choose one of us”?
Usually at a moment like this I would use my “talent” to find out what people were thinking, but since I was the only human in the building and as far as I could tell there were only the six of us in the building I was at a complete disadvantage. I was nervous and unsure about what was going on and all I could think to say was “WHAT? What is going on here?”
It is very hard to be in a room alone with all the men you have been intimate with in some way or another. For one reason or another I had seen them all buck naked. And believe me any girl would be lucky to have anyone of these men love them and make love to them. I have only made love with three of these men and one only once I can still tell you that any of them have a lot to offer a girl in that capacity.
Again, Quinn spoke up. “Sookie, we stand here before you because we have all professed our undying love for you and want to know if you can choose between us once and for all? If you choose the rest of us have agreed not to interfere in the relationship and will no longer harass you for your affections”. As if this weren’t enough, they actually thought I could do this would do this? Then Eric spoke up. “Lover, we know this may not be a choice you can make on your own. If you feel you can not make this choice then we will help you make it.” Then Quinn made a movement and reached up and pulled a rope. The black tarp behind the men fell. There was a ring, like a boxers fight in, only it was caged in and it was caged in with silver mesh!
“What do you mean you will choose for me?”, was all I could seem to come up with while I just stood staring at the cage. Then me being the person I am, “Who do you think any of you are to choose for me? What right do any of you have to make any decisions for me?” Bill stepped forward in that surly way only he can and reached to me in that low voice only he can and it still touches me down low, “Darling we know that each of us have pulled you in so many directions and we all deeply care for you and it is just apparent to us that you will never be able to choose between us since in some way we have all done you wrong. But we all want for your happiness and we want you safe and loved”.
Alcide came forward, “Sookie we have decided that a battle is the only way. We will prove our love to you by stepping into the cage two at a time and battle for you love” “What do you mean battle for my love? You five intend on hurting possibly killing each other over me? And then you expect me to “be” with the last man standing!?” I looked to the only man that hadn’t spoken yet, “Sam are you really going to be a part in this?”
“Sookie,” Sam said, “you know that I have hidden my feelings for years for you. When I finally realized how much you meant to me it was too late you had already fallen for Bill”. That was said with a slight sideways glare in Bill’s direction from Sam. “Don’t fear for me, although in human stature I may be comparatively smaller or not as strong, you yourself know when I shift I am equal to them all. Sookie, whatever the outcome, it will be worth it to all of us to finally know to finally have a decision made and then maybe we can all get on with our lives. Just as you are not willing to share us or be with all of us none of us are willing to share your affections. It’s time to make a choice or it will be made for you.” Sam always did have a way of making me look at things from the inside out.
“I can’t let any of you do this. You have no right to think that I would just allow the one of you that came out conqueror to scoop me up and ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after. There will be pain and bleeding and possibly worse and it will be my own fault. How do any of you expect me to live with that?” At this point tears are streaming down my face and my voice is shaky and I need to sit down as my knees are about to give way. Eric moves forward so quickly I barely noticed. He took hold of my elbow to steady me and motioned with his head and Alcide brought a chair. Not that I needed it anymore. Just a mere touch from Eric makes me feel so much better, damn blood bond. But I sit. I am still in disbelief. I can’t believe what is happening. I can’t believe what I am faced with. What am I going to do! I can’t let them do this. One of them may get seriously injured or even killed and that would be because of me. I look up at each one of them for a long second. I couldn’t believe what I was about to do, what I was about to say.
“I will choose”. “I will choose and the rest of you will have to live with my decision as you have stated before. No interference, you will let us be happy and you will not try and dissolve the relationship”. Dissolve that was a nice way to say they weren’t going to kill each other off after the decision was made. The men in front of me looked astonished. They looked nervous. They looked like they all needed a chair. Now how do I go about this? I need to think about this. Where do I begin? Do I just put names in a hat and draw from them? Best two out to three? No, maybe they were right, maybe it is time to choose. I want to be, I need to be happy and I know that any one of these men would give his life for me to keep me safe and do everything within his power to make me happy. “Gentlemen, this isn’t going to be easy! But I would like you all to stay and stay put until I have finished and then one I choose will walk away with me and then maybe we can all get on with our lives.” The huge warehouse was so silent. I knew my vampires weren’t breathing, but I wasn’t sure the other men were either.
“Alcide”, I said my voice a little unsteady, “you and I definitely have physical chemistry and we have had some very pleasant times together and any girl would be lucky to have you. But I don’t think you can ever truly see past the fact that I killed Debbie, even though it was in self defense, and I think anytime we have issues this would some how waft into the equation. I care very much about you and your well being and wish you luck in your future, but I don’t think we could ever have a long lasting relationship.” Alcide looked at me with understanding on his face and sadness in his eyes and said, “Sookie, if you ever need me I will be there. You will always remain a friend of the pack”. Wow, that was so difficult but it was only going to become more difficult. But I thought he took it graciously. Next!
“Quinn, you are an amazing man and an amazing creature. I really had hoped that you and I had found each other at the right time and would be able to continue our relationship into something spectacular.” “Babe, I” and I cut him off with a wave of my hand. “Please listen, this is very difficult as it is. Quinn, I truly understand how important family is having so precious little of it myself. But I do need to know that if having to choose between me living and dying or you rushing off to be with your mother, I need to know that I would live. And I would never want to put in that position. Besides, I think that the bond Eric and I have and the fact you were witness to it may be too much for you in the long run.” Then I walked up to him and stretched to whisper in his ear so very low so the rest couldn’t hear. “Know that I will always protect your secret, no one will ever know that you killed Andre and know that I know you did this out of you feelings for me to keep me safe”. With that he turned his head and put his huge hands on either side of my face and laid the softest of kissed on my kisses on my forehead.
With a deep sigh and a tear in my eye I knew I had to continue. I took in a deep breath and looked at the faces before me one more time. “Sam”, and there was a visible drop in his shoulders and he looked at the floor. “Sam”, I repeated, “you are very important to me not only as my boss but as one of my best friends. You have helped me through so much but I need for our relationship to stay as it is. I need your support not as a lover but as a friend, I know we have had our moments but I have so come to think of you as part of my family. Sam, I love you. I will always love you. But my love for you is different and has grown beyond anything I could have ever hoped for. Do you think we can maintain that relationship or do I need to find another job?” “Sook, you know you have a job with me for as long as you want. I love you, and if your friendship is all you can give me and not your heart then this is what I will take”. Sam always makes me feel good.
Now, here I am faced with the hardest decision of my life. The one I have struggle with and avoided making for a couple of years now. One that is continuously tearing my heart out and it was time to do this. Eric and Bill both standing side by side tense and unblinking. I started, “Bill” and he grew even tenser and a smug look went on Eric’s face, “Eric”, I continued, and the first reactions switched men.
WHAT’S THAT NOISE… A SIREN…. Amelia burst into my room waking me from a dead sleep… that was the most intense dream I think I have ever had! I was still trying to focus on Amelia and trying to awaken from my dream state. It was just a dream. I really wasn't about to make a choice between Bill and Eric. Not quite awake yet I was thinking to myslef, what is my subconcious trying to tell me? “Sookie”, Amelia screamed, where is the fire extinguisher. Amelia had been practicing magic out of her range again.
________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter Two
I jumped out of bed still half asleep running to the kitchen and opened the pantry and grabbed the fire extinguisher. After putting out the fire on my new kitchen table and feeling pretty pissed about the scorch marks my adrenaline was definitely pumping. Amelia was being very apologetic about this. But for me it was time for her to think about going home or at least moving out. I was thankful that Ophelia had a couple of weeks ago that gave me some piece back in my life. Having her live across the hall and using the bathroom just across from me really left me feeling intruded upon. Not that I had any personal life to speak of anymore. I was upset about my table and feeling really confused by the dream I had just had. So instead of saying something I might regret or didn’t fully mean or did mean to Amelia I just went back to my room.
I decided a nice hot shower was in order and after I stepped out I heard a knock on my bedroom door. Amelia came in and told me that she performed a refinishing spell and fixed my table. With what had just happened all I could do was sigh and cut her a glare to which she took as a definite hint to leave the room. Not that I didn’t appreciate her effort, but if she wasn’t hear I wouldn’t have needed it done in the first place. Having Amelia around for company was nice sometimes and her magic had come in handy more than once. But I was ready to be alone again.
I had some errands to run before going to work so I gathered up my library books, seems I was doing a lot of reading with the absence of a social life, my grocery list, my purse and out the door I went without a word to Amelia. So I hopped in my car and headed to the library. As I searched the books, romances mostly, I found my mind wondering back to my dream. What did it mean? Was I reading too much into it?
As I fumbled through the books I couldn’t believe what I saw! There I was staring at myself. The pictures Claude, my fae cousin, and I had taken for his career in modeling was on front of one of the new romances. Well, that but a nice smile on my face and I just couldn’t help but read this one. I didn’t even read what it was about. I picked out a couple of more and off to the counter I went. After stopping at the store I needed to hurry home and put up my purchases so I could get ready for work.
I parked in back of the house to make it easier to carry in the groceries and when I went in there was a note on the fridge from Amelia. “Sookie, I will be gone for a couple of days. Going to check on my house and visit my dad for a couple of days. You left your cell phone at home and Eric’s day guy called and asked you to call Eric tonight as soon as it was dark”. Great I hadn’t spoken to Eric in just over a month. I really did miss him too. I actually hate to admit that even to myself. It’s hard for me to call from work, but maybe I could catch a quick break and see what he wants. Or maybe I will just not call and he can call me. He knows I hate it when he has someone else call me when he wants something.
I walked into work and went straight to Sam’s office to put my purse away. He was on the phone in what looked like a pretty serious call judging by his body language. So I tucked my purse in the drawer and left shutting the door behind me. I found Arlene to get an update on the tables I would be taking over. It was quick and curt as she just and I just didn’t seem to be able to be around each other too much anymore since she had fallen in with the Fellowship of the Sun group. Sam knew this but really didn’t want to lose either of us so he did his best to make sure we worked opposite shifts. Before I knew it things had gotten really busy and I barely had a moment to think. All the sudden I got this feeling.
A feeling from deep within, my mood lightened and I couldn’t help but smile. I don’t take drugs and never have but I could only equate this feeling to what it must be to take a “happy pill”. Then I turned around and saw the reason of my drastic mood change. Eric, all 6 foot 5 inches of him stood blocking the entire door as he walked in. I looked at my watch not even realizing it was already past 10pm. I smiled my most sincere happy smile at him and knew that all the giddy feeling I had inside had to be coming across my face. I walked up to him staring up and that was all I could do was smile.
He reached his hand to my face and with the back of his fingers stroked my cheek. I thought my knees were going to buckle on the spot. He said, “I was worried when you didn’t call like I asked.”
Still smiling like an idiot I simply said, “I’ve been real busy here”.
By this time pretty much everyone in the bar was looking at us. Eric seemed to have that effect on people. People couldn’t help but notice when this huge Viking walked into the room.
“Can you take a break?” he asked.
Sam walked from behind the bar and over to us with a cordial nod to Eric, “Northman," he said. Eric nodded back. “Sookie,” Sam said, “go on but make it quick, were still pretty busy.”
“Eric, give me just a minute and I will be with you” I told him.
“I’ll wait out back by your car,” and back out the door he went. I put my tray and pad down behind the bar and slipped out the employee entrance.
When I walked out back and saw Eric leaning against my car I got butterflies in my stomach. This blood bond we have just makes me feel so good when I am near him. I haven’t seen in him so long my body is practically aching for him now. I walked up to him and he drew me into him, leaning down, and gave me a soft kiss on my lips. As my hands circled around to his back, pulling him into me, the kiss became much more passionate and his tongue was probing my mouth and I felt his fangs run out. I was digging my fingers into his back just at the thought of what this could lead to. Then he slowly pulled back and I actually felt disappointed.
When I walked out back and saw Eric leaning against my car I got butterflies in my stomach. This blood bond we have just makes me feel so good when I am near him. I haven’t seen in him so long my body is practically aching for him now. I walked up to him and he drew me into him, leaning down, and gave me a soft kiss on my lips. As my hands circled around to his back, pulling him into me, the kiss became much more passionate and his tongue was probing my mouth and I felt his fangs run out. I was digging my fingers into his back just at the thought of what this could lead to. Then he slowly pulled back and I actually felt disappointed.
“Don’t fret lover, this can be continued later”, he smiled fangs still extended. And my blood was boiling and my body was aching for his touch. “Lover, how have you been?” still smiling.
“Lonely” I replied with a coy grin. “Did you come all this way to just ask my how I have been”, I questioned.
“Well it’s definitely important for me to know, but I came to let you know I am back and that I have missed you and I have work for you.” and he stopped to look at me.
My reply just has run together as his comments, “When did you get back, I am fine and I missed you too and what now.”
“Lover,” and my knees weakened, “I have the bar covered for tonight, let’s talk about this when you get off work. I will meet you at your house.” Then with that I was back in his arms with another long deep kiss as I messaged that perfect ass of his. I was leaning into him and felt the same excitement rise in him, against my stomach, as I was feeling. How could I say no to this! Again, he pulled back as Sam walked out the door and with a slight smile so I could see his fangs had extended again, “Until later, Lover,” and Eric walked off without even an acknowledgment to Sam.
As I walked back in Sam asked, “Everything ok?"
As I walked back in Sam asked, “Everything ok?"
“I have no idea” as I walked past him with a huge grin on my face. I felt like I was walking on air. Things inside of Merlotte’s were still pretty busy but I had something or someone to look forward to and amazingly the time passed quickly. Since it was a Thursday we closed at midnight and I was out of the bar by 12:30.
On my way home I felt disappointment thinking of my roommate and then, just as quickly, extreme joy remembering the note she had left me telling me she would be gone for a couple of days. As I turned into my driveway I saw Eric’s Corvette parked in front of the house and I felt him with every cell in my body. I knew he was happy and aroused.
I walked in and my house was illuminated with candles. I followed rose petals back to my bedroom. The door was slightly opened and I gave it a push and there he was in all his splendor. Eric was lying across my bed propped up on one elbow but most of his body was down on the bed with his perfect bare ass that I had been massaging earlier there in all its beauty for me to admire in the candlelit room. I walked to the bed and he started to move and I just shook my head and he stopped. I walked around the bed where his feet dangled off and spread them enough for me to step between his legs. Then I bent and began at his ankles, kissing and licking my way up his toned calves, past his knees up his muscular thighs and moved into his inner thigh and with that he put is head face down into the mattress and gave a low growl.
With a quick couple of swipes of my tongue I licked the huge jewels between his legs and this got almost a roar and again he tried to move to me and I just placed my hand in the middle of his back letting him know not to move, I wasn’t finished. I moved my way back to the back of his thigh never letting either my lips or my tongue leave his body. I moved up to those perfect butt cheeks kissing, licking, sucking and then I couldn’t resist it any longer I bit and the response from Eric made me give a little giggle. He actually jumped. I made my vampire jump in shock from a bite!
He composed him self with a breathy, “Oh Sookie.” I moved over to the other cheek continuing and bit again. This time apparently harder then I intended to and I drew blood. I latched on and sucked and Eric gave a deep growl and he said my name in a way that almost made me come on the spot. I stopped and he turned over with this intense look of lust on his face that I felt throughout my entire body.
My entire body ached for him. I looked at every bit of him and I know he is huge but I swear his member was bigger then I ever remembered. He slid to the edge of the bed to me and then in one movement he ripped off my bra and shirt. That’s another uniform shirt I will have to replace. Then he moved straight to my right breast and began sucking and then moved his hands to my waist and pulled me closer. The next thing I knew he had ripped my pants and panties off. I can’t believe the amount of clothes I have lost since I started dating vampires.
As he moved to my other breast sliding a finger deep inside me. I let out a deep groan of my own. It had been so many weeks since I had had sex that I thought I was going to explode. I moved my hands to his face and brought his lips to mine. He moved his hands to my waist and easily lifted me onto his lap and down onto his shaft. We both released an animalistic grown from deep within and then we were moving in rhythm and his manhood was filling every bit of me. Then he stood, my legs still wrapped around him, and moved me against the wall.
Moving each of his arms under my knees and his hands on my ass supporting me, opening me up even wider to accept him even deeper into me. Pounding harder and harder I thought I was going to pass out. Then just as I was at the edge of an orgasm so intense I thought my head was going to explode Eric sank his fangs into my right breast.
“Oh my God, Eric”, I screamed.
He detached from my breast after my spasms were over and looked deep into my eyes and smiled with my blood still on his fangs.
“Lover, all you have to do is ask and I would be your Maker, your god.”
Lying in bed wrapped around each other after another hour or so of every imaginable position and my reaching three more mind blowing climaxes Eric looked deep into my eyes and said, “Lover, you know by taking my blood again you only heightened our blood bond.”
“What will happen to me now” I asked a little nervously.
“We will feel each other even more deeply now and from longer distances. You will not be able to hide anything from me and this will never fade. Lover, look at me” and he put his had under my chin and gently turned my face up towards his. “You know I was serious earlier, all you have to do is ask and I would, without second thought, be your Maker, your god.”
“I know, Eric, but right now I need for you to just settle for loving me as a human.” Then I thought about what I had just said. I just asked Eric to love me. We had never discussed this before. We had never broached this subject at all.
He must have felt my inner turmoil and he kissed me softly and in a breath so light I could barely hear him he said, “I do you know, I do love you”. And with that he rolled me onto my back and he made love to me for the first time. It was so sweet, so gentle, so tender. When we finished together I snuggled into him and actually shed a few tears.
He was confused, “Lover why are you crying - I didn’t hurt you did I? Are you sad?”
“Eric, I had no idea you could be so gentle...so attentive... so incredible. I love you.” And we held each other and drifted off to sleep I wondered to myself about my dream the night before… had I just chosen?
Chapter Three
When I finally woke up it was light outside and of course I was alone. That didn’t stop me from waking with a smile on my face. When I began to crawl out of bed and move to the bathroom I moved a little gingerly. My body had had quite a work out the night before. I stopped to stand in front of the full length mirror in my bathroom to make sure there were no visible bite marks I needed to cover for the day. Nope, a matching set on each breast and a set on my left inner thigh, Eric’s favorite spots.
When I finally woke up it was light outside and of course I was alone. That didn’t stop me from waking with a smile on my face. When I began to crawl out of bed and move to the bathroom I moved a little gingerly. My body had had quite a work out the night before. I stopped to stand in front of the full length mirror in my bathroom to make sure there were no visible bite marks I needed to cover for the day. Nope, a matching set on each breast and a set on my left inner thigh, Eric’s favorite spots.
I realized I didn’t even look at the clock as I rolled out of bed and glanced at the clock I had in my bathroom. I was thankful I had the night off since it was already 2pm. I turned on the shower and let it heat while taking care of necessities. As I climbed into my shower I was wishing I had a huge soaking tub like the one Bill and I had shared so many times. After a long leisurely shower I decided a cup of coffee was just what I needed and as I walked into the kitchen I noticed a note on the fridge door again this time written on an envelope. “Lover, I haven’t gone, I am still here – Love E.”
I couldn’t believe it. Eric stayed in my hidey hole where he had spent so many nights when he had lost his memory. I was so excited I did a little dance. And just to be sure, I ran to the front of the house and looked out the window. Yep, Eric’s Corvette was still sitting right were he had parked it in front of my house. Then I felt something in the envelope. I opened it up and there was Eric’s credit card wrapped in another note “Please replace the clothes I destroyed last night. Go ahead and buy a few extra things to replace the one’s I am sure to ruin in the future”. Well, I never have liked feeling like a kept woman, but I thought 'what the heck -I am in too good a mood to pass this up.' So I enjoyed my cup of coffee and ate a bagel and as I walked out the door I thought 'what the heck!' I turned around, walked back in and grabbed Eric’s keys and drove his car into town. If he got upset, I was sure I could take his mind off of it!
I drove into town stopping at my friend Tara’s shop. As I pulled into the only shopping center in Bon Temps, everyone was staring at me. As I got out and walked in I could hear the thoughts of those around me. “Who or what is she sleeping with to drive a car like that,” “Where did white trash like that get a car like that,” and many other thoughts like that. Tara met half way through the store with a big smile on her face,
I drove into town stopping at my friend Tara’s shop. As I pulled into the only shopping center in Bon Temps, everyone was staring at me. As I got out and walked in I could hear the thoughts of those around me. “Who or what is she sleeping with to drive a car like that,” “Where did white trash like that get a car like that,” and many other thoughts like that. Tara met half way through the store with a big smile on her face,
“When did you get that?”
“It’s Eric’s.” I said with a huge grin.
“You two are a couple now? Sookie are you sure about this?”
“Tara, we are in love!”
“What about Bill? Does he know about this?”
“Bill and I are struggling to be friends. I will always care about him but he knows Eric and I have something and soon enough he will know the truth,” saying this out loud made me realize I was going to have to have yet another difficult conversation with Bill. But it was only right that he hear it from me.
“Sookie you are my oldest friend. If you are safe and happy then I am happy for you. So what brought you in today?”
“I need to replace some under things that got, uh... well, I just need some new things.” So I shopped around and picked out several lacey matching bra and panty sets one in white, black, dark blue, pink and, of course, red. Then I spotted something I just couldn’t resist - a black silk corset with matching barely there thong. 'Hum, I think that would just do for tonight.'
I took my purchases to the counter and Tara rang me up and when I handed her Eric’s credit card she just stared at me and then gave me a little smirk. I looked into her thoughts and she was thinking “Good for her, it’s about time she took something from them.”
I didn’t really agree with her thoughts but I just smiled and said I would see her later. On the way home I drove thru our little town taking time to show off the beautiful car I was driving. I stopped in at the Sonic drive in and treated myself to an Oreo Cookie Blast and smiled as everyone stared at me in this fancy car. The guy in the pick up truck next to me flirted with me a little and then my brother pulled in and parked next to me. My brother, not realizing it was me, parked right next to me on the drivers side of the car and as I looked at him he looked over at me with his sexy (or at least women seem to think so) smile that fell right off his face as soon as he realized it was me.
He hopped right out of his truck and ran around and jumped in the passenger side of the car. “Where the hell did you get this sis?” he said with awe in his voice.
“It’s Eric’s” I said with a smirk.
“Oh no, what have you gotten yourself into now!”
“Jason, Eric and I are a couple now. We have been fighting it for a long time but I guess we made it official last night”
“Official?You didn’t go and get married did you?"
The law for vampires to marry humans had recently passed and I hadn’t even thought about that until just now.
“No! I am not stupid Jason. We just, well, professed our love to each other last night.”
“Sookie, didn’t you learn the first time around with a vampire? Why can’t you just find yourself a normal guy? Ok, Ok, never mind - I know that answer - but there are a lot of good shifters out there.” Since Jason had been bitten and now changed at the full moon he was a regular poster boy for shifters.
“Jason, did I butt in when you got your little girlfriend pregnant twice and then got married and then went through the ritual of your divorce? No, so you need to just butt out and let me be happy while I can.”
“You're right. Can I drive the car?”
“No, now get out. I need to get home.”
On my way home I stopped by the beer barn and let the guys oogle me while I pulled through and picked up some True Blood. Even though it isn’t Eric’s favorite thing, I still wanted to have some on hand. I kept my shields up; I didn’t even want to know what the guys at the beer barn were thinking. I went home and ran the vacuum cleaner to pick up the rose petals from the night before and thought long and hard about how I wanted to greet Eric when he got up.
I spent time in the bathroom getting my hair just right. I pulled it up partially letting it cascade down my back with a few added curls and put on my makeup. Then I slipped into the newly purchased corset and thong and slid on some thigh high fish net stockings I had tucked away in my drawer. I slid into my highest heels and took a look in the mirror. Sookie – sex kitten. Yep, I can pull this off.
I went to my old room and dug out a “fur” type blanket I had gotten one year for Christmas from someone. It was white fake fur but it would do for tonight. I took it to my room and spread it over my bed. I tried several different positions trying to make myself as sexy as possible. Then I could feel it he was beginning to stir down below my house. Just the thought of him waking up put a smile on my face. But smiling is not what I wanted him to see. I wanted him to see sexy, sultry, sex kitten Sookie.
I heard the bedroom door open across the hall and could feel Eric longing for me. He pushed the door open standing in my doorway buck naked and already showing me he was ready for whatever I had planned. He stood and looked at me and he just stood there and stared for what seemed like eternity. Then with a low sexy voice that made me melt he said, “Lover you look good enough to eat and I am famished.”
I heard the bedroom door open across the hall and could feel Eric longing for me. He pushed the door open standing in my doorway buck naked and already showing me he was ready for whatever I had planned. He stood and looked at me and he just stood there and stared for what seemed like eternity. Then with a low sexy voice that made me melt he said, “Lover you look good enough to eat and I am famished.”
And with barely a blink of an eye he was next to me on the bed with his tongue in my mouth and then I ran my tongue over his one of his fangs and he pulled away quickly.
“What’s wrong” I looked at him a little confused.
He didn’t say anything he just moved me down on the bed and he spread my legs. He was looked up at me still staring a hole into me making sure I was watching him. He always liked me to watch him. I still did not quite understand the reaction I got with my simple action of running my tongue around his fang, but there was obviously something to think about before doing it again. As he moved between my legs I was expecting him to pull or rip off my thong and dive into my wetness. But instead without breaking my stare he bit right into my thigh. I had never actually watched a vampire feed from me before and although I always enjoyed the process after the first initial sting this time was so much more intense and I didn’t even feel his fangs enter my flesh.
Watching my vampire feed from me, staring deeply into my eyes, I felt the stirring deep within me and flung my head back and closed my eyes. I let out a deep moan and without ever being entered I came and collapsed back onto the bed. Without a word Eric detached himself from my leg and moved up to clean the juices flowing from between my legs.
Moving my hands into his beautiful long blonde hair I pulled him closer to me. Then moving from between my legs kissing his way up my stomach without removing the silk corset kissing over my by breast and nibbling my nipples through the silk and licking his way up my neck to stop and gently suckle an ear lobe. By the time he made it to my mouth, I just couldn’t wait any longer, I had to feel him inside me. I flipped him over and mounted his huge shaft, riding him with every thing I had in me. He stood, with me still wrapped around him, and then lifted me from him, standing me next to the bed and turning me around. The high heels I still had on gave me a little more height advantage and Eric entered me from behind while I was still standing. Then he began to move faster and harder and I thought if he pounded into me any harder I wouldn’t be able to remain standing but he had a firm grip on my hips to make sure I wasn’t going anywhere.
We were both making lots of loud primitive grunts and groans and then we reached our peak together and I collapsed on the bed with Eric falling just to the side of me. After taking time to catch my breath and get my wits about me I rolled over onto my side facing Eric and rolled raised onto my elbow so I was sort of looking down at him.
“So do you like my new outfit, Lover?” I asked with a smile.
“Lover?” Eric said
“Well yeah, that’s what we are, I know how I feel when you call me Lover, and I thought maybe it might make you feel just as special”
“Hum, yes, I think I like it.”
“You didn’t answer my question”
“You couldn’t tell how well I liked it? You are still wearing every bit of it. Maybe I should show you again how much I like it” he said staring down at his manhood that was already beginning to respond again.
“Lover?” Eric said
“Well yeah, that’s what we are, I know how I feel when you call me Lover, and I thought maybe it might make you feel just as special”
“Hum, yes, I think I like it.”
“You didn’t answer my question”
“You couldn’t tell how well I liked it? You are still wearing every bit of it. Maybe I should show you again how much I like it” he said staring down at his manhood that was already beginning to respond again.
“Hold that thought, remember I'm just a mere mortal and I need a little time to regain some strength before going for round 2. But let me ask you a question = why such and intense reaction from you earlier?”
“Lover, you understand that my fangs are my life line - they are my means of feeding and taking life. Humans fear them. Your intimacy and willingness to caress the one thing that could drain life from you means you are not afraid of them and you no longer harbor any fear towards me. I can feel that within you.”
“Eric, I told you I love you, why would I fear you?”
He pulled me closer gave me a deep but gentle kiss. “So, Lover,” he said as he pulled away, “what else did you buy today?”
I hopped up and grabbed the bag from my closet and showed him all the matching bras and panties I bought.
He smiled approvingly, “what a shame those beautiful things will be destroyed in the heat of passion. But I can feel there is something else you aren’t telling me” and he looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
“OK, well, I thought since you had given me your credit card and didn’t mind me using that, well...” and he looked at me both eyebrows raised, “I decided I would really treat myself special and I drove your car ... please don’t be upset." I was relieved when he rolled back onto his back with a light hearted chuckle, a sound I don’t ever recalling from Eric.
“Lover, if you like the car and it makes you feel special, it’s yours.”
“Oh no, I could never... ”
“Then go buy a new one - whatever makes you happy.”
“Definitely NOT!”
“Sookie, dear, I will not force gifts upon you, but I love you and I just want to make you feel special and loved and I will give you anything you want”
“Maybe we should start out a little smaller than a car in the gift department”.
“Just know you are welcome to anything that is mine, Lover. Everything and everyone I own is at your service just for the asking.”
I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about the 'everyone I own' statement but I decided to let it slide and just said, “Thank you, I appreciate that” and gave him a heart felt kiss.
"As much as I would like to continue this we need to get dressed and I need to get back to Fangtasia and you must come with me. As you remember, I said I needed you to work”
“Oh, right, I had hoped we could get past that without bringing it up” I said with a sigh.
“Lover, we will be together, what more could either of us want? Now, I must shower and you can get dressed then we will discuss the rest” and off he went to the shower with me taking in all of that perfect ass. Of course unlike me now with matching sets of fang marks on both thighs and breasts, my bite marks were healed from his behind.
I found myself wondering what effects that last intake would have on me. I always seemed a little healthier, a little prettier, a little stronger when I drank vampire blood. And with as old as Eric is it really doesn’t take much of him to have those effects. Since we were going to Fangtasia, Eric’s bar, I wanted to look good for him, but since I didn’t know what else we might encounter I had better dress sensibly.
I pulled out a pair of jeans that showed off my figure I worked so hard to maintain and a black satin shirt and my new black bra and panties and slid on some black low heeled leather boots. I went into the other bathroom across the hall and fixed my hair and heard Eric get out of the shower and when I walked back into the bedroom he was dressed.
I couldn’t believe it, was it the blood bond, or coincidence - whatever - it was too weird. He was wearing jeans, a designer black button down silk shirt and boots. We just stared at each other. I couldn’t resist.
“Eric, what color is your underwear?”
He just looked at me, “black” he finally said as if he were wondering the same thing as me. Was it the bond that made me pick out a matching outfit to the one he had brought? Then he simply said “black.”
“OK, I will change”
“No, you will not, you are gorgeous and we need to go.”
So out the door we went and I just couldn’t help but giggle. Me and my matching vampire from our hair color all the way down to our toes! We climbed into Eric’s corvette and headed to Shreveport. Normally the drive takes about an hour, but with Eric behind the wheel you could count on taking at least 20 minutes off that time. About 10 minutes into our drive I had a thought. “Eric, we need to go back and get my car so I can follow you so I can get home, I have to work tomorrow.”
“We don’t have time for that. I guess you will just have to drive my car back” and he looked at me with a big grin on his face.
Chapter Five “So are you going to tell me about what you need me to do for you or am I just going to have to keep wondering?” I said to him without looking at him.
“We are meeting the King of Florida’s second in command tonight,“ he answered staring straight ahead.
“Great, I guess this means another road trip. Eric, I am going to lose my job as much work as I keep missing.”
“Lover, just quit, I will take care of you. I will make sure you have everything you need and more. Sookie,” he turned to look at with a beyond serious look on his face, “quit your job and move to my home in Shreveport. I know you don’t want to be a kept woman so we can keep the same hours and always be together and I can keep you safe, I will give you the job of manager over all the human wait staff at Fangtasia. You will earn your money and be your own person but we can be together always. I would put you over the entire wait staff but I don’t think the vampires would set idle for that. Pam can continue to supervise them.”
I just looked at him. I didn’t know what to say. He glanced back at the road and then back at me and I was just staring at him still and tears were rolling down my face.
“Lover, since I have been with you I have been feeling more emotions than I have in more years then I can count, but I honestly do not know why you are crying. And I can not seem to understand the feeling you have inside. Have I upset you in some way? Why the tears?” and there was such deep compassion in his voice as he said this to me.
“Oh Eric, I know by feeling it from inside you to inside me that there is no malice in your offer. That you truly understand my need to take care of myself and be my own person and that your offer is simply out of love for me and the need to be with me.” Tears were still streaming down my face but my voice was sweet, calm and loving. “The feeling I have inside is complete peacefulness. With the things you just said to me and the fact that our blood bond allows me to know that you say this out of compassion and love for me has just let me know in the last few moments that any doubt I may have had about decisions I have made up until now were all meant to be. They were all the right decisions. Lover, do you need me to answer you right now? This is a huge decision. I would be giving up everything I have ever known in my life.”
We pulled into the parking lot at Fangatsia and Eric stopped the car, leaned over took both my hands in his huge hands and gave me a long tender kiss. He moved his hands to either side of my face looking deeply into my eyes.
“You take whatever time you need, the offer does not expire. I love you, Sookie, and I want you with me always”. Then he pulled around to the back of the bar and we sat for a quiet moment and then he kissed me again and said, “We must go in now”.
Chapter Six
Eric used his key to open the back door and we were greeted by no one. I don’t think I have ever walked in this door without Pam being there. I guess she must be very busy since Eric has left her in charge of the bar in his absence. “So while you were away on your last business trip,” I started as we walked into his office, “is that where you were, Florida? You hadn’t told me where you were going only to call if I needed anything.” “No, Lover, they contacted me while I was gone. I actually was in Alaska checking on a new business adventure while I was gone. This time of year the nights are very long in Alaska and there are good business opportunities in the area for an enterprising vampire like myself. Although the nights are long and sometimes endless our kind have not populated the area much yet.” Eric sat behind his desk and began looking through paperwork, folders, and such. “Lover, would you like a drink?”
“Would you I asked and began unbuttoning my blouse?” He stood with a look of pure lust in his eyes and his fangs immediately ran out and he began slowly sauntering over to me. Then Pam walked in and I jumped and Eric just looked at the door and gave a hiss towards Pam and with a look so scary that I almost reacted to it. Pam didn’t say a word and slipped back out more quickly then she came in. Looking back at me the lust was back and I felt every ounce of it. How could he change moods so quickly? How had I not reacted to the fierceness put off towards Pam yet I felt it within him? Oh hell, I don’t care as he pulled me to him and kissed me and then slid his hand into my unbuttoned shirt and gently slid the lace on my new bra aside and again for the second time that night I didn’t feel the pain of his fangs penetrating my skin. I can’t believe I just offered myself to Eric and there was no sex involved. Where did that come from? He stopped feeding, licked his lips, bent to kiss me sliding his now warm tongue into my mouth and I could still taste me on him.
“Because just as I want to be with you and take care of you, you want to take care of me and feeding me is the basics of taking care of me.” I just stared at him. He had felt me conflicting within myself. “Lover, whatever you are feeling when I am feeding is practically like you speaking to me yourself. That is why we when we are having sex and I am feeding from you and you come so do I.” and with that I felt my face blush. “Now Lover, what can I get you to drink?” I had a smile that came across my face like the Cheshire cat, “Sookie, you better be really sure about that we are approaching ground even I have never been on before.”
“OK then, for now, how about I just settle for a champagne cocktail”, I said with the grin still on my face. Within seconds Pam was bringing my drink to me and to my amazement this time she knocked on the door and waited for Eric to say “Enter” before opening the office door. She looked sincerely at Eric, “Master I am sorry for my rudeness before” and he shot a glance towards me and although Pam felt it beneath her to apologize to a human she would not cross Eric, “Sookie, I am very sorry I barged in earlier. I will keep it in my mind to be more careful when you and Eric are together.” I just smiled at her with a swipe of my hand in the air trying to let her know it was no big deal. “Is Mason here yet,” Eric asked Pam “No, but he did call earlier, that’s what I was coming to tell you when I, uh, interrupted you. He will be her any minute now” “Come in and shut the door I would like to brief both you and Sookie before he gets here.” Pam obeyed and crossed the room and handed me my drink. “Mason is coming to inquire about our services, or specifically Sookie’s extra talent, to help with a situation. There have been a few vampire murders in Florida and the King is hoping to get to the bottom of this rather quickly.”
“Eric, you know I can’t read vampire minds how does he expect me to help?” I asked with a sigh.
“Many of the slayings have been happening in the day that simply means it is being done by humans who have been informed of the day rest places of these vampires.”
“Oh great, are you ever going to have a job for me that I can help with that WON’T put my life in danger?” and I looked at him and projected every ounce of seriousness I had to him. Then came a knock on the door. One of the vampire bouncers, Jake, opened the door “Master, the gentleman you are expecting is here.” With that Jake stepped aside and the vampire I assumed was Mason stepped in. He was wearing a taupe suite, not any off the rack thing, but a very expensive well cut suit. He had short sandy blonde hair and green eyes with detailed but not chiseled features. He looked like a high class lawyer.
“Northman,” the vampire said and nodded.
“Mason” and Eric nodded back. “I believe you know Pam” and Mason nodded towards her and she back to him. Then Eric held out his hand to me and took a few steps and put his hand on the small of my back. “Mason, this is Sookie Stackhouse” I nodded and Mason took my hand and kissed the back of it. With that I felt Eric tense a little and I responded with a calming feeling and I felt him calm down. Hum, I thought to myself, we may have to work on this possessiveness! “Sookie, this is Ethan Mason.” Eric added.
“Northman, I know you have been briefed as to why we are reaching out to you and Miss Stackhouse,” I noticed Ethan Mason had no accent I wondered how old he was where he was from so many of the vampires I have met in power seem to have an accent or at least a faded accent. This guy looks like he was probably a jock in high school and then turned sometime just before 30. Eric must have felt my mind wondering because he dug his fingers into my back where his hand still was just enough to get my attention. Mason continued, “In Florida as I am sure you are all aware the humans and even some of the shifters are heavy into drug trafficking. This is something that vampires have always prided ourselves from staying away from. In our area we don’t allow our donors to be into drugs either.” Donors, no additives in your dinner I was thinking. “But we have had,” and Mason stopped talking and looked at me then at Eric. “Continue if you expect out help” Eric said. Mason continued, “We have had some changes in our ranks. We have had some new Sheriffs rise up in the ranks and although they seemed to have gotten their positions legally and legitimately we believe they have something to do with the killings. We think they are trying to get more of their own into office in various spots so that they can make money on the trafficking of drugs. Our King will not stand for this and we feel that if we don’t put a stop to this now then an uprising to overthrow the King will advance.” Great just what I needed to be involved in yet another battle for territory. What the hell did the vampires do to keep their kingdoms safe before they were introduced to a telepath! “So what are your thoughts on how we can assist?” Eric asked. “The King would like to call a special summit and as we know you have done before Miss Stackhouse, for you to attend the Summit and tell us what you hear. No one will be the wiser of why you are there other than the King and me.” I was feeling a bit nervous; I mean the last summit didn’t exactly end great. The building burned down and so many died and well that is where Eric and I completed our blood bond with little choice in the matter. He was definitely the lesser of the two evils I was faced with.
“I will not attend without Eric,” I stated matter of factly. “How will you explain the fact you have an outsider and his human attending your Summit?” I questioned. Eric looked at me with a proud grin on his face. Why do people always just assume that if you are blonde and have a good body that you are stupid!
Mason looked at me with a bit of puzzlement on his face, “Very good question Miss Stackhouse.” Well even dumb blondes have their moments I guess, but I dare not say that out loud. “You will arrive as special guests of the King a few days prior to the Summit. After all Eric and the King go way back and he has visited on other occasions and this will not seem strange. With Eric having a strong political hold in the vampire community here it will just be explained as common interest with him visiting and my dear we will just present you as arm candy.” Great I get to try the dumb blonde routine I have gotten so good at while working at Merlotte’s on a whole new crowd. “Since we know that humans are involved and they will be at the Summit as well. This will give you the opportunity we need for you to do whatever it is that you do to see if you can pick up on any information for us.”
“When will the Summit be?” I asked.
“We want to pull it together rather quickly before another vampire is slain is our hopes. Since the Summit will only be for the Florida vampires we should be able to pull this together within the next couple of weeks.” Mason replied. OK so Florida in late April, that is a definite bonus for me. I could already feel myself sunbathing on the beach.
Eric looked down at me and said, “Lover would you and Pam mind going out into the bar? I have a few things I would like to discuss with Mason regarding our trip arrangements.” Hum, I guess us two dumb blonde women better leave the room so the big ole men can talk business. “Mr. Mason, it was a pleasure” with a nod and he took my hand again and kissed the back of it again, “The pleasure was mine Miss Stackhouse.” Then he nodded to Pam and out the door she and I went.
She walked me out to Eric’s booth and told me she had to work and would check with me a little later. She left me sitting there sipping on my drink and I began to wonder. Was it feasible for me to leave my life in Bon Temps on come to work here and live in Eric’s house? There would definitely be grudges to be held against me. But at least I would know who Eric would be feeding on and he wouldn’t be laying hands on any of these damn fang bangers! Wait, what was I thinking earlier about Eric’s jealousy? I guess we are going to share that emotion. Back to the question at hand, could I live this life? Could I leave my family home, my brother, my friends everything I had ever known behind and move here to be with Eric? I was deep in thought thinking about how my life would change thinking was I seriously considering this?
Then Pam slid in across the booth from me. “So Sookie, have you been well?”
“Yes, thank you and you”
“Sookie, I am worried. I worry about the effects you are having on Eric. I have been with him for so long and I have never seen him act the way he does for you or with you.”
“Pam, I understand your concern. I think he and I are both entering new territory with this relationship. I love him Pam. I would never do anything to intentionally hurt him.”
“You LOVE him? You LOVE Eric Northman? You are in LOVE with the Master Vampire Eric Northman?” Pam had an absolute blank look on her face as if the words she was saying were trying to sink into her brain.
“Yes, Pam, I LOVE him. WE are in LOVE.”
Pam still staring blankly at me, “Sookie what have you done to him. Do you have any idea how dangerous this could be for him?”
“Pam, I think we understand how dangerous this could be for both of us.” I said frankly.
Pam just stared at me and then reached across the table and to my shock took my hand in hers and said, “Sookie, I like you more then I have allowed myself to like any human in a very long time. My loyalty is to Eric. I can not, I will not stand by and watch his life ruined over you. As long as he is safe and happy then you and I will remain on good terms. If I have to choose his life over yours, there will be no choice.” And with that she walked off back to do whatever it is that Pam does.
It was almost closing time when Eric finally came out to join me. “Lover, I am sorry I was kept away from you for so long” and he kissed me as he sat in the booth next to me. Immediately the booth was surrounded by those who had been waiting all night to see Eric and I felt my blood boil just a little. Eric looked at me and took my hand in his and leaned over even with all the on lookers and gave me a kiss that I felt through my whole body. This was quite a shock because Eric was never one to show public display. He even fed from me in places no one else could see. I glanced out into the bar and saw Pam staring at us, well at me with a glare that, well actually scared me a little. Eric must have felt this because his eyes shot out into the room to find the source of my feeling and within a moment and a single look at Pam from Eric and she found plenty of things to do to keep her busy the rest of the night. I had let my guard down for a moment and let the comments of many of the humans seep in. “Why her, I am much prettier then her”, “If he is with her then I guess he isn’t interested in a buff guy like me”, “Oh, I wish I could trade places with her I would give anything to be sitting there” “If it meant being with him I wouldn’t mind sharing her too”. With that I closed my eyes and put my shields back up and sat quietly while Eric turned on the sexy and got up and took my hand and led me out to the dance floor. Eric can dance I thought to myself. He leaned in and said in a deep sexy voice, “Yes and I am actually quite skilled at it. Almost as skilled as many other things I do” Being a great dancer myself and knowing how skilled he was at other things this had me very happy and enjoying the next several minutes as we moved in rhythm and he spun me and we moved all over the dance floor while everyone else stood back and watched. Then after a couple of songs we walked off the dance floor and over to Eric’s throne and he seated me next to him. Now I was feeling a little awkward. Sitting with him in the booth had been one thing. This was something a little more definite. He leaned into me and whispered, “Calm down, you are mine and I am ready for everyone to know. You are my queen and you are to be revered just as I am when you are here.” His soothing voice helped calm me. The last call was made over the speakers and people as well as vamps started mulling around getting ready to depart for the evening. Eric stood and took my hand again and we walked across the bar going towards his office. “Pam, make sure everything is closed up. I will see you tomorrow night” and with that instead of his office door we left out the back. We walked me to the car and opened the door for me. I stopped reached my arms up around his neck and kissed him with everything I had. I drew me in closer and my stomach pressing against him felt the response of my kiss not only with his mouth but with the buldge in his jeans. Then he pulled back, “Sookie,” his voice was deep and breathy and I felt him say my name throughout my entire body even the hairs on my arms stood up, this was beyond the reaction I had even when Bill would say my name.
I interrupted him, “Say it again just like that” and he did and I pulled him to me again grinding myself into his leg. Again, he pulled back. I was getting very very frustrated. “Sookie” again with the voice, “I love you. You are beyond just being mine. I am yours. I want you with me. I need you with me.” Then he kissed me again. I was on cloud nine as I crawled into the car.
Chapter Seven I interrupted him, “Say it again just like that” and he did and I pulled him to me again grinding myself into his leg. Again, he pulled back. I was getting very very frustrated. “Sookie” again with the voice, “I love you. You are beyond just being mine. I am yours. I want you with me. I need you with me.” Then he kissed me again. I was on cloud nine as I crawled into the car.
We pulled up in front of Eric’s home. I still couldn’t believe that this was his home, a modern two story brick home. So unassuming that a 1000 year old vampire would live here in what seemed like an upper class family neighborhood. He pressed the button and pulled into the garage and parked along side the black Cadillac Escalade that I have never recalled seeing him drive. I guess it was for the occasion when he needed to carry around more than just one guest. We walked through the door that lead into the house which lead us through a laundry room and then into the kitchen. He flipped on the light and said “I have something I want to give you” and reached into the drawer and handed me two keys, “the first traditional looking key is for the house. It opens every door but one. That is what the second key is for. Lover, I am trusting you with my life. The second key opens the steel door in which I rest during the day.”
Tears filled my eyes as I looked at him. “Oh Eric, are you sure about this.” I said all sniffley.
“You need to be able to get out of the room and lock me back in when you are ready to wake and leave when you are here with me. I told you I love you and want you with me always and you showed me your trust and the fact you no longer fear me at all earlier tonight. I too trust you with my life.” He bent and kissed me tenderly and then licked my tears from my face. “Come Lover, I know you have been here before but now I need to show you where I rest. We walked up stairs to the end of the hall to what appeared to be a closet door. He opened the door and reached inside and flipped a switch and with that the shelving slid into the wall. He pushed on the back wall and it opened up and he flipped one switch and a light came on and I could see the stairway leading down to a steel door. He flipped another switch and the shelves slid back into place and then he closed the wall behind the shelves. We walked down the stairwell and he used a key to open the door and we entered into his day chamber. He had his house built so that the entire far 12 foot of length of the house was completely sealed off and hidden. Inside the steel door, after he turned on a light, I noticed that the entire room was a steel box. Inside he was safe. I was safe. I looked at the room with the huge 4 poster bed in beautiful dark wood and draped in black sheets and a black comforter. The floor was carpeted in a beautiful shade of red. Sitting against the wall of the door was a stainless steel refrigerator and a microwave. He was set he could hold up in here safely if he needed to. As if he knew exactly what I was thinking he said, “There is a small bathroom through the door on the right and the one on the left is a closet.” Ok, so with a little human food I could hold up in here with him. “Sookie we have some things we need to talk about. I am assuming you will go back to Bon Temps in the morning and since I don’t know when we will see each other again you need to prepare for the trip to Florida”
“Eric I need to bring your car back to you so I will see you in the next couple of days.”
“Lover, I told you that you could have the car, keep it as long as you like, keep it forever, or take the Cadillac and keep it or go pick out another and tell me how much and it is yours. The cars mean nothing to me. You are the only thing that matters to me, whatever makes you happy and safe is what I want. But I want to give you this,” he handed me his credit card, “shop wherever you want no amount is too much but buy some things for the trip. You will need at least three evening gowns and some nice dressy casual and whatever else you feel you might need. Do not worry about the cost. Have fun. You don’t have to buy it all at your friend’s shop in Bon Temps go wherever you like.”
“Will I not see you before we leave for Florida?” I was beginning to get sad.
“Lover, you can see me anytime you want. I am not sure how often I can get to Bon Temps over the next week or so since I have been gone for so long I need to catch up on my business affairs here before we leave for Florida.”
“Oh, I see.”, I said. “I am not sure of my work schedule but I will call you as soon as I know.”
“Sookie,” there are the goose bumps and hairs standing up again, “Stay here with me for the rest of the night. You can lock everything up when you go. Just keep in mind, no one but you and Pam my where my day chamber is. I don’t ever nest and I rarely ever allow another to stay over at my house.”
“Eric, more than anything I want to stay here with you. I have been giving some serious thought to your offer. I will continue to think about it, I promise.” “Lover, the sun is coming soon, let’s go to bed. I want to crawl into bed and hold you. I want to show you that my attraction to you is not just physical. I want to be with you, near you, not just sex and blood, but you all of you.”
Tears flowing again I grabbed his face and kissed him and we slowly undressed ourselves and I left on my new black lace bra and panties and he left on his black silk boxers and we crawled into be. He wrapped himself around me and I couldn’t imagine feeling any safer.
Chapter Eight The room was completely dark when I finally woke up. I looked at the clock on the bedside table and it was 10am. I slowly began to move and untwine myself with Eric. I clicked on the small lamp next to the bed and gathered up my clothes and went into the bathroom to take care of necessities. The room was small but the shower and the floor were slate grey stone with the shower closed in with those glass blocks that look like ice. There was a black toilet and black pedestal sink and a linen closet. All the basics in Eric style. I am not sure what would have possessed him in putting a toilet in the bathroom but I guess it must just have been for astetic purposes. I got dressed and gathered my purse and used the key Eric gave me to unlock the steel door and relock it as I walked out. I exited the stairwell the same way we came in and made sure my vampire was sealed up tight in his daytime resting place. I took the time to look at the rest of the house. One of the rooms upstairs was set up as a home office. Another large bedroom with an attached bedroom in stone and marble and glass and o the other side of the bedroom was a small sunroom area, I could see myself spending time sitting there reading. There was another descent sized room that had some exercise equipment in it. I had no idea that vampires worked out. There was another regular style bathroom in the hall. I went downstairs and as you entered through the front door there was a foyer with beautiful stone flooring that led down a hallway with hardwood floors that opened into a large room with beautiful chocolate leather furniture and a large flat panel television mounted above the fireplace and more stereo equipment then I think I could figure out in a built in nook. Off this room to one side was the kitchen that opened into a formal dining room and off the other side was a small hallway that had the stairs on the other side of the wall. There was a small half bath and a closet in the hallway then the hallway opened up to a very large room with a wall of windowed doors, so much for security. The room was huge and contained a pool table and another TV with a Wii hooked up and a couple of leather recliners and another leather couch and a wet bar area. The house was very modern not at all like my own home, the home I grew up in. I walked over to the glass doors and stepped out to the decking of one of the most beautiful swimming pools I have ever seen. It was complete with a Jacuzzi and a rock waterfall. Then I noticed where Eric’s hiding area would be a doorway in the back of the house. I used the key to open it and it was set up like a pool house. There was storage and pool equipment and chemicals downstairs and upstairs area with some casual furniture and a changing area. This is how he hid the fact that his house was longer on the end outside then it seemed inside. Very clever. Time was slipping away and I needed to get back to Bon Temps and get ready for work tonight. If I was lucky I could grab a nap before I went to work.
As I pulled into my driveway in Eric’s black Corvette Amelia was sitting on the porch. She just stared at me as I parked the Corvette next to her Mustang and got out. “I was worried about you when I got home this morning and your car was here but you weren’t. But I see you got a new car. How did you score that beauty?” she questioned.
“It’s Eric’s” I said as I walked up the steps to the porch.
“Eric’s? So you two are together?
“We are a little more then together Amelia. We are in love. I love him. He loves me and I am happy beyond what I ever thought I could be when I am with him.”
“Sookie are you sure? This is Eric we are talking about.”
“I know who I am talking about” I snapped at her. “Amelia, thanks for your concern but it’s real and it is with Eric, the Eric I think maybe only I know.”
“Ok I trust your judgment so what’s with the car did he give it to you?”
“He told me I could have it. He told me he would buy me a new one if I wanted. But I am going to give it back to him when I see him again. But first you and I are going to go shopping in style. He gave me his credit card too!”
“Sookie what’s going on? This isn’t like you.” “Don’t freak out on me. I have to go shopping to buy more new clothes since my last ones were destroyed in the fire. I have another Summit meeting to go to. This time in Florida.”
“Oh great because every time you go to one of these vampire meetings it turns out so well for you.”
“I know, I know and I thought the same thing. But it’s part of my life. I chose this and I have to live up to it. But right now I have to go in and eat and get ready for work. I have to tell Sam tonight I will be taking off work again. Come in with me I want to tell you something else.” I needed to bounce this idea of me living with Eric off of someone else. I already knew that Amelia wasn’t going to be the most objective person which I really don’t understand she doesn’t really know Eric. So we went inside and I started pulling out stuff to make turkey sandwiches and Amelia grabbed some chips and a couple of Cokes.
“So what is that you wanted to tell me, Sookie. Is it about me moving out? Have I overstayed my welcome?”
“No, not at all,” ok well that wasn’t the complete truth but that was something else I was indecisive about. I liked having Amelia here but then again I liked having my privacy not that I had needed much of it in the last several weeks but having it the other night was great. “It’s more about me and Eric. Eric wants me to move to Shreveport and live with him and manage the human wait staff at Fangtasia,” I said this so fast I think all the words just kind of ran together.
Amelia just stared at me for a long moment, “And”
“AND, I really want to. But I am afraid. Not of Eric, not of our relationship, but leaving everything I have ever known, leaving all my friends.” “Shreveport is only an hour away. What would you do with your house?” Not quite the response I had expected I think she was thinking of herself.
“Well I hadn’t thought about that yet. Since I haven’t even decided what I want to do I hadn’t thought of anything else. Eric has a beautiful home and I loved being there with him. Last night was so great.”
“Yeah, spare me the details of that or wait maybe give me the details,” she said with a grin and a couple of quick raises of her eyebrows. “AMELIA,” I said faking shocked. “Actually I will tell you about last night. We went to bed and held each other. That was it. No sex, no feeding, not that hadn’t happened already, “I said with a quick smile, “but I have never gone to bed with a man and just went to sleep. It was nice and it was Eric’s idea.”
“Are you serious,” her shock was not fake. “Eric chose to crawl in bed with you and snuggle.” Her disbelief was very apparent. “Yep, I told you he loves me.”
“So when do you have to decide if you are going to move in with him and go to work at Fangtasia?”
“There is no time limit. It is an open ended invitation whenever I think I am ready.”
“He didn’t give you a time table or an ultimatum he is leaving it completely up to you?”
“Yep” I said matter of factly.
“Wow, this from a Master Vampire to a HUMAN. He does really love you!” Again her shock was not fake and she took a bite of the sandwich I just sat in front of her. “How was your trip to New Orleans? How is your house?”
“Sookie, it is so depressing. Things are so messed up still. My place isn’t ready yet. I hope you don’t mind me staying here a while longer. My dad is so busy making money that he seems to have put my place on the back burner. I think I might have to get with my insurance company and get a different contractor.”
“You’re welcome to stay, you should know that,” now I was feeling guilty for my earlier thoughts, “I just want you to know Eric and I are together and sometimes that means we will need privacy and I really don’t want to inconvenience you, but sometimes we may want to be alone, here.” “Hey I understand. If me being upstairs with headphones on isn’t privacy enough just let me know and I will skedaddle.”
“Thanks, now I have to go get ready for work. I have to be there in about an hour.” I got up and Amelia let me know she would clean up. I went and jumped in the shower and got ready for work and jumped in my, uh, Eric’s car and off I went.
I pulled around back into the employee parking and took up two spaces, I didn’t want anyone to ding up Eric’s car. Arlene was getting out of her car, great just who I wanted to work with tonight. At least it was Saturday and we would be busy. Arlene and I could just barely be civil to each other since she fell in with The Fellowship of the Sun. She stared at me and said, “WOW, did you win the Lottery?”
“No, just a rich VAMPIRE boyfriend.” If looks could kill my funeral would be happening in about two days. She turned on her heels and stormed inside. I hadn’t noticed that Sam was out by the dumpster and he startled me when he said, “Rich vampire boyfriend, huh”. “Yep. That’s what I said.” “So you and Eric I presume are an official couple now?”
“Yes, we are. While we are standing here talking I might as well tell you that I am going to need some more time off. I just want to give you a heads up and right now I don’t know exactly when, a couple of weeks from now, and I don’t know for how many days yet.”
“Damnit Sookie, when are you going to learn to keep your nose out of those vampires business? You only end up getting hurt. Really hurt.”
“Sam I didn’t ask you permission to do what I want or need to do. I am asking you for time off work. And you will either allow me the time off work or you will fire me.” I have used that line on Sam so many times. One of these days he is going to call my bluff and fire me. I wondered if this would be the time. I left him standing there and rushed off. I don’t think I wanted to hear it right now if he was going to fire me.
Inside I found Holly and got a status on the tables I would be taking over. Not too many people were here yet. But there was my brother sitting with Tara’s new husband J.B. LaRue and Jason’s best friend and Holly’s boyfriend, Hoyt. I hadn’t seen much of my brother since the ceremony that divorced him and his cheating, whore, bitch of a wife. I wondered if they talked. I wondered what they were going to do about the baby if she was able to carry it to term this time. Of course they were sitting in my section since I was taking over for Holly and I really didn’t want to talk to my brother, I didn't want to repeat the conversation we had at Sonic the other day.. But I put on my best smile and started making the rounds. “Hey sis, you look great, what’s going on?” “I just got back from Shreveport, as you know Eric is back in town and I went back with him so we spend some time together.” The smile fell from his face, “Eric, damnit Sookie, when are you going to learn to leave those damn vampires alone! All they ever do is cause you trouble.”
“Did I ask your opinion? Don’t you have enough to worry about of your own? I swear everyone around here seems to just be making my decision that much easier.”
“What the hell are you talking about now? What decision?”
I just glared at him and walked off. I put my fake smile back on my face and checked on the rest of my tables. It was a long busy night and I didn’t have time for a break let alone time to think about anything else. I was just about ready to leave and was walking out of the bathroom and into Sam’s office to get my purse. Sam came in behind me and shut the door.
“Sook, I know you were angry with me before you think I am butting in but I just care about you. I always have. Always will.”
“I know Sam, but I am a big girl and I can make my own decisions. I love Eric and there is nothing anyone can do to change that.”
“LOVE him. Sookie you’re being stupid. You can’t LOVE Eric. Eric only thinks of himself. Look what happened when you LOVED Bill. What are you thinking!”
I was so mad my blood was boiling. I could feel my face flushing. “I will tell you what I think. I think – wait I KNOW, I QUIT!” I grabbed my purse and walked out the door.
Chapter Ten
I climbed into Eric’s car and just set there for a minute. I couldn’t believe what I had just done. I just quit my job. What was I thinking? I took a deep breath and I realized I could smell Eric in this car. So I inhaled again and felt the calm coming over my body. Just his scent was able to calm me. Now what am I going to do? I think I already know the answer to that. You would think that I would be upset about leaving the job I have been at the last five years. I started the car and drove home from Merlotte’s bar one last time. I walked into my house and sat down at my kitchen table. My gran was gone, had been for some time now. The kitchen that held so many fond memories was gone. A new one standing in it’s place, but it wasn’t quite the same. I think it is time to move on. I am ready to take the next step in my life and that step is with the man I love. My vampire. I called Eric’s cell phone. I needed to talk to him. “Lover, how are you?” is how he answered the phone. I could hear all the noises from the bar so I knew he was out on the floor. Chapter Ten
“Do you have time to talk?” I asked.
"For you I always have time. Is there something the matter?”
“There is something right”
“I don’t understand” “Eric, please tell me meant everything you said to me last night. EVERYTHING.”
“Lover, I meant every word of it”
“I quit my job” Silence on the other end of the phone.
“Hello?”
“Sookie, does that mean you are coming to me? Are you coming to be with me?”
“Yes, if you will have me.”
“I would have it no other way. When will you be here? Can I come and get you tonight?”
“Eric, I am just as anxious as you are, but I do need to wrap up a few things here first.”
“Pack your things I will send someone to pick it up tomorrow.”
“Slow down. I do need to wrap up a few things. It may take the better part of this week”
“I can’t wait to see you, will you come tonight and spend the night with me?”
“I think I can manage that. Let me get cleaned up and I will be on my way. I’ll meet you there, I’ll be there before closing.”
“I do love you”
I melted inside,”And I love you. See you soon.” I pulled into my driveway and just sat there with my mind racing. From the driveway I could see that Amelia was still awake with the lights from the TV glowing through the upstairs bedroom window. I walked in and walked upstairs. I rarely went upstairs anymore. She really had it fixed up nice. Her bedroom door was open but I still gave a little knock. She gave a little smile and clicked the TV to mute.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“I quit Merlotte’s. I finally just couldn’t take it anymore and Sam pissed me off trying to be the boss of my life not just my work and I quit.”
“So you’re going to Shreveport to be with Eric?”
"Yeah, I think so.”
“You think so?”
“OK I know so. I am actually going to go see him tonight. I just came home to shower, change and get some clothes together. Amelia, I am hoping that since your house in New Orleans isn’t ready that you will stay here and take care of my house. I will never sell my family home and right now I would just feel better with someone here.
“Thanks Sookie, thank you for not kicking me out. I love it here. I have never lived in a small town and definitely never lived out in the country before and I just love it here. I think that’s why I haven’t really pushed that my house in New Orleans isn’t ready yet.” Then there was a knock at the door downstairs. What now I thought. So Amelia and I both got up and took off down the stairs. It was Bill. When did he get back I thought to myself. He had been away on business for the new King of Louisiana. I opened the door and stepped aside so he could come in.
“Hello Sookie, Amelia. May I please speak to Eric.” with a grimmace on his face.
"He’s not here, Bill” and then Amelia said, “OK, I’m going to back to bed. Night y’all.”
“Has something happened? His car is here”, Bill asked a little confused.
“Well, something has happened but not in the way you think it has. Eric gave me his car to drive for a while.”
“Eric gave you his Corvette?” Bill was showing utter disbelieve.
“Bill come in. We need to talk.” I might as well get this conversation over with. I had hoped that Eric would be with me when I had this talk with Bill. But I know in my heart it is better that I have it with him alone. It’s only fair to Bill that I tell then he is free to feel however he wants without trying to cover up in front of his Sheriff. “Bill, you know that Eric and I have been stepping around having a serious relationship. I have put him off because I thought it was the blood bond that was drawing me to him. Bill, Eric and I are together now. We are in love.” He looked at me like I had just told him he was dying but he didn’t speak. So I continued, “There is more I need you to hear and I want you to hear it from me.” I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, “I am moving to Shreveport to live with Eric in his home and work at Fangtasia.” Bill got up from the chair and walked over to stare out the window'.
“That’s it then I should assume there is no longer any hope for you and I to get back together?” and he turned around and there was a single red tear rolling down his cheek. I walked over to him and wiped away the tear with my thumb and reached up and gave him a light kiss where the tear was and then I hugged him.
“Bill, I no longer harbor any hate for you. I have come to terms with what happened between us. I need you to know that I will always have feelings for you. You are the one that introduced me to how to love and was my teacher in the fine arts of intimacy. If I never would have met you I would have never learned how to love and be loved. I understand how difficult it will be for you to see Eric and I together but this is something that we will all have to learn to adjust to and deal with.”
“Sookie,” there was a tremble in his voice, “I will respect your choice. I will not make trouble for the life you have chosen. But I want you to know if you ever need anything I will be there for you. I will always care for you, there will never be anyone else I will feel this way about. I will love you until the day I meet my final death. Know that if you ever find your way to love me again I will come to you no matter where I am or who I am with.” He kissed the top of my head and walked out the door. I sat down in the chair and shed a few tears for the pain and sorrow I know Bill was feeling. This is definitely not going to be easy for him. I went down the hall and climbed into my shower and quickly cleaned the grime I felt from working at Merlotte’s off of me. I jumped out of the shower and my excitement in seeing Eric was growing. I slapped on some makeup, fixed my hair, and picked put on my new red lace bra and panties and sexy little red dress and matching shoes. I threw a couple of pairs of jeans and a couple of nice blouses and the rest of my new under things in a bag and threw in some shoes and gathered up my make up and the rest of necessities and hollered to Amelia that I would see her in a couple of days and out the door I went.
Chapter Eleven
I automatically pulled around to the back of Fangtasia and realized I didn’t know if I could get in the back door without Eric. I tried the door and it opened. I could feel an intensity growing within me as I walked in and I knew it was coming from Eric. I walked back to his office and the door was open slightly. I could hear voices inside so I stopped and listened, I listened with my ears since I knew it wasn’t humans in the office. I heard Pam, “Eric, are you sure about what you are doing. You are allowing a human to move into your home and how power within your bar.” Eric had had to tell Pam, I see we both had our issues to deal with tonight.
“Pam, you are right, this is my bar and I will do with it what I want. YOU WILL treat Sookie with the same respect as you do me. She is my queen and she will remain my human queen for as long as she chooses to be human. Pam you will protect Sookie’s life with your own. You will be sure that every other vampire that works in this bar respects her and understands that they are to protect her at all costs. She IS MINE and we ARE TOGETHER there is no other more important to me. NONE.” Then I gave a little knock on the door and pushed it open. “Am I interrupting?” and I walked in.
“Not at all Lover, I was just telling Pam our good news.” Eric stood from behind his desk and walked across the room to greet me with a tender kiss.
“Sookie, welcome to Fangtasia and to our lives,” Pam said with a crooked smile on my face.
“Thanks Pam, but right now I am only hear for a couple of days. I still have things to wrap up in Bon Temps before I am here for good.” I said with a smile as I wrapped arms around Eric’s waist.
“Leave us.” Eric commanded
“See you later Pam,” I smiled.
“Lover, I am so glad to see you,” I could feel his gladness from having my arms wrapped around him, “would you like to go out into the bar for a while or go home?” “We can stay, I don’t want to start taking you away from your work. Besides I dressed up for you so you can show me off.”
“You do look delicious,” he said with a grin showing his fully extended fangs. Then he placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me out into the bar. I put my shields up automatically, I didn’t want to hear the comments tonight. I was going to enjoy my euphoria. We walked straight out onto the dance floor where Eric pulled me close and we danced together as if we were one. He bent and kissed my neck and flicked my ear lobe with his tongue. Who knew there was a direct link between the ear lobe and between your legs and he pulled back and smiled at me, his fangs still extended and I knew he was feeling exactly what I was. We finished the dance and went to where Eric’s throne is. Only this time he seated me directly next to him in a chair that matched his only slightly smaller in size. I was his queen. Soon after Eric stood and in a loud booming voice he said, “Silence!” and the bar was quiet enough you could have heard a pin drop within seconds. “Those of you here tonight have the privledge of this announcement.” He held his hand back to me and I took it and he gently pulled me to him, “I present to you Sookie, this is my queen, she is to be treated with the same respect as I and revered just as I am.” I felt my face blush and I smiled nervously and I didn’t dare let my shields down. The bar irrupted in cheers and clapping and Eric held up his hand and silence again. In the loud booming voice again, “The last drink of the night is on me, enjoy.” With that we sat back down to watch the bar wind down for the evening.
Chapter 12
We left the bar and Eric deposited me in the driver’s seat of the Corvette but not before giving me a long deep kiss. I followed him home as he drove the Escalde. We parked in the garage and even before we could get all the way through the back door we were groping, fondling, kissing. Then he scooped me up and carried me up to the master bedroom upstairs. He laid me on the bed still fully clothed and he left his clothes on. Well now I was confused. He felt this. “Sookie, I want to show you something. I want to show you how connected we already are.” He said in a deep raspy voice. Then Eric was hovering over me without touching any part of my body. He made the motion of kissing my lips without touching me and I felt it just as if it he had laid his lips on mine. He moved down my neck, never touching me but I felt ever kiss and lick. He hovered over my breast and licked the air with a circling motion and then made a biting and sucking motion. I felt every bit of this on the nipple of right breast. Even though not a stitch of my clothes had been removed. He moved his way down my stomach kissing the air above me and I was breathing deeply with anticipation. “Spread you legs Lover.” I complied immediately spreading my legs and placing my feet flat on the bed with my knees up. He moved down onto the bed and my breathing was near panting with anticipation and I could feel my juices flowing. Again, he did not touch me. He left all my clothes in tact. Then I couldn’t take it any longer, near screaming, “Take me now!” I demanded and he bit into my thigh and I came with such intensity and I let out a loud “Oh my God!” My orgasm lasted until he stopped sucking. I lost count of how many times I must of said “Oh my God, Eric, don’t stop.” I had never experienced anything so intense. He stood. He undressed himself as I watched. As soon as I saw him release his huge tool I was ready. I began undressing. “No, let me,” Eric breathed in my ear as he took my hands. He kissed me deeply and I could still taste my blood in his mouth. He moved to my ear and down my neck. He began unbuttoning the front of my dress and slipped it down off my shoulders and over my hips tossing it across the room. He continued down to by breast teasing my nipples through the lace on my bra. “Off” I said in a voice that sounded like I had just ran a mile. He grabbed the middle of it between my breast with his teeth and ripped and it was gone. He took his time licking, sucking and biting each of my tits. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I grabbed his shoulders and he allowed me to flip him onto his back. Still wearing my lace panties I straddled his shaft grinding myself into him as I bent to kiss him and nibble and bite his bottom lip. He made some low groans which I could feel all the way through my body. I began kissing my way down his chest to stop and lick, suck and bite each of his nipples. Again the low groan and he ran his finger through my hair. I continued kissing down his stomach following the trail of dark blond hair that lead from his navel with my tongue. I was entering into new territory. This was something I had never done before. Bill was always in charge and was so focused on making sure I pleased that I never did this for him. The only other man I had been with I had only made love to once. Quinn and I never got to explore our relationship much past that. I looked up and Eric had moved onto his elbows to watch me. Now I was really nervous. He moved one hand and pulled my hair back to hold it out of the way. Watching was definitely something he enjoyed. I wrapped my hand around his shaft and he took in a deep breath. My hand barely able to encase his massive member, I let my tongue circle the head and gave the top a scrape with my teeth ending with a kiss on the top. I felt his grip on my hair tighten. Then a gentle nudge down and I was barely able to take the entire head of his huge dick into my mouth. Using my hand in a up and down circling motion and running his dick as far in and out of my mouth I could I found myself getting into a rhythm. I looked up at Eric and his head was back and his eyes were closed and he was making very low noises and then I heard him growl and words in a language I didn’t understand and then he grabbed me and pulled me up to his mouth and while kissing me deeply he reached down and ripped off my red lace panties. Lifted me and lowered me down onto him and I moaned as I consumed all of him deep into me. He was sitting up kissing my neck and whispering into my ear in that language I didn’t understand as I pounded myself onto him. Each of my thrusts we harder and harder and I didn’t think I could take him any deeper. He grabbed my hair pulling it back and he was pulling and I liked it and I increased my rhythm. Here it comes again, “Oh my God, Oh Eric, I’m cumming!” I shouted and he pulled me tighter to him and pulled my hair harder and bit and a low growl came from him as he was latched onto my neck and I felt his spasms inside me knowing he was climaxing too. Wait, he bit my neck. Eric has never bitten my neck. Eric didn’t believe in fang marks where they could be seen. I collapsed on the bed next to him and he moved down beside me and kissed me and then my neck and then moving down. How in the world could he be ready again. We just finished. “Relax Lover, let me clean you up.” One thing you learn early on about vampires is they can’t resist any type of body fluid. So I laid back and slowed my breathing from the marathon I just felt like I had ran and let him do as he wished. He finished and came to lay next to me kissing me and I could taste our combined juices on his mouth. We lay there holding each other quietly for several minutes.
“Eric,” I finally broke the silence, “I want you to know something. I have never done that before. I have never given a blow job before.” “I know Lover, I could feel your hesitation and concern. Sookie, you did great. You’re a natural.” He smiled.
“Gee thanks.” I gave him a little slap on his chest. He put his hand under my chin and pulled my face up to look at his.
“I am proud to be your first in this area. I will be the last.” He said this in all seriousness.
Feeling a little awkward, “Is that a proposal.” I smiled and snuggled my head back onto his chest. He was quiet. I couldn’t feel anything coming from him. We dropped the subject and fell asleep. I woke to him moving out from under me and crawling out of bed. “Where are you going?” I asked groggily.
“Daylight will be here soon Lover. I must go to my day chamber.” He said as he stroked my hair.
“Can I come too?”
“Anytime” he took my hand and I followed him through the his secret passage down the stairs both of us still without a stitch of clothes on.
Chapter 13
When I woke up I was still wrapped in Eric’s arms. I looked at the clock and it was already 12:30. I am definitely hungry I thought to myself. So I wiggled out of Eric’s arms, no easy thing to do since this huge man laying next to me was literally dead weight. I looked in his closet and grabbed a black silk robe that was at least three times too big for me and I headed upstairs carefully closing the secret passage behind me. I stopped in the master bedroom and picked up the ruined bra and panties to throw away. Picked up my dress and hang it in the empty closet and grabbed Eric’s clothes to put in the laundry. I jumped in the shower and when I climbed out I realized I didn’t bring in my bags last night. I slid Eric’s robe back on and headed downstairs. I about jumped out of my skin when I walked through the kitchen and ran into a young woman. I bumped into her so hard that I knocked her down. We both screamed. “Who the hell are you and what are you doing here!” I shouted. “Excuse me ma’am. I didn’t know anyone was here. I am Maria, I am the housekeeper. I come every Sunday after I get out of church. You must be Sookie, Master Eric called me to tell me that you would be living here very soon so that I wouldn’t be startled when I came in and found someone in the house. I hadn’t realized you were here already.” I read her thoughts to make sure she was telling the truth and she was a good broadcaster. Her first thought, ouch my rear end hurts, she is very attractive, I wonder how long he will keep her around he never has anyone here, I hope she isn’t messy, I wonder if they will want me to come more than once a week. Ok if there was anything else other than curiosity it should have been at the front of her mind. “Maria, it’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry Eric didn’t mention to me that you would be here today. I am very sorry I knocked you down.” And I extended my hand to help her up. “Excuse me please, I was just on my way out to the car to get my bag and then I will be gone soon after.” I and went and got my bag out of the car and grabbed my cell phone and saw that I had missed a call. It was from Amelia. I assume she just wanted to check on me. I would call her back later. I had intended on Amelia going shopping with me. Maybe should still could. I’ll call her back now. “Hey Amelia I saw I missed your call, what’s up?” I asked when she answered.
“I was just checking on you. Everything ok?” She asked.
“I’m great. I was just about to get dressed and go shopping? Remember I still need to buy clothes.”
“I am out running around. I bet I could be in Shreveport in about 30 – 40 minutes. Where do you want to meet?” “I still have to get dressed and grab something to eat so that should be perfect timing.
" Let’s meet in the parking lot at Fangtasia and we can go from there. You know how to get there?”
“I’ll find it on my GPS. See you in just a bit.”
I got dressed and went down stairs to see if Eric might have any human food. Nothing. I was going to have to go to the grocery store and pick up a few things. I know there has to be something along the way from here to Fangtasia for me to grab a bite because I am starving. I said good-bye to Maria and jumped in the Corvette. It didn’t take long before I spotted a Waffle House. That sounded great. I walked in and even in early afternoon it was busy. I walked in and got a friendly hello from behind the counter. Everyone looked up to take a look at me and there were several men from sitting around. The all looked to be from a construction crew. I hadn’t quite got my defenses up and heard what’s a chick like that doing here trying slumming, nice rack, come over hear honey and sit on my lap. Ok that’s enough I put up my shields. “Hi honey, can I get you some coffee?” said the round older lady from behind the counter. “Yes, please.” I placed my order when she came back. Waffle, hash browns, bacon and toast, I was starving. Eric really knew how to make me have an appetite. I ate every bite! I was stuffed. When I got to the Fangtasia parking lot Amelia wasn’t there yet. I took a minute of downtime and just listened to the radio. I was singing along to “Hinder” when Amelia pulled up and she had a big smile on her face. We rolled our windows down and I told her to park and get in the car with me. I knew where the mall was so I didn’t mind driving.
When we got to the mall and were walking in Amelia said, “Sookie, Sam called me this morning. He asked if I had heard from you and was worried about you.”
“What did you tell him?”
“The truth. That I hadn’t talked to you today. He asked me if I thought you would cool off and come back to work. I told him not to count on it.”
“Good. Thanks.”
“He asked me if I was interested in filling in your shifts. I told him I would think about it and let him know tomorrow. Honestly, I wanted to talk to you about it that was part of the reason I called this morning.”
“Amelia, hon, take the job. You need something to keep you busy. I have no intentions of going back to work at Merlotte’s so you can not only fill in for me you can have my job.” We talked and shopped for several hours. I couldn’t believe how much fun shopping could be when I didn’t have to worry about the money I was spending. I had never been to a Victoria’s Secret before. But Amelia dragged me in and there were so many beautiful things. I kept thinking how much Eric would like this or that. Then I wondered how many of those things would end up destroyed after only being worn for a few hours. I didn’t like going without a bra because of the bounty I had been blessed with and one of the dresses I bought was backless with a halter style top and they actually had a bra there that went with that type of dress. It was getting late and I wanted to be home when Eric got up. Amelia had done a fair share of shopping herself and I was wondering if all the bags were going to fit in the car and us too. But we managed. I told Amelia she should come to Fangtasia tonight and see Pam. I knew they hadn’t seen each other in a couple of months. Pam had been busy taking care of things while Eric had been gone. Since technically I was still a guest in Eric’s house I wasn’t comfortable inviting her back to the house if she decided to go tonight plus the fact I didn’t know what Eric had in store for me when he got up. She said she might take me up on the offer but she would decide later. She said she wanted to go visit some witch friends she hadn’t seen in a while. So we said our good-bye’s and put her bags in her car and I went back to Eric’s house and carried my purchases in and put them away. I didn’t want to leave them in the bags to get wrinkled. It was still at least half an hour before Eric would be waking up so I went downstairs to try and figure out how to turn on the stereo. There were four different remotes. The first one I picked up shocked me when I pushed the red button. In the game room I heard a noise and walked in to find metal curtains coming out of the ceiling to close off all the windows. OK I take back my statement I made yesterday about security being mute. I hit the button again and opened them back up and grabbed a different remote. Finally I got the stereo on and it piped through the entire house. I picked a station with rock ballads and just sat down and relaxed for a little bit.
Chapter 14
I heard Eric moving around upstairs and thought he would come down and find me but then I heard water running. I walked upstairs and heard water running in the master bath and walked in and there was Eric in the huge Jacuzzi tub. He smiled at me and asked why I was still dressed. I slowly undressed in a little strip tease to the music piping in from down stairs. His eyes were fixed on me and his fangs ran out. I stopped at the sink and put my hair up since I had just washed it this morning I didn’t want to have to fix it again. I climbed in to the tub with him and sat at the other end so we could face each other. The water was almost too hot for me to bare. Eric turned off the water and turned on the jets. “This feels nice,” I said with a smile of my face.
“I know what would feel better,” fangs still extended and he reached across the tub and pulled me to him and turned my back to his. You can imagine what I thought was coming next and I wasn’t going to object. Instead he started messaging my neck and shoulders with his huge hands. I felt him kiss my neck where the fang marks were from the night before. “I’m sorry about this Lover. I got a little carried away.
“It’s ok, as long as my hair is down you can’t see them” and I settled back into him.
“Still I was out of line and it won’t happen again, I promise” he kissed the spot again. I turned my head back towards him as far as I could and began kissing him and his hands started kneading by breasts and I maneuvered myself up and onto his shaft. He didn’t feed from me in the tub.
“Eric, you didn’t feed. Don’t you want to feed before we leave for the bar? “
“Sookie, I drank a lot of your blood yesterday. You need to take a night off.” I felt almost disappointed and then jealousy set in.
“I won’t feed from anyone else Lover. You will be the only one I will feed from as long as you will have me.”
“You don’t like synthetic blood. You never touch it if you can avoid it.” I said concerned.
“I can manage it for a day so you can rebuild your own supply. Now we need to get ready to go.”
“I bumped into the housekeeper today, Maria.” He didn’t know how literally I meant that.
“I forgot to tell you about her. I meant to let you know that she would be here. She comes every Sunday. If you would like her to come more often just let me know and I will arrange it.”
“Once I move in you don’t have to pay for anyone to clean the house. I can do it.”
“Lover, I have had someone come in once a week to dust, sweep, do my laundry, all the basics for a very long time. Enjoy being waited on. You will have enough to do keeping me happy and working at Fangtasia.”
“Ok. If that’s the way you want it I won’t fight it. Can we stop and get me something to eat on the way to the bar?”
“You aren’t planning on eating one of those grease filled hamburgers are you? I hate the way that sort of thing tastes in your blood.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Anything else you don’t like the taste of when I eat?”
“High fat, please eat lean meats. No garlic. Not too much caffeine and not too much alcohol.”
“Anything else?” I put my hands on my hips and stared at him.
“You asked, did you not want me to be truthful?” he looked puzzled.
“Ok. We just stop somewhere and get a nice grilled chicken salad a glass of tea.” I decided I would wear one of new outfits. A short black leather skirt with a carnation pink silk blouse that cut low and I had added a black lacey camisole under it to not look slutty and leather boots with a small heel that hugged my calves all the way up to just under my knees. I left my hair all the way down and added a few curls and freshened up my makeup and dabbed on a little Obsession. Eric was already downstairs drinking his first True Blood when I walked down the stairs. He stood staring at me. I did a little turn for him to take in all of me.
“You look,” and he stopped.
“What. What is wrong?” I began to frown.
“Sookie, you are drop dead sexy.” He moved across the room faster then I could track and his arms were around me and he was giving me a deep kiss and I kissed back with everything I had.
“I’m glad you like it. I bought it today when I went shopping.”
“It’s gorgeous. I can’t wait to see the rest of the things you bought.”
We pulled into Chili’s and pulled into the “Curbside To Go” spot. While I was getting ready Eric had called and ordered dinner for me. How sweet. We pulled into Fangtasia and I went into Eric’s office and sat down to eat my dinner. He went out into the bar to check on operations. Pam came in a few minutes later and was actually very pleasant to me while I consumed my dinner. I wondered if Amelia would make it in tonight. I know that it would just make Pam’s night. With neither of them being gender specific about their dating habits they had hit it off a few months ago. Eric came in and sat behind his desk. “Lover, when will you be ready to take over your new position here. I don’t want to announce it to the staff until you are ready to take over the job.”
“Are you sure about this? I have never been a supervisor before. Goodness knows I have plenty of waitress experience but I have never been over a staff.” I was a little worried.
“You will do fine. I know you will. I have complete confidence in you. Besides, Pam and I will be here for you.”
“I still need to go back to Bon Temps and put a few things in order and pack up my clothes and Amelia and I need to talk about the house a little more. Then we have the Florida trip coming up. I should probably wait until we get back for the trip. Don’t you think?”
“It’s completely up o you. You can start tonight or next year. I leave this decision up to you.” He was busy going through paperwork on his desk.
“Next year,” I looked at him with my eyebrows raised.
“Yes, Lover, next year. When I asked you to move here with me I wasn’t talking about just for a month or so. I told you, I want you with me always.” I started to well up with tears again. “Don’t cry, please.” Eric said with what I thought was nervousness in his voice. I found it a little humerous that a crying woman can affect a 1000 year old vampire. And then Eric’s cell phone rang. “Yes,” what phone edicate. “yes, yes,” he scribbled on a notepad, “we expect our travel expenses to be covered in addition to the fee, yes, that is acceptable.” And he hung up. “We will leave for Florida on the 24th.”
“That’s just nine days,” I was nervous just thinking about it.
“Yes, they will call me later tonight with travel arrangements. We will be traveling by Anibus.”
“I really do need to go back to Bon Temps tomorrow and get things in order.” Now I was really nervous. Eric got up from his desk and came and bent down on his knees in front of me where I was sitting on the couch.
“Lover, what are you worried about the trip or moving to be with me?” the concern on his face was so sincere.
“Honestly, both. Eric, I love you and I want to be here with you but it is still scary for me. I never thought I would be living with any man. I definitely had never had anyone talk to me about being together in the future and you are making plans that we would be working together and living together a year from now. As for the trip I am scared to death. Nothing good ever happens when I travel to use my ability. I just hope this time neither of us get hurt.” Eric leaned in and kissed me gently and soon it turned more pationate with his tongue parting my lips and sliding into my mouth and then his hands were messaging my breast through my shirt. My hands were moving over his shoulders and down his back and pulling him to me. After about a ten minute make out session Eric stopped.
“Lover, it’s time to work. I need to spend time out on the floor tonight. It would probably do good for you to start spending more time out on the floor too.” We spent the evening out in the bar. Eric took time to explain the operations to me. Most of the night we were in his booth and he made idol chit chat with the vampires that would come up to speak to him and introduced me to those that weren’t there the night before. Eric consumed several bottles of True Blood still not totally satisfied, I could feel this from our bond. We closed up the bar and headed home. Home, could I call it home yet? Once we got home Eric took me by the hand and we went to the living room and he sat me down on the couch and grabbed the remote. “Let’s watch a movie together.” He scanned through all the channels, I think he must have every cable channel available. He was courteous and asked if I cared what we watched. I didn’t. I was just enjoying this seemingly normal moment. He settled on “Gone in 60 Seconds.” Then he reached down and grabbed my feet turning me sideways on the couch and putting my feet in my lap. He took my boots off and gave me a wonderful foot and calf message. I was so relaxed and I just crashed. I woke up to being carried upstairs. “I am so sorry I fell asleep on you.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. I felt so secure in his arms.
“You rest when you need it. I don’t apologize for not being with you during the day when I rest.” He gave me a sweet kiss.
“Will you sleep with me tonight or do you want to sleep in your room.”
“My place is next to you. Do you mind me sleeping with you every night?” I hugged his neck tighter.
“I wouldn’t want you anywhere else unless you wanted to be.” Another kiss. We went down to Eric’s day chamber and he stood me at the end of the bed. He slowly undressed me until I was wearing nothing but my lace panties. He scooped me up and lay me on the bed. He undressed down to his royal blue silk boxers and crawled in bed next to me. He pulled me in next to him tucking my head under his chin and pressing my bossom into his chest and kissed the top of my head. “Is this alright for tonight?”
“You are happy just laying with me? You haven’t fed from me and we haven’t had sex since the tub. You want to just lay with me?” tears started rolling.
“Sookie,” that deep low voice that gave me goose bumps, “I want you to be with me. I want us to lead some type of normal life for you. If you try and keep up the vampire life you will wear out your human body and become sick. We can’t have that. I want to ravage your body every minute I am with you. But we both know that isn’t possible. Tonight we will just be together. Tomorrow you will go back to Bon Temps and take care of whatever you feel necessary and when you come home to me I will make sure you have a proper welcome.” I felt something weighing heavy on Eric’s mind but I wasn’t going to push the issue. I assumed he was just worried about the upcoming trip. I snuggled in and went fast to sleep. When I woke up the next morning neither of us had moved we were in the exact same position. I rolled over and looked at the clock. It was only 8:00am. I hadn’t gotten up this early in a long time. I crawled out of bed and went upstairs. I took a quick shower and threw on some jeans and T-Shirt. I didn’t pack any of my things. Not even my hair brush since I had another in Bon Temps. No reason to take anything with me that I was just going to have to pack again. I hadn’t bought any groceries yet so I couldn’t even have a cup of coffee. I went out to the garage and began to crawl into the car. I stopped and went back in and wrote a note. I took the SUV since I will bring stuff back with me. I hope you don’t mind. I love you. See you in a few days. Love Sookie.
Chapter 15
I stopped by Starbucks on my way home. Not something I do very often because they are so expensive. But I got a Venti Breakfast Blend and a Blueberry Muffin and I started towards Bon Temps. It was just before 10 when I pulled up in my driveway and Amelia was sitting out on the porch enjoying coffee. I smiled as I walked up to the porch and she smiled back, “Morning Sunshine. I didn’t expect to see you this early.”
“I got to bed early last night.”
“Oh, no did something happen between you and Eric?” She said with concern in her voice.
“No, everything is absolutely great! It was just a relaxing night.” I went inside and grabbed all of my suitcases out of the attic. I gathered up all of my laundry and took it out to the back porch to get my laundry caught up.
“So you are really doing this. You are moving to Shreveport?”
“Yes, I really am. But first I need to talk to Jason. So I want to get as much done as I can and then go talk to him when he gets off work.” Amelia and I talked and we arranged for her to pay bills even though I am leaving them in my name. I asked her to just hold onto my mail and I would pick it up later but I had intentions of getting my mail forwarded for my bank and credit cards.
I left the house and was sitting in Jason’s driveway when he got home. He wasn’t sure who it was sitting in his driveway when he saw the Escalade sitting there. When he got out and looked in he just rolled his eyes and walked towards his house. I got out and followed him up to the porch. “Jason, I need to talk to you.”
He swung around, “What!”
“I want you to hear what I have to say from me and not someone else. Understand right now I am not asking permission or approval I just felt I ought to tell you since you’re my brother.” He just stared at me and waved his hand in a circular motion telling me to get on with it. “Jason, I am moving to Shreveport. I am moving in with Eric and going to work at Fangtasia.”
“You can’t be serious, Sookie. What you think you are going to move in with that big ass vampire and get married and live happily ever after? Just because marriage between vampires and humans is legal now that don’t mean he’s got those intentions. Why marry the blood donor when she’s giving it up for free.”
“First, Fuck you, Jason. Second, did you hear me say anything about marriage? I said I was moving to Shreveport. It is time for a change. Being in love with Eric and spending so much time with him is just a perk. Again, not asking for permission, just wanting you to know. I am going on a trip in about a week. I will be gone about a week. But I don’t need anything from you Amelia is staying at the house. She is going to keep living there at least until her place in New Orleans is fixed up and then I will take it from there.”
“Fuck you too. Go climb back into FANGS32” that is the license plate on the Escalade, “and get the hell out of here. Don’t call me when you end up in trouble and that big ass Viking Vampire dumps you for some new younger fangbanger.” He turned around and walked into his house. I left, a little sad because mine and Jason’s relationship was still so strained. I decided I needed to go by Merlotte’s I needed to talk to Sam. He had been so good to me all these years I didn’t want to just leave it from when I stormed out last night. I pulled up in the parking lot and parked where the customers park, it was a strange feeling walking through the front door of Merlotte’s. I walked in and Sam was behind the bar. I walked up and he just stared at me.
“Can we talk?” I asked.
“So talk,” he was very sharp with it.
“Could we go to your office, please.” He sighed and walked out from behind the bar and I followed him to his office and shut the door when I walked in. “Sam, I am sorry for the way I left last night. I am not sorry for quitting although I am sorry for not giving you a chance to find a replacement for me, even though I know you have that covered.”
“So that’s it. You came to make yourself feel better?”
“Well, maybe so. But I also wanted to tell you that I do appreciate the great friend you have been over the years and thank you for all the times you have helped me and even saved my life. Sam, I really hope we can still be friends.”
“Sookie, what are you going to do? You can still have your job back. All you have to do is ask.” He had a sad look on his face.
“Sam, I am going to work at Fangtasia managing their human wait staff and I am moving in with Eric.”
“Sookie, NO, you are making a huge mistake.” Now he is angry.
“I’m sorry Sam but you really don’t have any say in this. The choice is mine. It is MY life.” I walked out. I went by Tara shop so I could tell her what was going on and to see if she had anything in the shop I needed for my trip. After all I still had Eric’s credit card and more shopping to do. Tara usually always had something for me at the shop and this time I didn’t have to worry about it being on sale. She was helping another customer when I walked in and so I began browsing. Right away I picked out a suit, I thought it best I have one or two business style outfits. This was a black jacket and matching skirt that hit about two inches above my knee and there were light pink pin stripes in the suit and Tara had a matching sleeveless satin shell hanging with it that was perfect. I could wear it with low healed pumps I already owned. Tara was still busy so I continued browsing. I found a Navy pant suit the jacket had fitted short sleeves, it looked like something Amelia might wear, but it was very classy. I picked out a white camisole with lace to go under the jacket. I think I am set for the business look. I began browsing the evening wear when Tara strolled up to me. “Back so soon?” she asked smiling.
“Well, if you would rather me spend my money somewhere else…” I said with a smile.
“Well, I guess you need to spend it somewhere it might as well be here.” And she hugged me. Tara and I are close but I hadn’t expected the hug. I hugged her back and let my guard down to see what was going on. I should have just waited for her to tell me.
“Sookie, I am pregnant!” she was glowing.
“Oh, Tara I am so happy for you and JB!” I hugged her again.
“When is the baby due?”
“Not until November, but we are so excited. We have started looking for a house so we can moved and a nursery set up before the baby is born.”
“Tara, I really am happy for you. I actually came in to share some news of my own.”
“Does it have anything to do with you quitting Merotte’s?”
“How did you know about that?”
“Sookie, really, you know that nothing is secret around this little town. JB told me, he heard it from someone at the gym.”
“I don’t care. I don’t care if the whole town knows already. Now I can just give them more to talk about. I am moving to Shreveport to live with Eric and I am going to work at Fangtasia and managing the human waitstaff there.” I knew I had a smug grin on my face. Tara just stared at me for a minute. She wasn’t sure what to say, I could hear that from her. There was no judgement in her mind, just blankness. She was at a loss for words. I gave her a little pat on the shoulder. “Thanks for not telling me I am making some huge mistake. Speechless is much better than saying something stupid.”
“Sookie, if you are happy and this is what you want to do then I am happy for you.” She was telling the truth and I put my guard back up. “Ok so what’s the shopping occasion this time?” Now the smile was back on her face.
“I have another trip. I am going to a vampire summit in Florida.”
“So what all do you need. Let me be your personal shopper today. What’s our budget?”
“There is no budget. I still have Eric’s credit card and he told me have fun. I already bought a few things at the mall the other day and I want to get these two suits but I could use a couple of evening/cocktail type dresses.”
“I have some great new dresses in. Come on let’s spend some money.” She said with a sly smile. Tara pulled out a beautiful long emerald green dress covered in clear beads. From the front the dress looked complete just a slightly scooped neck and covered my entire chest but the back was completely open. The dress attached to itself across my shoulder blades and then was open all the way down to just above my rear end. It was very fitted and showed off all my curves. Tara recently started carrying some shoes and she brought a pair of hills that where clear straps and a clear heal that looked great with the dress covered in clear beads. The next dress I chose was a beautiful gold dress that was shimmery. The neck was a low V and it had long sheer fitted sleeves and the back matched the V in the front, just not quite as low as the green dress. The front of the dress hit just above my knees and the back trailed down my legs and had a little train. Tara brought a pair of shoes that laced with an actual golden ribbon that criss crossed my foot and then made one wrap around my ankle and tied. They were at least three inches and made my muscular legs look great. Both of the dresses were great at accenting my tan and long blond hair. I bought the two suits and two dresses and two pair of shoes and tried not to have a heart attack when Tara told me the price. I decided that it would be nice to take Tara and JB out to dinner and celebrate both their good news and mine news. When I asked her she accepted very excited. Tara closed her shop at 6 and JB got off at the gym at five that would give him time to go and clean up and change. Tara already looked great. I thought that would give me time to go back to the house and shower and change since I hadn’t planned on an evening out I wasn’t exactly dressed for it. Somehow the jeans and long sleeved t-shirt just didn’t seem to fit the occasion. Amelia was getting ready to go to work at Merlotte’s and I told her Tara’s good news and she seemed guinuinly happy for the Tara and JB. I decided as I went back to my room that there really wasn’t a reason for me to plan to spend the night here. I saw everyone I needed to see and all I needed to do was return my library books. Anything that I left here I could come back for if I needed it. I decided I would get dressed for seeing Eric after my dinner with Tara and JB. I showered and dried my hair and pulled part of it back in a barrett and added some curls to it. I put on a little makeup and some pink lip gloss and now the hard decision… what to wear. This after all would be my first official night in my new home with my new love. I had to go out to the car and get a couple of the bags I had already packed. The only clothes I had left in the house were some very casual things and then most of my winter stuff. Being April in Louisiana we didn’t have much use for cool weather clothes. I went through my clothes and decided and a low rise pair of black pants that showed off my curves and white wrap around shirt that was very low cut and I put on a black camisole and situated it just right so that my midriff showed just slightly. I pulled on a pair of black ankle boots and gave myself a quick look in the mirror and was pleased with my selections. I cleaned up and pulled my suitcase back by the front door and put my towels out on the back porch laundry. When I came back into the living room I just about jumped out of my skin. Jason was standing just inside the front door. He half hearedly smiled, “Sis you look really nice,” he looked down at the suit case, “so, are you sure about this? Is this really what you want to do?”
“Yes, I really want to do this. I thought after everything you had gone through that you would be better equipped to understand. Jason, I love Eric and he loves me and I don’t care what anyone thinks about it I am going to move to Shreveport and be happy.”
“Sook you’re right. I do understand that you are just trying to be happy. If Eric makes you happy then you should be with him. I am so sorry for being such a jerk earlier. I guess with the divorce and everything that has gone on I am just a little skeptical of love. I have done such a crappy job of taking care of you and well, honestly, Eric scares the hell out of me and I just don’t know what I would do if anything were to happen to you.”
I walked across the room and gave him a hug, “Thanks big brother. Your support means so much to me. Hey, do you want to come to dinner with me and JB and Tara tonight?” Jason always looked great so he wouldn’t need to go and change and we wouldn’t be late.
“Sure, where we going?”
“I don’t know we hadn’t decided yet.” So we went out the door and headed to pick up JB and Tara. I didn’t tell Jason their news, I figured that wasn’t mine to tell. I wasn’t sure how Jason would take the news after all his whore of a wife was just 5 months pregnant and who knew if she would be able to carry to term. After all she had already had two miscarriages. Tara and JB looked really happy together and I was so happy that they had found each other. I asked Tara where she would like to go. Anywhere she wanted it was my treat. I figured that my budget could handle it. After all I wasn’t sure how Eric and I were going to handle our living arrangements but I was sure that I would make more money at Fangtasia then I did at Merlotte’s. Tara actually picked a restaurant just about 10 minutes this side of Shreveport. It was a great Italian food restaurant. Which I hadn’t eaten at in a really long time since garlic really wasn’t in my diet much anymore. But I drove us there anyway and figured I could find something that wouldn’t displease Eric too much. We were seated immediately and we had great conversation and a bottle of wine that the waiter suggested since none of us knew beans about ordering wine. Tara settled for iced tea. I had to be sure that I ate plenty of protein now that Eric would be feeding from me on a regular basis so I actually ordered steak with and mushroom burgundy sauce and a salad with a tomato basil dressing. We all had something different and just like when we were kids we all tasted each others food. Everything was great. I had an idea. I wasn’t sure what everyone would think, but I thought I would give it a shot. “Listen, I want you all to know that I am ok if you don’t want to, but after this I would love it if y’all would come to Fangtasia with me and spend some time with me and Eric. Seriously, only if y’all want to.” Then my nervous smile came on my face. They all looked at each other for just a minute. Then to my amazement I got almost simotanious yes’s from all three. I was so happy that they were willing to come I really felt like they were OK with this and that meant the world to me. We finished dinner at a casual pace after all Fangtasia wouldn’t be open for another half an hour, not that I needed it to be open. We arrived at Fangtasia and I parked right in the front door. Pam was working the front door and smiled at me as I walked up.
“Sookie, so good to see you. We weren’t expecting you tonight.”
“Hi Pam, you know my brother Jason, this is my best friend Tara and her husband JB.”
“Bringing the family home to share some time with the lover, how quaint.” Pam said with a smile and a wink.
“Is he here already?”
“Oh yes, he was here early since he didn’t have a reason to not be.” Again with the wink and smile and a touch of my arm this time. “Please, do come in everyone.” I walked in first and Jason was right behind me almost too close, I could feel his tension.
“Relax Jason, no one is going to hurt you. You are safe. Just enjoy the evening.” Then I spotted my vampire across the bar with his back to me, he was in deep conversation with one of the staff and he stopped what appeared to be mid sentence according to the look on the bartenders face and then he turned his head to look over his shoulder. He felt me in the room through our blood bond and I could tell he did for the same reason. He moved across the room so fast my eyes could barely keep up. He scooped me into his arms, “Lover, I didn’t expect you back so soon. I am so happy to see you” and I could feel his excitement against my stomach as he squeezed me. He stepped back and looked at me, “you are beautiful”. I had to pull myself back to reality before I was scooped up into my lustful feelings.
“Um, Eric, you remember my brother Jason,” he just stared at me for a minute and then it sank in and he looked over my shoulder and nodded to Jason, “Stackhouse, nice to see you again”.
“You remember Tara, right,” of course he did he had met her on more than one occasion although the last occasion he was helping save her life, “and this is her husband JB LaRue.”
“Tara nice to see you again, you look lovely, and then he nodded to JB, welcome. I am glad that you could accompany Sookie tonight,” which wasn’t totally true but not in a rude way but a selfish way. We hadn’t gotten over wanting to spend every minute alone together. “Come, let’s go to my booth. You are my guests tonight, please have whatever you like. Sookie, darling, I will spend as much time as I can with you and our guests,” he wrapped his arm around my waist as we walked across the floor pulling me close to him, “but I must work some.”
“I understand. I just want you to be a complete part of my life. It is important to me that you and my family,” Tara and I were so close I had always considered her more like a cousin or a sister even, “get to know each other and can mesh. It’s not like I expect us all to sit down to Christmas dinner, but these people are important to me.”
“Anything that makes you happy I am more than willing to give it a try. Understand, again this is all new ground to me.” We stopped in front of his booth and he pulled me in and gave me a light kiss and took my hand and helped me into the booth. He gestured with his hand, “please be seated.” Jason scooted in and around so he was in the center of the booth and then Tara and then JB. I actually gave a little smile as I looked and noticed we were seated in boy girl order. Pam came in from outside I guess her shift at the door was over. She wondered over to the booth and asked Eric if there was anything specific he needed. He dismissed her.
“Master, may I borrow Sookie’s brother?” Jason looked horrified.
“Pam, that is up to him.” Eric said with a look on his face I couldn’t read. I couldn’t read Pam’s intentions yet either.
“Uh, Jason, is it, would you care to dance?”
“Oh that sounds great, I love this song, come on Eric, let’s dance.” I thought it might make Jason a little more comfortable if I was on the floor too.
“Whatever makes you happy, lover.” Eric stood up and extended his hand to help me up and escort me to the floor. I looked back and Jason and Pam followed and then Tara and JB. The first song was somewhat fast and Eric and I moved together like we were part of the same person. In some ways with the blood bond I think we were. When we danced Eric and I were always touching and we always commanded the floor. I looked around at Jason to check on him half expecting to see Pam leading, but she was letting Jason lead and he seemed to be enjoying himself. Tara and JB looked like they were in their own little world. The song was over and the next song was slow and my Viking pulled me into him and we melted together and I looked up into his eyes feeling completely happy and contented. I lay my head against his chest and he bent his head to kiss the top of mine. As I turned I caught a glimpse of Pam and Jason he looked as nervous as a boy in his first slow dance in Junior High. I looked back up into Eric’s eyes “Thank you for doing this for me tonight. It means so much to me. I will have to thank Pam for not letting Jason feel like a third wheel. Thank you for having her help out.”
“You are welcome, I will do anything for your happiness, but I didn’t ask Pam to come to Jason.”
“Oh, well, uh, I hate to ask, but is he safe with her then?” I was a little worried.
“Pam won’t do anything that Jason doesn’t want her to.” He gave me one of those smiles that didn’t completely reassure me. The song was over and Jason and Pam started on the next one, I could tell he was beginning to relax some. JB and Tara were in their own world looking deep into each other’s eyes. “Come, let’s work for a few minutes.” Eric led me up to the platform his throne sat on and it still was weird for me to sit in the one next to him. But I had a feeling it was something I could get used to. Jason glanced over at me and I did something I try to never do with my family and friends. I read his thoughts. She really seems happy, good for her she deserves it, I must admit Eric really seems to care for her, he treats her like a queen, I know he can take care of her. Hum, Pam smells really good she’s pretty damn hot too – I guess since she is dancing with me she must swing both ways I know her and Amelia had a thing. Maybe she is just being nice to stay in good graces with Eric and Sookie. He was kinda babbling in his mind so I knew he was ok and ok with me and I put my shields back up. The line to admire Eric was already 10 people long and he did what he always does and extended his fangs and made sure they were in sight for the tourists and fang bangers to see. I just couldn’t help but admire him in his tailored slacks and the dark blue well fitted shirt that set off the blue of his eyes. I wanted to jump him right now. He could feel me beginning to stir inside and he cut his eyes over to me with a little grin and he leaned over, “Lover, calm yourself or these people are going to get more of a show then they ever imagined.” I blushed. We endured the admires coming up Eric nodding to each and listening to their admiration and then the unexpected happened, one of his admirers stopped in front of me and smiled and told me how gorgeous I was. I was shocked, I didn’t know what to say. Eric felt my unease and commanded, “you are dismissed.” The person moved on. Then it happened again and again. I didn’t dare look inside their minds, I didn’t think I could bare what they might be thinking. Eric stood and took my hand and we moved back out onto the dance floor. “Stackhouse,” he addressed my brother, “Sookie and I need to discuss some business of her working here we will be back out in a few minutes, please excuse us.” Jason simply shook his head as he and Pam were still dancing. I looked at Tara and told her I’d be right back. I couldn’t imagine what we had to talk about but I went along with it. Eric wasn’t sending anything through our bond that I could pick up on which was making me a little nervous. He opened his office door and allowed me to step in first and I heard him close the door behind him and I turned around slowly. He was still standing facing the door. Still I couldn’t feel anything. He turned around slowly and walked across the room to me stopping just in front of me. “There is something we need to discuss, Sookie”.
Ok, I was nervous, Sookie, not Lover. “What is it? Your making me nervous.”
“We need to discuss how this top comes off.” I looked up at him and then I could feel it. The lust and his fangs were extended and well I see the rise in his pants.
“Wait, I put my hand on his chest. How did you do that? How did I not feel what was coming.”
“Lover, it was very hard, I had to use all my strength and concentration and being so close to you it wasn’t easy. I couldn’t maintain it any longer. Now back to our discussion.” And that fangy sexy smile came across his face as he bent to kiss my neck brushing his fangs against my neck as he moved up to my ear. Then I grabbed his hair on either side of his head and pulled his mouth to mine. I kissed him hungrily I couldn’t get enough of him. Then he was tugging at the tie that kept my wrap around shirt closed. I stopped his hands and he stared at me a little puzzled. I turned him around backed him up to the couch and pushed him down into a sitting position. “Let me show you.” I took a couple of steps back and started with both of my hands at the top of my chest and moved my hands down my breasts slowly I began moving to the music I could hear out in the bar. Eric relaxed back into the couch knees spread knees with his huge hands resting on his knees. I continued to message myself up and down and then reached to the side and undid the knot on my shirt and slowly began to open the shirt. Eric smiled and I could feel his approving arousal grow within me. I took off the shirt and continued to move my hands up and down my body doing my little dance. Then I pulled off my camisole and was standing there in my white lace bra and pants and I moved my way over to Eric and bent to kiss him. He reached up to touch me and I pushed his hands back down and looked at him with a smile and he put his hands to the sides of his legs palms down on the couch. I bent back to kissing him and gently grabbed his hair and pulled it bending his neck over and I licked and sucked his ear and he let out a deep moan. I nipped at his neck with my teeth and this received a growl and he moved his hands and I pulled away. He put his hands back down and arched his neck back over and I went back to his neck and I straddled him and began unbuttoning his shirt while I continued to work my way down his neck and I pulled his open shirt back so I could get into the bend of his neck and I kissed gently, sucked and then bit hard but not hard enough to bring blood and he growled my name loudly. I felt the desire so deep in my body I almost came. I moved on down his shoulder and then down his chest stopping at his nipple to suck and bite. Then he moved his hands to my hair and unclipped the barrette and let my hair fall down. He was gently moving his fingers through my hair and I felt like I had sparks running all through my body. I began undoing his belt as I slid off the couch onto my knees in front of him still kissing my way down and then I unbuttoned and unzipped his pants and his manhood was bulging out trying to escape his blue silk boxers and I gave a little smile at how closely the boxers and shirt came to matching. Now his hands were giving more of a gentle pushing down motion on my head moving me towards his throbbing manhood. I pulled his boxers down and leaned back to admire his bounty. It always amazed me at how huge he was. I moved down and kissed his lower abdomen paying attention to his navel and then I nibbled towards his hip bone to one side crossed over at his pelvis and over to the other having to maneuver around his huge prick. Then he pulled my head back with my hair a little forcefully and looked into my eyes fangs fully extended and said, “NOW, take it now, I can’t wait any longer I am going to burst, please Lover.” I smiled at him leaned down and began to lick from the base near his jewels up and around then I moved my mouth over the head of his prick and struggled to even get the head of it in my mouth and I began working my head up and down and using one of my hands to move up and down his shaft in rhythm with my head. His hands were still tangled up in my hair and I looked up at him and he broke his gaze and leaned his head back and closed his eyes and the groans and moans rippled through me. I moved my other hand up and cradled his jewels and began squeezing and rolling them in my hand. Then I felt his body go rigid and he was growling and then came a language I did not understand and then his come shot to the back of my throat and slid down my throat. I pulled back and scraped my teeth along the head and the gave a strong suck at the top like I was sucking on a straw. He was still speaking in his native tongue with his head back on the couch. He slowly pulled his head forward and I was staring into his face. He grabbed my shoulders and pulled me out of the floor and up to his mouth. He kissed me feverishly. I pulled away and looked at him with a satisfied smile on my face. This was only the second time I had attempted this act and I guess I did it pretty dang good. “Lover, that is not at all what I was expecting when we came in here.”
“Are you complaining?” I was still smiling.
“No complaints, you can do that anytime you want. Now it’s my turn to satisfy you.” He pulled me back to him.
“Are you sure you really want to do that?”
“Oh yes, I need to taste you NOW.”
I leaned in and kissed him and then stood up. “You will have to wait until later. It will give you something to look forward to. But we have guests out in the bar that we need to get back to.
“Sookie, I can’t wait. I need to have you.”
“Oh you can and will wait and while you are waiting you can think about all the different things we can do to each other after I get back from taking home my brother and friends.”
“Oh no, that won’t do. Pam can take them home. You and I will go home together. Soon.” He reached for me again and I moved I knew he could get me if he truly desired and he could have me if he really pushed the issue. I think he was enjoying the game as much as I was. I put my shirt on and righted myself and refixed my hair and went back out to join my guests. Everyone was back in the booth, Pam was still with Jason everyone had a drink sitting in front of them. Even Pam was sipping on a True Blood. I slipped into the booth next to Pam and she just smiled at me. We were having some small talk between us, Pam wasn’t great at small talk like most vampires, but she tried. It was about 20 minutes before Eric rejoined us. “Pam, would you mind driving our guests back to Bon Temps whenever they are ready?” Eric said and I say said because it wasn’t really a question, she really didn’t have a choice.
“No Master, not at all” she looked at Jason and smiled, I wondered if the fae blood he had in him (which he had no clue about) was intriguing to Pam, she knew he was a were panther and that didn’t seem to bother her.
Chapter 16
We stayed until the bar was closed and stayed sitting in booth talking. I was so happy this is as close to normal as I have ever felt. The man I love sitting next to me, ok so technically he is dead, but he is mine. For the sake of this conversation his oldest friend and my brother and my two oldest friends sitting in a bar having conversation and sharing our life stories. I didn’t think I would ever have anything like this. I was so happy and I know Eric was feeling my contentment as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in for a little hug. My brother just looked at me and smiled. I don’t think that I had ever heard Eric or Pam sound so normal. Eric has told me numerous times this week how he would do anything to make me happy and he was certainly doing a good job at it right now. The last of the staff was ready to go and Eric and I said our good-bye’s to everyone and climbed into the Corvette. I was on cloud nine; I couldn’t have been any more happy! I must have really been projecting this because as I looked over at Eric in the glow of the dash lights he was actually smiling. I just stared at him in disbelief. He realized I was staring at him and caught himself smiling and if I didn’t know better I think he may have blushed a little. “Sookie, I don’t know if I have ever felt this much, ah, hmmm,” “Joy, happiness, contentment,” I butted in. “Yes, Lover, I don’t know if I ever felt like this in my human life. I know what I am feeling is coming from our bond but I don’t ever want you to loose this feeling. I don’t want to loose this feeling. Sookie, my life as a Viking Warrior was filled with anger, rage, and many other things I won’t go into, the feeling I am feeling now, I never felt this alive before my life was taken. I just stared at him. I didn’t know what to say. We had had a great night and now he was sharing something so intimate – the was more intimate then anything we could have shared. I just looked at him with an endearing smile and tears rolling down my face. Was this too good to be true.
Eric and I lived the next few days as normal as I can assume a vampire can live. We made love in every part of the house, we made love in the whirlpool attached to the pool in the backyard, we made love at Fangtasia we were like newly weds. Eric fed from me but was careful not to overfeed. He sat with me when I ate. Bill never liked the fact that I had the basic human needs such as food and the need to use facilities. My basic human needs I did on my own time most of the time when we were together. But here I was with Eric and he wanted to be with me and the fact that I was human gave us little problem. For now. I knew it would eventually interfere with our relationship, but I kept that at the back of my mind.
It was the night before our trip to Florida. I was both excited and terrified. Eric decided we would not work that night we needed to get prepared for our trip. I awoke a little after noon. I found myself sleeping later and later into the day, sometimes until early afternoon. But I was living a different lifestyle now. Most nights I would fall asleep before Eric. He would spend the time without me doing, I am not sure what all, but he deserved his alone time too. I spent my time alone much as I had done before moving here, watching movies, reading and now I had started working out in the home gym Eric has set up in one of the upstairs bedrooms. I have always been in good shape but I could really feel my workouts starting to pay off even in just a week. Between the workouts on in the gym and the workouts Eric gave me I was really toning my body mass. I went downstairs to get a cup of coffee and found a note on the door of the fridge. Lover, I want our last night before our trip to be special, you are always beautiful, but dress special I want to take you out tonight. Love E. Oh, I was so excited. An actual date where my vampire and I could go out and show each other off. The last week has been so perfect I hadn’t really stopped to think that I hadn’t done much but go from here to Fangtasia and back. I had talked to both Amelia and Tara on the phone. It was still early so I grabbed my romance novel, I mean this literally, I was on the front. I hadn’t had a chance to read it when I checked it out at the library so I bought a copy of it off the Internet and had it shipped to me. I enjoyed the sunshine of the early spring out by the pool reading part of the day. Then I went in to make a snack and the doorbell rang. I hadn’t had that happen since I had moved here. I was a little apprehensive. I couldn’t see out the peep hole it was way too high, Eric and I would need to discuss this, I opened the door hesitantly and then flung it open. I threw my arms around Claudine I hadn’t seen her in a while. She hugged me back. “Sookie, I had to ask Amelia where you were. Why didn’t you tell me what was going on?” “Claudine, I am so sorry! I have been so wrapped up in my own life I just didn’t think to call you or grandfather to let you know I had moved.” Claudine was my cousin even though she is a fairy and Niall is our grandfather, a fairy prince. Eric had helped me learn this about myself. Niall had sent Claudine to watch over me and be my for real fairy godmother when he was finally able to reach out to me.
“So its true? You are with the Viking? You are working at a fang banger bar?” She was not being judgmental just inquisitive.
“Yes, Yes and not yet” I smiled.
"Amelia told me you are about to take a trip. Sookie, when are you going to learn to stay away from the vampire dealings?” now she had concern on her face.
“I will be fine. Eric will be with me.”
“Hasn’t he always been with you? You still seem to end up in grave danger that I can’t get you out of without getting myself killed.”
“Well, yes, he has, but it’s different this time. I will be fine!” She changed the subject and we had a nice visit and a glass of iced tea and some popcorn and she left after a couple of hours. She filled me in on her twin brother Claude, the one I posed with on the front of the romance novel. She said she would let grandfather know what was going on although she didn’t think he would be happy about it. We said our good-byes and big hugs I promised to call her when I got back from Florida.
Chapter 17
It was getting later in the day and it would be night fall in a couple of hours and I decided I better start getting ready. I went up and took a hot shower, fixed my hair in a curly updo ponytail and put on a little makeup. Now, what to wear? Since Eric didn’t say where we were going and I couldn’t exactly ask him I had to pick an outfit that would do for most anything. I pulled out a white dress that had a tight lace bodice with a scalloped neckline. The sleeves were fitted and came to my mid arm but most of my chest and shoulders were bare. The skirt had a slight flair to it and came down to my mid thigh. I picked out a white lacey pair of thong panties and a lacey strapless bra. I put on a delicate gold chain with a gold double heart on it and a pair of small hooped gold earrings. I slid my feet into a pair of white open toe pumps with a slight heel. I took a quick look in the mirror and was pleased with the outcome. My legs were always toned being a waitress but the workouts I have been doing really had them well defined. My arms were not muscular but they too were well toned and my stomach had never been this flat. I gave myself another smile and I went downstairs to the gameroom and turned on the radio and watched the sunset out the wall of windows. I felt Eric rise and then I heard the shower. He never took long to get ready. He came downstairs in a well tailored black slacks and jacket and a white silk button down shirt under the jacket. It didn’t matter if he was in jeans and t-shirt or dressed to the 9’s he always looked so handsome. I guessed I had dressed correctly when he saw me and stopped and smiled. “You are a vision of beauty, Lover”
“So I am dressed appropriately for whatever you have in mind” I smiled.
“Lover, for what I have in mind right now, you are overdressed.” He shot me a smile dripping with sex and fangs. “But we must go. We have tickets.” “Tickets. We have tickets?” Eric escorted me out to the Escalade and helped me in stopping to give me a kiss after lifting me into the seat and he slipped his hand up under my skirt and began stroking my leg.
“We have tickets remember?” I breathed into his mouth.
He withdrew with a smirk on his face, “So we do.”
He climbed into the SUV and raised the garage door. He looked like he should be much more comfortable in the luxurious leather seats of the Cadillac then folded into the Corvette. I had no idea where we were going. So I just sat back feeling blissful listening to the radio. “Lover,” Eric broke the silence, “Did we have a visitor today? I was sure I caught a intriguing scent when I came downstairs.”
“Yes, Claudine came to see me, is that ok?”
“Oh Lover, that is as much your home as it is mine now. As long as I am safe I want you to have anyone over you desire. I ask only one thing. If you plan to have guests over at sun down I need to know before I rise so that I may enter the house from outside so know one knows that I slumber in the house.”
“Oh Eric, I had never thought about that… I am so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about,” he glanced over at me with a genuine smile that made me feel warm from the inside out, “you have done nothing wrong. There are some things being mortal that you wouldn’t think about. But I know you would never intentionally put my life in danger. I do trust you with my life. I told you before, you and Pam are the only two who know where my day chamber is. I have a passage door that leads out from my chamber and into the pool house so that I may enter the home from outside if I need to.”
“Ok, good to know. If I need to can I just leave you a note on the inside of your chamber door so you know if something has changed during the day?”
“I think that would be a great idea. I think that would work just fine.” Then he took the exit to the airport.
“Where are we going, Eric?”
“Be patient Lover, I have a lovely evening planned for us.” Then we took another exit towards the heliport area. We pulled up and their was a black helicopter sitting waiting on us. Eric got out and said something to a man waiting and then came and collected me. We got in the waiting helicopter and I have to admit I was a little nervous, I had only been on a plane a few times but I had never thought I would be in a helicopter. I know Eric sensed my anxiety and he leaned to me and wrapped his arm around me and pulled me to him and I snuggled in. We landed after about 45 minutes or so. Eric exited the helicopter and then lifted me out giving me a soft kiss as he set me on the ground. A long stretch Hummer Limo pulled up to collect us. I was in awe. Eric was pulling out all the stops, well at least to this simple Northern Louisiana girl he was. “May I at least ask where we are?”
“New Awlins” he said with a draw like he was a native from New Orleans. I grew tense. I hadn’t been here since the battle between the Queen and her King. “Lover, relax, this trip is all pleasure, I promise.” He pulled me to him and bent to kiss me and I responded and next thing I knew we were enthralled in a heavy makeout groping session. We almost didn’t notice that the limo had come to a stop. We had just a moment to right ourselves before the driver opened the door. I didn’t quite have my shields up and heard the driver thinking “now that is one passenger I wouldn’t have mind seeing stripped down and buffing the back seats” I started to blush a little and then, “she’s pretty hot for a chick but damn that is one huge fine specimen of a man” OK…EWW.
“Where are we?”
“The have recently reopened the Southern Repertory Theater. The play we are seeing tonight is Private Eyes. It’s a comedy. Are you familiar with this theater?”
“Is this the theater the features southern writers?”
“Well, yes.” He actually looked a little surprised. We watched the show, I laughed so hard at some points that I had tears in my eyes. I even heard Eric give a little chuckle now and then. After the play was over we climbed back in the limo and I was sure to put my shields up well before we reached the limo. I did not want to think about what that man had to say about MY MAN. Ok first that was just gross and secondly this is my vampire he loves me and I love him and I don’t want to hear the thoughts anyone else has about him. It was hard enough blocking out all the thoughts at Fangtasia, I wanted to enjoy this night just me and Eric. Eric scooped me up and deposited me into the back of the limo and climbed in and restarted our make out session immediately. He laid me back and slid his hand up my dress and began rubbing my nub through what there was of the thong panties I had put on. His finger slid inside of me and I gasped. Then he moved to my thigh and bit and the entire time he was feeding from me he kept his fingers moving at a rhythm that had me reaching my peak in no time, I was trying to hold my screams in as to not catch the attention of the driver. He withdrew licking the blood away and the wound began healing immediately. He was careful to make sure no blood got on my white dress. We sat up and I righted my hair and grinned at him and he pulled a handkerchief and wiped the blood from his mouth and smiled that sexy smile that I felt all the way through my body. “I can’t believe we just did that, Eric there is a another person just a few feet away. I have never done anything like this before.”
“Lover, I would have stopped if you would have just said.”
I just pulled him into me and kissed him. We stopped again. I could tell we were near the water. Eric took my hand and took me towards the Mississippi River where and actual steam boat was waiting. We were seated on the upper deck at the front of the boat. The name of the boat was Steamboat Natchez. I wished I knew I was going to be eating dinner outside on the water I would have brought a shawl. This is something Eric and I were going to have to work on. I ordered shrimp cocktail, a salad with tomato basil vinaigrette, and a steak with burgundy sauce with sautéed mushrooms and red potatoes for my entrée. Eric ordered me a True Blood, O positive, my blood type. He ordered me Champagne Cocktail. It meant so much to me that Eric didn’t mind being with me while I ate. I was really beginning to catch a chill. As if Eric could feel this my chill he stood, “Lover, I am sorry, I should have thought that about you needing warmth out here on the water.” He took his jacket off and came and wrapped it around me and I slid my arms in. It was absolutely huge on me. I pushed the sleeves up and Eric reached down and kissed me on the neck. He sat back down and the vibe I was receiving from Eric through our bond was very confusing. He was in turmoil over something. It was making me a nervous. Then there was calm, just like that. He stood again and came around to my side of the table, “I left something in my pocket that I need,” and he reached in and pulled it out. His huge hand covered the entire thing. I assumed it was his cell phone and he sat back down. I finished my meal and my drink and we spoke very little but it was not uncomfortable silence. After I had eaten and they cleared my settings Eric stood and held his hand out to me and I took it. “Lets go to the front of the boat and look out over the water.” He placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me to the front of the boat.
“Eric, tonight has been perfect. Thank you so much.” I leaned into him and rested my head on his chest.
“Sookie,” in the deep soft voice that melted me like butter, “I hope to make it more special.” I looked up into his eyes and I could feel such sincerity coming from him through our bond. He held my gaze and he began to lower himself to down but instead of stopping to kiss me he continued to lower himself, all the way down to stand on one knee. At his height I didn’t have to look down far to keep his gaze. My breath was growing more quick and shallow. This couldn’t be happening. Was this real? He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box. I was beginning to tremble all over. He broke my gaze and looked down at his own hands and opened the box. He took out the ring took my hand and looked up into my eyes again. “Sookie, From the time you took care of me when I lost my memory I knew then I needed you to be with me always. I know how hard it was for you when I was myself again, although somehow that experience that I could not remember changed me and I was never able to be the Eric I was before the witches cursed me. I always had this feeling that something was missing and when I regained my memory I understood what that was. That something was you. I never had intentions of being wed when I was human. I certainly have never tied myself to any other being human or not for any length of time other than Pam since my human days.. Sookie, I cannot offer you days and nights filled with togetherness, but our nights together will be cherished always. I cannot give you children. But I will give you anything else you desire. Anything I have is yours. I will protect you with my life and I will stay with you always and I trust you with my life. Should the time come that you are ready to be vampire, I will do this for you as well. Sookie, I love you, will you marry me?”
Tears were streaming down my face, “Oh Eric, are you sure about this?”
“I have never been more sure of anything in my 1023 years of existence.” He slid the ring on my finger.
“Yes, yes, yes.” I threw my arms around his neck with such force I knocked him off balance. He caught himself with one hand on the floor and stood with me still clinging to him lifting my feet off the ground and I was frantically kissing him all over his face. I wrapped my legs around his waist and he pulled his hands to my face and gave me a deep long tender kiss that I never wanted to end. But I had to come up for air. He eased me down to the floor and I held my hand under the light to look at the ring on my finger for the first time. The center stone was a huge blood red ruby shaped like a tear drop, ok a blood drop. On each side of it was a heart shaped diamond with the top of the heart against the ruby. The band was titanium. “Oh Eric, its absolutely beautiful!” Tears rolling down my face and I threw my arms back around his neck and pulled him to me for another long kiss.
Chapter 18
We rode back to the airport with virtually no spoken communication.
We kissed we touched and we shared happiness between us with our blood bond. We took the same helicopter back to Shreveport. After reaching the airport in Shreveport we were climbed back into the Escalade and headed home. “Eric, I am so happy, I never thought I would ever get married. We will actually get married, right?
“Lover, you tell me when and we will be married. We would be married tonight if it was your wish and we had enough time before dawn. I told you when I was cursed by the witches that I would give up everything and spend every day with you. Neither of us have to give up much and we can still spend every day or well night together for as long as you will have me.”
“I really would like to have a nice wedding, nothing too fancy, but a nice wedding with my brother and our friends.”
“Lover, I have lived for over 1000 years and never thought I would wed, I am sure whatever you have in mind will be the most perfect night for both of us.” He glanced at me with a sincere smile and ran his fingers lightly down my arm and goose bumps covered my arm.
We pulled into the garage and Eric came around to help me out of the SUV I wrapped my arms around his neck and he pulled me to him and we shared another slow long deep kiss. He scooped me up in his arms and carried me inside. We continued to kiss as he carried me upstairs taking two or three steps at a time with his long muscular legs. “Lover,” he breathed into my mouth, “we don’t have much time before dawn.” And quickly he carried me back down the flight of stairs to his day chamber. He sat me down and I felt the urgency in him growing through our bond. But my great 1000 year old Viking vampire was actually nervous about our pending copulation. I could feel this as clearly as any emotion I have ever felt.
I put my hands on either side of his face and stared into his eyes, “What’s wrong Eric. Are you having second thoughts?” I was feeling a little afraid how he might answer. “No, that’s not it at all, Lover,” and he gave me a slight smile. “I have actually never made love before.”
“What are you talking about after all the times we have been together?”
“We have been together and it has been great. I have know how I felt about you and how you say you feel about me. Now I have asked you to marry me and you agreed to bestow that honor upon me, this will be our first time to make love.”
“Oh, Eric that is so sweet. I am so honored to be the first and last person you will ever make love to,” I was completely sincere. I had never thought about it that way before. This master vampire had just pledged his life to me, a human, this was sure to cause us problems somewhere, but right now he was nervous about making love to me. This night had been perfect so far and I know us being together would top the night off. I leaned up to his mouth and gave him a gentle kiss and pulled away. “If you want we can wait until our wedding night before we are intimate again.” I flashed him a smile and a couple of long bats of my eyelashes.
“Lover, unless we are to be married in the next ten minutes there is no way I will be able to keep my hands and other body parts from you.” He returned the smile. I began unbuttoning his shirt and slid it off into a pile on the floor. He pulled my dress over my head and returned to kissing me slowly and deeply. I fumbled with his belt finally unbuckled it and undid his pants and slowly slid his pants past his hips and let them fall to his feet. He lifted me and cradled me into his arms and moved to the side of the bed. He gently laid me down on the bed continuing to kiss me and then he moved down my neck and kissing his way down to my breast. I arched my back and he slid his hand behind and with ease unfastened my bra from behind and slid it off and dropped it onto the floor. He began gently messaging my breasts moving his mouth from nipple to nipple being sure they both had adequate attention. I was stoking his shoulders and running my hands through his golden hair. He began moving down my stomach with kisses as light as air but not yet removing his hands from my breasts. He reached the top of my white thong panties and slid one hand down my side never breaking contact and under my hips. He reached behind me and grasped the back of the thong gently pulling it down and off my feet and tossing it near my bra. Never at any point did he completely break contact with my skin. He kissed back up my stomach, between my breast, and back up my neck and found his way back to my mouth. I could feel his readiness between us. He slowly moved up between my legs and I was so anxious to feel him inside of me. He pulled away from my mouth and looked at me our eyes fixed on each other’s and he slowly slid inside of me never breaking our gaze. It took him three attempts before he was able to push himself all the way into me. Slow rhythm and with each stroke completely filling me up. I was gently moving my hips up to meet his and within minutes we were in sync meeting each other’s thrusts and never breaking our gaze into each other’s eyes. Our rhythm sped up and the thrusts became harder, harder and faster and then Eric threw his head back moaning in the language I didn’t understand at the same time I was screaming “OH MY GOD, ERIC!” After reaching our climax together I lay there in the afterglow of successful love making thinking to myself that was exactly what had just happened. There wasn’t any moving into different positions, none of my clothes were destroyed and even though he had fed from me earlier I never even saw his fangs tonight. We made love to each other. We laid in silence and contentment. My vampire was wrapped around me and I snuggled into him and we drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 19
I woke the next morning with a complete feeling of happiness. I glanced at the clock and it was 1pm. I unwrapped myself from Eric and scooted out of the bed and grabbed the robe I had started keeping in the bathroom down here. I went upstairs knowing that I needed to pack for our trip tonight but first I needed to eat and call Amelia and Tara and Jason. Wait, I thought to myself. Eric and I hadn’t talked about this. He may not be ready for our engagement to be public yet. As much as I wanted to shout it to everyone I might run into I thought it best to wait. Maybe we could have a party when we got back and announce it together. Yes, I think that would be best. An engagement party! I was so excited even if within myself. I could keep this secret for another week or so. Right now we needed to focus on business. Although I was really excited because I would presumably have my days free to sunbathe, my one vice, on the beach at the ocean. I was glad we were traveling at night so Eric and I could travel together, he would have to travel in his coffin. I had hoped where we were staying would have rooms set up so we could stay together. I know that Eric and the King of Florida go way back. But we really hadn’t discussed how far and what their history was. Maybe that is something we can talk about on the plane. We are going straight to the King’s home from the airport when we get in, Eric told me to dress casual but I want to be sure I look good for him. I went downstairs to have some coffee and lunch since it was so late in the day. I enjoyed my lunch out on the patio by the pool I guess I lingered a little bit enjoying the sunshine but I knew I needed to go up and pack.
I took a hot shower and let my thoughts slip back to the wonderful night we had last night and stood under the water admiring my beautiful ring. It definitely isn’t your typical engagement ring, but then my new fiancée wasn’t your typical southern beau. But I had to admit it was absolutely gorgeous. I don’t know much about jewelry but I know that Eric only bought the finest things and I am betting he had this custom made just for me. I smiled to myself and finished my shower. I knew I needed to get a move on because we would have to head to the airport soon after Eric woke up. I left my hair down and added a few curls to the ends and put on a little makeup. I slipped into some lacey under things and decided to wear dark blue lowrise jeans that showed my figure nicely and a short sleeved red argyle top and black low spike heel boots. I carried my suitcase and hanging bag downstairs and made a glass of tea. I was completely ready an hour before Eric would be waking. The next hour passed in no time with me deep in my own thoughts about the future then I heard the shower. I didn’t dare go upstairs I didn’t want to chance Eric and I missing our plane. Within a few minutes he came downstairs in jeans a designer t-shirt and boots with his suitcase in hand. He made anything look great. I met him at the bottom of the stairs and he smiled, now I was really glad I hadn’t gone upstairs.
“Lover, you are happy. This is one of the nicest feelings I have ever awakened to.” He bent and kissed me and I kissed him back which immediately led to more kissing and stroking then what we had time for. I pulled away. “Florida” is all I managed to say. With that he gathered all our bags and put them in the Escalade and we left for the airport. “Lover, what did you do today? Did you announce our engagement while I slept?”
“Almost. I was so excited I wanted to call everyone that I knew. I wanted to scream it from the rooftops. Then I realized you and I had not discussed this yet and I didn’t know if you were ready for our engagement to become public. I didn’t know if you needed to or already had spoken to Filipe yet. Then I thought this is your first engagement and mine I thought we would do what many couples do, Eric, can we have an engagement party when we get back from Florida?”
“Lover, you never stop amazing me. You actually considered proper vampire politics before sharing our joy? Thank you for thinking about what was best for both of us.” “That’s what couples do, Eric,” I rested my hand on to of his shoulder. “Yes, so it is. And know that I will remember that. You will always be first before anything else, including my King. You are right I do need to inform the King. I will not ask his permission. Lover, if this is a secret you are content on keeping a little while longer then I will throw you an absolutely throw you the grand party any queen deserves in announcing her engagement.” We reached the airport with little more talk but the silence was not uncomfortable. My thoughts wondered more to the task at ahead of us.
Chapter 20
We arrived at the airport to catch our flight on Annabus Air and as we walked through the terminal almost all eyes in the terminal turned to look at the huge Viking walking through the airport. He had not fed tonight so he was pretty pale and the looks on people’s faces when they realized this huge specimen they were staring out was not just a gorgeous man but a huge vampire, well the range of expression made me almost laugh out loud. I didn’t dare let my shields down in such a public place and I knew with so many eyes on us that I didn’t dare take my guards down to be bombarded with the thoughts they were thinking about us. I felt a little stir inside, Eric from our bond, surly he wasn’t feeling uneasy he was to self assured and definitely didn’t care what anyone thought about him. His pace slowed as we reached our boarding terminal, I must admit I was a little thankful because his normal stride had me feeling like I was power walking. “Lover, it seems that your beauty has everyone staring at us,” he said with a little smirk then his fangs ran out so only I could see. All eyes were still on us I think people had even wondered down to our terminal to look at this beautiful vampire. Vampires have been out of the coffin for several years now but there were still many people that had never seen one in person or at least not realizing they had. There was that little stir again, what was he thinking. He bent to me flashing me his fangs and drew me in for a passionate kiss, which I could not refuse but felt a little uneasy at in public. Then his assault on my mouth moved down to my neck and he leaned his head back flashing his fangs and gave a loud growl and bent down to my neck. There were actually screams that erupted. Of course he didn’t bite. He pulled his head back up and flashed a fangy smile at the crowd gathered and let out an audible chuckle and we boarded the plan. My vampire obviously had an evil sense of humor! I have to admit I couldn’t help but chuckle right along with him. This would definitely be a trip to the airport none of those people would forget.
My experience in flying was very limited and still made me a little nervous and this was definitely the largest plane I had ever been on. We were seated in first class, why would I think Eric would fly any other way. I could imagine him trying to fold himself into one of the seats in coach and actually smiled to myself. I had never traveled first class. The seats were huge and there was enough legroom for Eric to extend his legs straight out. The flight attendant came through before we took off to make sure we didn’t need anything. I glanced around to take a look at the other first class passengers to see whom or what we were traveling with. I let my guard down a little so I could determine. There were only five other people or bodies I should say in first class. There was another vampire dressed in a very business style suit with a briefcase sprawled out next to him. There was a young couple. They were both shifters. Although I don’t read shifter minds very well I did pick up that they were heading to Florida on their honeymoon. That made me smile. That would be me one day soon. I was just assuming that Eric and I would take a honeymoon. There was a void behind us so without turning I knew there was another vampire without turning to look. The last person was a very beautiful dark haired human woman. Odd I thought, but who knows these days. Once we were in the air the flight attendant came around to ask us if we would like a drink or food. Eric ordered two True Bloods, O positive of course, I ordered a diet coke and the chicken mushroom jack dinner they had to offer. Eric had a third True Blood and I had actually had a gin and tonic.
“Eric so you have stayed with the King of Florida before?” I said in a low voice. “Yes, Drake and I have a long history.”
Now I didn’t know if Drake was a first or last name and that certainly wasn’t as elaborate of an answer that I wanted. “And” I smiled.
“Forgive me Lover, I am still getting accustomed to explaining myself to someone,” he smiled. “The King of Florida is Drake Valk. He is a bit older than me. We have a history and right now is not the time or the place to fill you in on it. I will tell you more details when we are alone, I promise.” A smile and a sweet kiss and I heard the landing gear go down. We strolled through the airport with many of the same stares we had received in Florida. “Everyone is staring at your beauty again, Lover,” Eric said as we were waiting on our luggage to come up from the plane with a fangless smile. Ok, so we weren’t going to put on the same show here. Good. I was still feeling nervous about our trip. “Lover, relax,” Eric had felt my inner tension through our bond, “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know. I know. I just can’t help but be nervous. Every time I have traveled to try and help something horrible always happens to me. I really am not in the mood to almost die again.” Eric grabbed all our luggage as it came around the carousel and we made our way out. There was a driver standing in front of a limo with a sign NORTHMAN. The driver opened the door for us and Eric placed his hand on the small of my back guiding me in first and once he was in the driver closed the door and put our luggage into the trunk. The driver asked through the open window between him and us, “Mr. Northman, is there anyplace you would like to go before I take you to the Kings mansion?” “No, straight to the King” Eric answered and the driver put the window up to give us our privacy.
I snuggled into my vampire laying my left hand on his leg and I took another minute to admire the ring he had just given me last night. I looked up at him “Eric, thank you for such a beautiful ring. It is more than I could have ever hoped for.”
“Sookie, it makes me very happy that you like it. I thought long and hard about the design. The ruby symbolizes our blood bond to each other and the two heart diamonds represent us. The blood bond has bound us but the fact that our two hearts now belong to each other is something more then I could have ever hoped for. Sookie,” he put his hand under my chin and stared into my eyes, “I haven’t felt my heart beat within my chest in over a 1000 years but when I am with you I feel you within me, you are my heartbeat.” My own heart was overjoyed with the words he had just said to me and tears of joy filled my eyes, “Oh Eric, I love you so much. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I AM YOURS. The fact you designed the ring for me makes me love it and you even more if that is possible. ” I kissed him and we settled into each other contently for the rest of the ride. Normally I would be excited about being in a new place and trying to see the sites we passed in the dark but right now all I cared about was the vampire, my vampire, my love, my fiancée sitting next to me.
Chapter 21
We arrived at King Drake Valk’s mansion. I could hear and smell the ocean near. Mansion, yes, this definitely was a mansion. There long driveway with palm trees on either side pulled up to the home and ended in a circular drive that had a magnificent water fountain in the center. The lights shown up and illuminated the stone statue of a stallion rearing. The structure itself was magnificent I felt as though we were at some grand hotel the house seemed so elaborate. There were six marbled columns across the front that kept a grand overhang over the entrance of the same matching stone. There were potted trees and a couple of sitting areas and centered in it all was the magnificent doorway leading into the foyer. Once inside the marble stone continued into the foyer were we were greeted my Ethan Mason, the Kings second in command. “Northman,” he said with a slight bow to Eric, “the King is waiting for you come this way. Miss Stackhouse, nice to see you again.” He said it as a definite after thought. We walked through a grand room with elegant furniture and decorations anchored by the same marble encasing a grand fireplace. We walked down a corridor and our escort stopped to give a quick knock on a door not waiting for a response he opened it and quickly stepped inside leaving the door open for us to follow. Eric took my hand in his and gently pulled me up along side him to be his equal. The chair turned from behind a desk and sitting before me was another huge vampire. He was broad shouldered with a very defined muscular face his hair was about the same length as Eric’s only a medium brown in color. As he stood he was nearly as tall as Eric’s six foot five inches. Valk was a maybe 2 inches shorter than Eric and he had a bit more meatier look to him but you could tell that there was definitely plenty of muscle in no way was what I seeing fat.
“King Valk,” Eric bowed.
“Northman, good to see you again.” The King gave a nod.
“Please let me present to you Sookie Stackhouse.” Eric turned to me.
I did my little bow thing. I am never going to get used to this but I do what I can and try not to burst out laughing at how ridiculous I feel, “Pleased to meet you, King” He came from around the desk and as I stood he took my hand and gave it a light kiss, “The pleasure is mine. Thank you for coming all this was to try and help us in our plight.” I didn’t get any jealous feeling from Eric as King Valk touched me. I didn’t understand that. I had come to expect something in this type of situation.
Eric asked, “Would you like to brief us now?”
Valk motioned to the sitting area across the room. I noticed for the first time the room itself. We were in a library. There were books from floor to ceiling on two of the wall complete with a sliding ladder to reach all the books. I wondered if I would be permitted or if I would have time to thumb through some of the books. Since I barely got through high school with all the interference in my brain I had never even attempted college. I do love to read and have obtained most of my education myself through reading a vast variety of books. There was a large leather couch a rich mahogany color matching the wood on the book shelves and two matching chairs facing it with a long table sitting on a beautiful plush rug between the chairs and couch that faced each other. Eric and I set on the couch he resumed holding my hand and Valk and Mason took the chairs opposite of us. “Mason will give you the details,” the King said.
“We have now had four vampires in Florida murdered. Each murder has occurred during the day so we know one of our own did not actually do the deed. The first murder was near two months ago. The vampire was a commoner. He held no specific rank, he had no power and did not own a business or contribute to our causes. Since he was found staked with a broom handle in his own bed we first assumed he was just careless in choosing his meal for the night.” This made me a little uneasy and I shifted in my seat. Eric gently squeezed my hand and other than that there was no acknowledgement of my reaction. “The next murder took place about two weeks later and this murder was of a business owner. He owned an exotic dance club, Vixens. He was found staked on one of the stages in his own club. Again another two weeks passed and another business owner was found staked in his establishment, he owned one of our all night dry cleaners. Another two weeks passed and one of our state council members was found staked in his own coffin. Next occurring another two weeks later The most recent murder happened another two weeks later and this time it was of someone the King knew on a more personal level. The business owner owned a local nightclub in which the king owns a percentage of, Night Sins. This club is similar to your own Northman.” Mason continued, “We know in speaking with associates and nest mates of the of vampires with the exception of the first, which we figure must have been a test subject, that all of the vampires were in their day chambers when dawn approached. Who or whatever is doing this has been able to learn of the resting places and were able to get to them and in two of the instances take them to their businesses and murder them where their remains were sure to be found. We have found no organization that takes claim to these actions. We are frankly at a loss and Miss Stackhouse that is where you come in. We are hoping you will be able to help point us in a direction of who is doing this,” he concluded.
“I promise I will do all that I can to help you.” I said somewhat expressionless. I really didn’t want to be involved in the middle of this, but I had made a promise a long time ago to Eric to help where I could.
“Ethan, leave us now so that I can catch up with the Northman on the happenings in Louisiana.”
Mason stood a little reluctantly, “Shall I have Miss Stackhouse shown to her room?”
“No, she will stay with me,” Eric cut him a glare and Mason left the room in a huff. I assume he was a bit upset that this lowly human was able to stay with the King while he was dismissed. What happened next totally shocked me. Eric and Drake both stood and looked each other with all seriousness standing on either side of the table. I was beginning to get a little uneasy at the deep stare they were giving each other. Then with a quick movement they leaned over the table and gave each other a manly hug with slaps on the back. “Brother, how have you been?” Drake almost screamed. Ok, I was definitely missing something here. I have been around vampires for five years now and I have never seen such a display of human type emotion between two vampires. Eric answered him in the language I only heard in the heat of passion or the heat of anger and Drake responded. This went on for a few minutes and I just sat there with what must have been the dumbest look on my face. Drake had called Eric brother, obviously they could easily be from the same heritage with only one with blonde the other with brown hair. They are built similarly. They share the same build and other obvious similarities and Eric did say they had a long history and that Drake was a little older then him. Were they actually brothers? My thoughts were interrupted. “Lover,” Eric laid his huge hand on my shoulder and I stood, “Sookie this is Drake. Drake, Sookie.” Drake came around the table and I turned to smile at him and before I knew it he reached his trunk like arms around my me under my arms and squeezed me lifting me off the ground in a bear hug with a big kiss on the cheek. “Sookie, I am so happy to finally meet you. Eric has told me much about you.”
“He has? Um, Drake, may I call you Drake? I am sorry to say he hasn’t shared you with me at all.” I said as the I felt like the life was being squeezed out of me and he sat me back down.
“You may call me Drake when we are in private. But for the safety of all of us, please address me as King, sire, or any of those other noble terms when in public views of others. I know Eric hasn’t told you about me. There are few that still walk the earth that know of our relationship.”
“Relationship?”
“Lover, I told you Drake and I have a history. We battled together we traveled the world together. No, in our human life Drake and I were not of the same blood line it was only in death that we shared this connection. Drake disappeared after a battle on a small island and a few years later we found our ship docking off the shores of this island again. We were not there for battle this time, just docking to get supplies. While wondering the land I ran into what I thought to be a beautiful native girl. She smiled and next thing I knew she and I were in each others arms,” I must have given off a vibe of jealousy or something uneasy because Eric reached out and ran his hand from my shoulder lightly down to my hand and held it. We all sat. Eric and I back on the couch and Drake actually sat on the table. “The next thing I remembered at the time was waking in a dark cave with a hunger like I had never experienced before. After spending many days alone with Alana learning to feed and learning about my new nature she introduced me to the rest of the her children. Back then it was very common for vampires to nest together for safety. Drew and I had suffered the same fate two great warriors seduced and turned by a beautiful young woman. We have been able to keep our allegiance secret all of these years. We wish to keep it that way. Normally children of the same maker do not associate with each other. Drake and I were able to continue our human relationship after our death. You know how I trust Pam, and yes, she does know of Drake, I trust Drake even more. He is my friend my brother.”
I was just a little speechless for a second with both of the giant vampires staring at me. Then I had a slap of reality, “What happened to Alana? Is she still… around?” “Lover, that is a matter to discuss at another time,” he took both of my hands and looked deep into my eyes as if reading my mind, “you have nothing to worry about where she is concerned.” He knew I was worried if he would be called to his Maker and would leave me like Bill had done.
“Let me see the ring,” an almost giddy voice coming from the King of Florida. I held out my hand, “You know?”
“Of course, did we just not tell you we are brother’s? I helped to set Eric up with the perfect jeweler to make his design.” He took my hand from Eric’s and stared at the ring. “Wow brother, it’s beautiful… you big wuss.” He said with a smile and a slap on the shoulder hard enough it would have knocked anyone else across the room. “Before Mason comes back to check up on us and find us in this intimate setting I better let you two get to your room. Sookie, I am glad to finally meet you and thank you for taking care of Eric when the witches cursed him,” he leaned and gave me a little peck on the cheek. He walked across the room back to the desk and pushed a button on the phone. “See my guests to their room.” In just a moment a servant wearing a grey suite appeared motioning us to come with him. We walked back down the corridor and back across the room we had when we entered and up a grand staircase to an the second level of the mansion. We walked down the hallway to the last door on the right.
“This will be your room while you are with us. If you need anything please do not hesitate to ask.” He opened the door and we all walked into the huge room. “He motioned with his hand, “your private bath is through those doors and your luggage has been unpacked and placed in the closets and chests,” another motion of his hand. “My name is Duncan, I am the night staff administrator. Miss Stackhouse, when you awaken in the morning you will seek my daytime associate, Brianna, she will assist you with anything you need. The King has left instructions for you to have use of a car and you are welcome to use the pool and we have a private beach on the ocean at the back of the property.” He gave us a little bow and backed out of the room.
Chapter 22
In the room was a huge king size four poster bed with a beautiful burgundy velvet canopy the comforter on the bed matched and the dust ruffle was a shimmering gold. There were a ton of pillows at the head of the bed in all shapes and sizes in the rich burgundy and gold colors. The floors hardwood but the bed set on a plush carpet with matching colors. There was a beautiful chest in the room matching the cherry wood on the bed with the same intricate carvings. The floors were hardwood and stained to near match the furniture. I noticed the ceiling above the bed was inset to allow for the canopy and the molding along the tops of the walls was more detailed then any I had ever seen. There were a set of ornate double doors that Duncan had said led to the bathroom. On the opposite side of the room was another matching door that I could only assume was the closet since Duncan had motioned to it earlier. I walked across the room to the closet and opened the door. The lights automatically came on, how cool was that! The room inside was a large as my whole room at my old house in Bon Temps. Inside all of Erics clothes had been hung on one side and his shoes set on a shoe rack and mine on the other side. In the back of the closet was another set of doors. I folded them open and there was a coffin. I had a little bit of sadness run through my body. “Lover,” I jumped as Eric had startled me I didn’t hear him come up behind me, “the coffin is for those who want to sleep in one, many of us prefer to stay in the coffin for security purposes. All of the glass in the house, except the sunroom is opaque just as it was at the hotel in Rhodes. I will sleep with you. If that’s alright with you.”
“I don’t know, we aren’t married yet, I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong idea of what kind of girl I am.” I said with a huge grin.
“Oh Miss Stackhouse, please forgive me for my forwardness. However can I make it up to you.” He bowed at his waist. Yes, my 1000 year old vampire definitely had a since of humor.
“I am feeling a little tense and tired from our long plane ride, I do suppose I could let you draw me a bath and bath me from head to toe.” I looked at him batting my lashes. He swooped me up without a word throwing me over his shoulder my hair trailing down past his perfect butt. I was rather enjoying this view and I couldn’t help myself and I grabbed two handfuls of that perfect ass.
“Miss Stackhouse, please, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about what kind of gentleman I am” I couldn’t see his face but I knew he had a big grin.
“Oh Mr. Northman,” sounding as humbly as I can hanging upside down, “please forgive me I must make it up to you.”
“Oh I think we can arrange that” and I felt him bend and turn the water on in the tub. He sat me down and I got my first look at this luxurious bathroom. As expected in any vampires home, the tub was huge and jetted. Vampires loved their bath and shower time. Eric deposited me on the floor in front of the tub and stood and front of me and slipped his t-shirt off and tossed it aside. Then he moved his and down to his own waste and as he was unbuckling his belt he kicked off his boots then he slid his pants down and he stood in front of me in just his red silk boxers. He moved to me reaching out and running his hands through my hair gently pulling my head back slightly. He bent and gave me a tender kiss. He slid hands down my arms and then gently grasped my hands lifted my arms above my head, running his hand back down my arms and down my sides he grabbed the bottom of my red shirt and pulled it up over my head and tossed it over with his clothes. My hands still above my head he takes them again and moves them back to my sides running his hands down the length of my legs while bending to his knees. He took my boots off and then slid my jeans off. There we stood, he in his red silk boxers and me in my red lace bra and panties. As he stood he kissed his way from by knees all the was up to my mouth where he drew me in for a long deep kiss slipping his hands to my back and unfastening my bra tossing it aside. I reached up to his broad shoulders running my hands down his arms and encircling his waist sliding the tips of my fingers under the bands of his boxers then slid my hands all the way down cupping my hands on either side of his perfect ass and I squeezed. He gave a little moan into my mouth. Then he mirrored my actions and his hands were inside panties cupping my ass. I shimmied his boxers down and he did a little wiggle for them to fall all the way down, neither of us giving the assault on the others mouth. Then he scooped me up and managed to slide off my panties before putting us both in the tub. We sat down into the hot water with the jets going full blast it was instant relaxation. Eric turned me with his back to him and he began messaging my shoulders and I began to make little groaning noises at how good it felt. Another talent he could add to his arsenal. He worked his way from my shoulders slowly down my back. Once he finished he pulled the sprayer nozzle on the faucet and began wetting my hair then he messaged in one of my favorite scents, orange ginger, and he messaged my scalp until I was so relaxed I felt like a big pile of mush sitting in the tub. He rinsed my hair gently being sure not to pull or make tangles. I turned to face him gave him a deep kiss and then stood. He looked up at me as I scooted him forward and sat on the edge of the bathtub and I gave him the same treatment he had just given me, shoulders, back and then I washed his hair. Our blood bond shooting back and forth between us just amplified the serenity of our moods. We stood and dried each other and accompanied each other into the bedroom. Eric lifted me and placed my naked body on the huge bed, I sank into the softness of the bed. Eric climbed in next to me and we lay touching and caressing each other. I had an incredible desire wash through my body and as much as I wanted for my vampire to ravage my body I wanted to taste him. Wash this my feeling or his. Sometimes it was so hard to tell. Was I actually wanting to taste blood? I gently pushed Eric onto his back and straddled him. I kissed his mouth, I nibbled his ear lobe, I kissed down his neck and onto his chest. I moved down to his let nipple flicking it with my tongue, sucking it and then a gentle nip. This received a low growl in response, then I couldn’t help myself, I took a deep breath and put my mouth down covering his entire nipple area and bit, hard, and began to suck. Eric let out a loud growl and his hands went into my hair pulling up but I was latched on and then he simply moved my hair out of the way and positioned himself so he could see. He moved his hands down to my hips and one slid between us to held guide himself into my wetness. With the first thrust I let out a moan of my own and after a few more entries with his massive shaft I released my hold on his chest and sat up and began riding him. He sat up pulling us close together and began kissing my breasts. I didn’t even feel the pain of his fangs sinking in just the excitement of him drawing my blood into his mouth. I felt myself on the verge of what felt like a sheer tidal wave of an orgasm. He released his bite and we both pick up speed searching for our release. I began riding harder and harder and I was running my hands in his long blond locks and then when I hit my peak I came so hard that every muscle in my body tensed and I pulled Eric’s hair so hard he actually made a gasping noise but he didn’t stop as I came to the end of my explosion he raise us both off the bed and he stood laying me on my back on the edge of the bed with my legs still wrapped around his waist. He continued withdrawing from me almost completely and then pushing back in all the way. The height of the bed put us in perfect alignment for this position. He moved his arms under my knees placing his hands on my hips and using my own body for leverage to plunge deeper and deeper inside me. I couldn’t believe it, I was coming again so soon. “Don’t Stop, Please Don’t Stop, Ohhh Ohhh Ohhh Yes” and then we both reached the height of our love making session together and Eric let out a rumble in that language I don’t understand. Eric leaned over on top of me and kissed me deeply but it wasn’t a long kiss as I was already out of breath and had to come up for air. Some day I am going to have to ask him what he is saying. Then again, maybe I don’t want to know.
We moved back up on the bed and under the cover and Eric raised himself up on an elbow to look down over me. “Sookie, Lover, that was amazing. I don’t think you understand what it does to me when you take my blood.”
“Oh, I think I have some idea,” I gave his a coy smile. “Seriously Eric, I had this over powering feeling that I had to taste you and I just couldn’t stop myself. Should I ask you before I take your blood?”
“I am yours as much as you are mine, you may drink of me anytime you wish. I ask that we keep our private lives private and just as I try to make sure my fang marks are in discrete places, I ask that you do the same,” he ran his fingers through my hair and bent to kiss me. I knew that by the time he awakened tomorrow night the bite marks I left on his chest would be gone. His fang marks would linger a few days or longer depending on when he fed from that spot again.
As we lay there in the blissful afterglow of successful love making I wondered over tonight’s events in my brain. I wondered what Eric meant by I didn’t have to worry about Alana that he would never leave me. Did a vampire at some point win his independence from his Maker after a certain number of years? Was Alana finally dead? I had never really stopped to ponder much about the events that led up to Eric being a vampire. I can’t even imagine the things he has been witness to over the last 1000 years. Did he have a birth day or a death day? Do vampires celebrate the day they were made vampires the way humans celebrate their birth? He and Drake have known each other, literally forever, I wonder how they keep this a secret. I guess staying several thousand miles apart helps. I suppose Eric was sensing my mind racing with questions, “ Lover, for someone who has just had hours of some of the best sex of her life, your mind is not resting.”
I turned to face him, “I was just thinking, it’s not important.”
“I was just thinking about… Alana” I looked at him wide eyed.
He kissed the top of my head and snuggled me into him and ran his fingers through my hair, “Lover, you do not have to worry I will never leave you fro Alana like Bill did for Lorena. I won my independence from Alana over 700 years ago and if that is not enough to bring peace to your mind, Alana no longer walks the earth.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I wasn’t sure that was the right response but she was his Maker I felt like I should say something.
“Don’t be sorry. Be glad that you never met her. Her unwillingness to progress with the centuries brought about her demise. Alana was very old, I am not quite sure how old, when she turned me, because of her ways, her unwillingness to evolve with the times is what brought her to meet her final death.”
“You won your independence?” I looked up into his face.
He had a far away look in his eyes as he was remember, “One night we were hunting Alana liked to hunt on her own and she grew more careless as the days went by. She had fallen into a large animal trap set by hunters. The trap was a pit dug into the ground with several sharpened stakes at the bottom, she was lucky that none of them came close to her heart. Drake and I heard her cries and smelled her blood and before agreeing to help her out of the pit and get her back to safety she had to agree to release us forever. We would no longer be tied to her. After we pulled her from the pit each of us took a turn feeding her our blood. We barely made our way to safety before the dawn. That night when Drake and I rose Alana was already gone. We heard from one of her other children that stayed with her that she was finally dead only 20 years later. So you see I am free of the burden of waiting for my Maker to call me into service. This is why I have always given Pam the choice of being with me. She is my child but I would never want to cause her undo misery this could be dangerous for both of us in the long run.”
After I was sure he was finished sharing, and that was a lot of sharing for him, I asked the question I had wondered about on more than one occasion, “Eric, do you have other… children?”
He looked deep into my eyes with a hint of sadness, “none that still walk the earth. Pam is the last I turned. I had made two others before her and they have met their final death very long ago.”
Again, not knowing exactly what to say I snuggled back into him, “I’m sorry” I said softly. We drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 23
When I woke up I was still curled up in the arms of my vampire. It was never easy removing myself from him when we slept like this since he really was dead weight I was moving when I would pry myself out of his arms. But it was so worth it waking up next to him. I found myself moving a little gingerly as my lower abdomen was a little tender from all the deep thrusts deep into it last night. I smiled at myself thinking about Eric’s bounty as I took care of necessities and then climbed into the shower. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and slipped on my new bikini I bought at the mall, black with hot pink polka dots all over it and the top was the kind with the underwire and the bottoms tied on the sides. I slathered some suntan lotion all over me and slid on a pair of Capri jeans and a black Fangtasia t-shirt and slid my feet into a pair of black flip flops. I was determined to get at least one day in on the beach before we were down to all business. Since I didn’t have any instructions that I knew of giving me duties to fulfill today I thought I would just spend a leisurely day on the beach reading, listening to my mp3 player, napping and working on my tan. So I grabbed a bag and stuffed all the things I thought I would need in it and head down stairs for a little breakfast before heading to the beach.
I reached the bottom of the stairs and realized I had no idea where the kitchen was in this hotel sized home. Brianna was the name Duncan told me last night. I wonder how I go about finding her I thought to myself. Ok, no one in site, lucky me with my special gift I could search out someone with both my ears and my mind. So I let down my guards, I wondered into the room we crossed through last night looking to pick up on someone’s brain waves, nothing. I wondered back a little further into the house searching for any noise with my ears or in my head. Finally, I heard voices as I made my way back through the house. A woman’s voice sounding very much like a teacher giving directions, I hesitated because I didn’t want to interrupt and I found myself in a large room with a wall of windows. They were the same opaque windows that were in the rest of the house but the furniture was very casual. White wicker with soft beige cushions with palm tree print and there were potted trees and flowers sitting all around the room. I noticed a door at the corner of the room and I walked out into an actual sun room decorated the exact same way. I giggled to myself at the thought of a vampire sun room and a human sun room. The real sun room led out to the huge swimming pool. There was a tall rock wall with a waterfall pouring down into the pool and built around the back of the wall was a waterslide and no vampire pool would be complete without a big jetted hot tub attached. As I was coming back inside from admiring the pool I almost jumped out of my skin, “Miss Stackhouse I presume?” the voice that had been giving directions just moments ago said to me.
“Yes, please call me Sookie.” I gave my nervous smile since I hadn’t quite gotten my wits about me yet.
“My name is Brianna, I have been expecting you. Is there anything I can do for you?” She was tall, younger than I expected with dark hair pulled up in a bun and black rimmed fashionable glasses. She was dressed in a very conservative black skirt that came just below her knees and a black jacket with a white collared shirt and sensible black shoes. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel like I had seen her somewhere before. “I was actually hoping to for a little breakfast. If you could show me to the kitchen I would gladly tend to myself.”
“Miss…. Oh, um, Sookie, please follow me, we have a staff that will get you anything you desire. Will you require a car for today?”
“Thank you, I don’t mean to be any trouble. I don’t believe I will need a car today unless there have been instruction left for me that require me to leave the grounds.”
“I didn’t receive any paperwork to give to you. I will assume you are free to do as you wish today. Please be seated, Maria will be with you in just a moment. If you do decide you need a car, please let me know and I will arrange for the King’s limo to drive you or if you prefer I can have a car brought up from the garage for you to drive yourself.” I was feeling definitely undressed as she sat me at a elaborate dining table enough for at least 20 people to sit. She rang a bell on the side table and a middle aged plump lady with almost black hair and an olive complexion came bustling out and spoke very courteously asked, “Yes Miss Brianna,” with a heavy Spanish accent. “Miss Stackhouse will be staying with us for a week or so, please see to it that she has whatever she desires from the kitchen. Please inform the rest of the staff.” With that she looked back down at me and turned on her heels and walked out of the room.
The plump little lady with a forced smile walked up beside me inclining her head “Miss Stackhouse, what would you like for breakfast?”
“Please call me Sookie, Maria. If the coast is clear do you think you could take me back to the kitchen and let me at least help make something for myself? To be honest I feel a little uncomfortable and a little ridiculous sitting at this huge table by myself and well, honestly, I am used to taking care of myself.” I flashed her a genuine smile. “Sookie, Miss Brianna will have my hide if she catches you waiting on yourself.” “Maria, please, I could really use the company and I promise I won’t get in the way.” “Please follow me.” She looked a little worried.
I popped up out of the chair and followed her through a doorway that lead into a small room lined with cabinets and countertops. I guessed this was were the staff would set the food as it was ready to be served to the main dining room because through the next door was the kitchen. Everywhere you looked it was stainless steel. The counters the cabinet door fronts the appliances. Off to the side in front of a couple of windows was a cutting board style table with six chairs. It looked rather out of place but I assumed it was for the staff. I put on my best smile as we walked into the kitchen and the other three people in the kitchen froze.
“Miss Stackhouse, this is Elijah our chef. This is Justine our upstairs maid. This is Natasha our downstairs maid.” Elijah was a hefty dark skinned man with a clean shaven head and face dressed in traditional chef’s clothes. Justine was a younger woman, if I guessed I would say very early 20’s, with alabaster skin and auburn hair pulled back in a short ponytail and a little on the short side with bright blue eyes. Natasha had a beautiful tanned complexion with short almost black hair with light green eyes and she was tall and very well proportioned.
“Please if it won’t get you into any trouble, call me Sookie. I convinced Maria to bring me in here I really don’t want to cause you any problems and I don’t mind tending to myself,” again with the bright smile.
“Sugar, you just let me know what you want and I will be happy to whip it up for you. There aren’t many days I get the chance to cook a meal for a human guest. I spend most my time feeding the other staff here. So you just tell old Elijah what you want.” Elijah definitely had a real southern draw to his voice. I liked him immediately. “Tell you what, why don’t you let me make you up one of my famous omelets, just sit back and relax.” “That sounds great. By any chance is their coffee made?” I was feeling much more comfortable.
If Elijah’s omelets weren’t famous they should have been. Light and fluffy with ham, onion, tomato, cheese and mushrooms with a salsa on top along with a side of delicious mixed fresh fruit. “A girl could get used to eating like this. This is excellent, Elijah,” stuffing another bite into my mouth. The rest of the people in the kitchen hadn’t gone back to work they all settled down at the table with me for a cup of coffee. “I guess this place is pretty quiet during the day,” I asked.
“The bi, uh, Brianna, keeps us plenty busy. We work in the mornings and take off during the afternoon to come back a little before sundown in case the master needs anything from us.” Natasha explained with a accent I loved listening to, Russian I suppose. With that little slip up about Brianna they obviously didn’t care much for their boss.
“So you are on the clock 24/7? Doesn’t leave much time for a social life.”
“The King is our social life. Brianna can’t stand that we are His,” Natasha made a motioning finger between her and Justine, “not that she wants to be but she just thinks us to be low class because of it” she rolled her eyes.
“So she takes it out on y’all barking orders when Dra… uh, the King is at rest.” “That about sums it up. Poor Maria and Elijah kind of just get the bad end of it since they just work here. They aren’t involved in the vampire world otherwise,” Justine chimed in.
“Sorry to hear about that y’all. I know what it’s like to work somewhere that you get treated different because of who you are.”
“You work?” Natasha was stunned.
“Actually, I have been a waitress for the same bar and grill for the last five years, well that is up until just a couple of weeks ago.” I gave my half smile.
“So what now? Are you just living it up with that gorgeous blond vampire you came in with last night?” Justine was on pins and needles like I was telling a fairy tale and Natasha elbowed her in the arm with a look of astonishment that she would ask a guess that type of question.
“Y’all saw us? I didn’t see anyone but Mason and Duncan last night. But yeah, I guess I have been the last couple of weeks but when we get back to Louisiana I will start a new job.” I didn’t want to go into more detail then that, after all I knew Eric trusted Drake but I didn’t know who I could trust yet.
“Sookie,” Natasha began speaking, “what are your plans today?”
“I don’t really have any. I thought I would spend the day on the beach or out by the pool and soak up some of this glorious sun. It isn’t quite this warm back home yet.”
“Sounds great. Justine and I will join you after we finish up if you don’t mind.”
“That’s great!” I was actually excited about having some company. “Maria, Elijah, would you like to join us?” “Thanks Sugar, but I think I’ll pass on the sun bathing, my tan is already dark enough.” He chuckled. “Besides if I let you three fine young things see me in my speedo you’d be leaving those vamps in a heartbeat.” He got up and went back to the kitchen chuckling all the way.
“Maria?”
“Thanks for the offer but I don’t live here like the girls do. I have a family. I work during the day where I am needed and I go home. I only come back in the evenings when the King has guests.”
“I’m sorry Eric and I are taking you away from your family.”
“Don’t be. Besides I think we are scheduled to have a few more guests with the big summit coming up.” She got up and motioned to the other girls, “scoot let Miss Sookie finish eating so she can get on with her day. You two have some work to do.”
“Bye Sookie, we’ll catch up with you outside when we finish.” Justine was definitely a happy spirited girl.
I finished up and took my plate to the sink and rinsed it off and Elijah spatted my hands and sent shooed me away. I grabbed my bag and headed outside. I went down to the beach and there were already several lounge chairs set up. There was a small building I went to take a peak inside. How convenient it was small but there was a little kitchenette, a small bathroom and then a small sitting area and eat at bar. Either King Valk was very considerate of even his human guests or he bought this place as it stands. With a chef and a staff and all the human elements of the home, I wondered if he entertained humans often. I checked the fridge and was glad to see cold drinks and I grabbed a bottle of water and headed outside. I slipped out of my clothes grabbed my book and sunglasses and settled into one of the lounge chairs. I pulled out the romance novel that had the picture of Claude and I on the front cover. I still hadn’t gotten the chance to read it yet. I must have only been alone no more then an hour and I heard chattering between Natasha and Justine as they were coming to the beach. I sat up and turned to look at them with a big smile. Natasha was wearing a bright yellow bikini with white piping that looked great with her complexion. Justine was wearing a brown one piece with a long sheer wrap around skirt and a big floppy hat. With her fair complexion I guessed she might burn easily and she grabbed one of the big umbrellas from storage shed that sat beside the house and sunk it in the sand near her chair.
I hated to do it to my new acquaintances after they had been so nice to me but I was here to work so I let my guard slide down as we had some girl talk. “So how long have the two of you worked for the King?”
“We have actually both been here the same amount of time. We were roommates and we worked at the bar Night Sins and Ethan would come in on occasion and we just seemed to hit it off,” Justine was all about sharing and her brain wasn’t saying anything different. “One night he brought us back here and Natasha and King Valk hit it off, which really pissed Brianna off, and after a few more visits and a few nights out on the town the King the King claimed us as his own, we were a package deal. I belong to the King just like Natasha but Ethan and I still have our fun too. The King gives me to him as a reward every once in a while, after all he found us. Once we belonged to the King he would no longer allow us to work at the bar so he arranged for us to work here that way he feels like we earn the money he gives us and we don’t just feel like vampire call girls.” Yep, Justine is a chatty one, and it’s interesting to hear her talk, she has one of those little girl sounding voices. Cute, but I suspect if you listened to her long enough it could get annoying. “How about you Sookie, how long have you belonged to your vampire?” I hated the term owned, but I am going to just go along with it, I have learned in some instances it is just best and the fact that I was Eric’s equal, his queen as he calls me and the fact that we are now engaged, well, I am just going to push all that aside and try and gain some with Justine and Natasha, “I have known Eric for a long time, I used to belong to one of his subordinates and when that didn’t work out I found my way to Eric.” Well that made me sound like a ladder climbing vampire ho! But they both smiled approvingly.
We set quietly for a few minutes and I just browsed through their minds. Justine was literally a lot of air. She was definitely uncomplicated. Natasha had thoughts flashing through her mind from her encounter with Drake last night, ok, too much information there, she was vividly remembering him and broadcasting full detail pictures from her mind. She was almost as lucky as me and I think I began to blush a little so I just took a big drink of water. OK, for now there is nothing dangerous about these girls. They are just along for the vampire ride. “Sookie, what plans do you and your Master have while you are in Florida,” Natasha was obviously taking a break from her fond memories. “I am not sure what Eric and I will be doing,” I hated from people to refer to him as my Master. But I decided to play the devoted human servant at the moment, “I am just along for whatever he has in store I guess.” I said innocently. Hum, I can pull this off, Sookie the subservient obedient sex kitten!
We laid out in the sun making idol chit chat and ran in and out of the cabana for snacks and trips to the rest room. The sun was beginning to set and the boys would be up soon. So we gathered up our stuff and headed back to the house. On our way past the pool Natasha pushed Justine in and as she fell she reached out for me but I moved a little too quickly for a human, after all I had just had some of Eric’s blood. Justine made a huge splash into the pool, “Natasha you witch, help me out!” Natasha bent to pull her out and I couldn’t resist I pushed her in. Another big splash, what the hell, I jumped in. We were laughing and splashing and cutting up not paying much attention to the fact that the outside lights and pool lights had automatically come on. Then we heard a deep, “Uh ummm”. We all spun around and there were the boys, Eric, Drake and Mason standing watching us. Brianna was standing with her arms crossed tapping her toe with extreme disappointment on her face. Justine and Natasha froze and as much as they could in the pool bowed to Drake. I almost cracked up! I waded my way down to the end of the pool where Eric stood and reached up with both hands and he lowered and took one of my hands in his and I grabbed it with both of mine and with all the strength I could muster I yanked him in. What a splash and I wrapped my arms around his neck when he resurfaced. Natasha and Justine had fear written all over their faces. Next thing I knew Drake pulled off his t-shirt and jumped in and Ethan followed suit. I had to steal a peek at Brianna and she threw her hands in the air in complete disgust on walked back into the room. The six of us rough house and horse played and had a great time in the pool for about an hour. Finally, Ethan spoiled the fun, “Master, we need to feed and get ready if your plans are to still go to the club.”
“Yes, you are correct, Natasha, Justine, get dressed you will accompany us to the club tonight.” Drake commanded and they scurried out of the pool.
Eric swooped me up in his arms and climbed out of the pool, he had discarded his wet t-shirt earlier but his jeans had to be at least 10 pounds heavier. He didn’t put me down when we got out of the pool. He turned to Drake, “we must go get ready, how long do we have before you are ready to leave, Valk.” Eric gave a couple of quick eyebrow wiggles towards Drake and I blushed.
“Well you are my guests I suppose we will leave when you are ready, but don’t take too long Northman.”
I was so happy. This is as close to normal as I could ever imagine getting. Eric bounded up the stairs and into our room, still not putting me down he carried me into the bathroom and put me down in front of the shower. He turned on the water for it to warm and then I was in his arms and his mouth was assaulting mine. I moved my hands in between us and unbuttoned his wet jeans and in one motion had them on the floor, he had neglected putting on boxers when he woke. I stood back and looked at him taking in his well defined muscular body and huge manhood that stood at attention. “Lover, if I didn’t know what a lady you were I would swear you had dirty thoughts running through your mind.” I just smiled. “I am beginning to think I am about to be eaten alive.” He said with mock terror on his face. I pounced he caught me mid air and he reached for my swim suit. I pulled away, “I would prefer you not destroy this Master.” His face went blank. “Master?” “Oh yes, Master, that seems to be the role that is expected between us around here, you are my master and I am your subservient little sex kitten.”
“Hum” with an evil smile if I had ever seen one, “careful I could get used to this.” He pulled me to him and spun me around and untied every tie on my suit and then not too gently pulled my pony tail down. We stepped in the shower and we were pressed hard against each other kissing and groping. Eric pulled away, “Your Master commands you to wash ever inch of his body.” This was a role he was all too willing to play. “As you wish, Master” I gave him a doe eyed look and batted my eye lashes. I wet a wash cloth and lathered it with liquid soap, choosing the most manly one after smelling them all, I reached up to his neck and washed all the way around, I took care of one shoulder moving down his arm then holding it out so I could get the underside making sure to get his arm pit, across hi collar bone and the same thing with the other arm. I soaped his chest and took my time around his nipples, yep my bite marks were completely gone, washing down his abdomen and following the dark blond hair that led from his navel to his manhood that was still standing at attention. I turned his back to the water and sat down on the bench in the shower and let the water rinse away the suds I had left on him, he was definitely enjoying this as he leaned his head back against the wall with his eyes closed. I used the wash cloth and moved up and down his shaft to which I got a pleasing moan, then I encased his jewels with my wash cloth sure to give them a thorough cleaning, more pleasurable moans. Leaning forward sure to breath heavy on his bounty I slid the wash cloth between his legs and reached around rubbing my hand across one side of his perfect ass and took the was cloth in that hand pulling is slowly through in an upward motion so that the wash cloth slid up the crack of his butt. That got a reaction, a growl and his fang shot out. “Easy Master, I’m not done.” Then I worked my way up his back after turning him back around and across his broad shoulders. I turned him back around again and kneeled in front of him keeping my face as close to his huge shaft as I could without touching it. I finished washing his legs and feet. I stood slowly running my fingernails up his leg and up his shaft and up his stomach to his shoulder. “Master, please sit so I may wash your hair.” He sat facing me his face level with my breasts and I began washing his hair being sure to jiggle my plentiful breasts as much as I could. I was definitely enjoying this teasing process. Then he bit. My hands made fists in his hair and I pulled him into me. He raised me up and lowered me down and with the drawn out excitement of all of my teasing we both reached our peak very quickly. “Shall we switch roles and we do it all again?” He smiled.
“Keep that in mind for later, we should probably get ready.” I kissed him passionately. “Keep that up and we will be delayed longer, I promise,” he smiled.
“You get out and let me get cleaned up,” I gently pushed him out of the shower. When I got out I quickly dried my hair and added a few curls to it leaving it down and put on just a little makeup and strolled across the room flaunting my nakedness. I walked into the closet, “what kind of club? Fangtasia dress or fancier?”
“Lover you look good no matter what you wear, you are wearing my favorite outfit now. But since I would have to kill way too many if you wore that out, Fangtasia.”
I looked through the closet for what to wear and decided I would be Sookie the sex kitten tonight. I went back out to the chest and took out my underthings and walked back to the closet. I pulled out a new black leather mini skirt that fit very tight and slid it up over the black lace boy short style panties. I slipped on a black shimmering halter top with that had a shirt style collar on it and it was cut really low. Luckily on my one and only trip to Victoria’s Secret I had picked up a bra that allowed me to wear these types of shirt because I did not like to go out in public without a bra. I slipped into a pair of three inch black high heeled sandals. I took a look in the mirror hanging in the closet, yep Sookie the vampire slave sex kitten. I walked out of the closet and Eric’s mouth fell open. “Lover, I still may have to kill a few people tonight. But if we don’t leave this room now we aren’t going to leave.” He met me half way across the room and took my hand and led me down stairs.
Everyone had gathered in the room at the bottom of the stairs, now I understood what that seating area was for, it was like a waiting room. The girls were sitting on the sofa chatting and Drake and Ethan were in a heavy conversation that halted as soon I stepped from behind Eric and came in full view. I felt Eric begin to tense just a little and I ran my hand up and down his back and by the way the other two vampires were looking at me I was glad I couldn’t read their minds, I was really hoping Eric didn’t kill anyone over me tonight. But I hadn’t put my shields back up yet and I did catch Natasha’s thoughts, damn, I thought I looked hot I wonder what the King would say if I dressed like that, her Master better watch her close and the King better not watch her too close.
“U wordt vergeven voor laat het zihn” came from the Kings mouth. It didn’t sound like the language they were speaking last night. “ik zie waarom u dit voor zich houdt” he said with a grin that showed partially extended fangs.
“Trek broer terug, is zij mijn,” Eric raised a single eyebrow. As we were walking out the door he leaned to my ear, “Lover, I really don’t want to kill anyone tonight but you may make that very difficult.”
“What did Drake say?”
“He said, you are forgiven for being late and I see why you are keeping this one for yourself and I told him Back off brother, she is mine.
“That’s right and I have the ring to prove it.” I reached up and gave him a quick kiss. Since Eric and I walked out last I was able to observe the other girls. They looked very pretty. Natasha was wearing a black silk oriental style dress with bronze colored decoration, very nice although her shoes looked as uncomfortable and every bit as high as mine. Justine had on skin tight red corset style top with flowing sleeves and a black fairy skirt and red high heeled pumps. What was it about us women and torturing our feet? Justine took Ethan’s arm so obviously she was his date for the evening. When we walked outside I hadn’t expected to see three black stretch limos sitting in the drive. At least this would give Eric and I the chance to talk about tonight since we got side tracked in our room getting ready. You never stop to think about getting in and out of the car when you get dressed. The driver opened the door and I sat down on the edge of the seat keeping my knees together and turned inward with my legs, at least we weren’t in an SUV. Eric looked at the drive who quickly snapped his head in an upright position, he had been watching to see if he was going to catch a peek of my panties or lack there of if he was lucky I caught him thinking.
We were in the car and the window between us and the driver was already up. “So what is the purpose of tonight,” I questioned.
“Listen, as much as you can bare if you don’t mind. I will make sure we get on the dance floor and that we make our way around the bar a few times so you can see if you can pick up on anything. The King owns part of this club as I told you before, so we will have a safe and secure place to sit when you need a break and if you need anything else we will manage.” He turned to me and kissed me deeply and ran his hand up my skirt and I automatically spread my legs.
I breathed into his mouth, “don’t start what you can’t finish.” Eric’s cell phone rang. “Speak,” he was a little frustrated. “she is fine, no we do not, I am positive.” He slammed the phone shut.
“Are you going to tell me what that was about?"
“It was Bill,” he actually hissed his name, “he wanted to check on you and see if we needed him to fly out to assist us in any way.” Now he wasn’t frustrated he was irritated. I rubbed his leg with the hand that had the beautiful engagement ring on it and laid my head on him and he wrapped his arm around me and we rode for a long while in silence while he calmed himself. I was just thinking it was a good thing that conversation happened on the phone or else Bill may have suffered some very serious repercussions. “He only lives as a favor to you. He will never completely let you go. He will always hold on to the fact he was your first love your first partner your first vampire.”
“If it gives him some sort of happiness let him hold onto it, but I am yours. You will be my husband. You will be my last love and that is far more important and a much heavier burden to carry. Everyone has to have a first love, a first time to have sex, a first time for everything, that doesn’t always make it the best time.” I took his hand in mine and looked deeply into his eyes and then laid my head back on him.
Chapter 24
We walked into the bar as the King told the vampire at the door that we were his guests. She was dressed in tight black leather pants and shirt with spike boots and dramatic makeup. I wondered if the bar here required vampires in the area to put in their time in the bar like Fangtasia. We walked to the far side of the bar and there was a roped off area that consisted of two large half circle booths and we were all seated in there. We were all able to fit in one booth easily. Ethan and Justine slid in and I slid in next to Justine Eric next to me on the outside, Natasha scooted in next to Ethan and Drake across from Eric. We no more got seated and a human waitress was at the table, “How may I serve you tonight Master,” and I believed this waitress wasn’t just talking about the table order.
“Emma, these are my guests tonight, be sure they receive anything they ask for."
“Yes Master,” with a bow from Emma. “May I bring you anything now.”
“Cape Cods for the ladies and True Bloods, A positive for us,” then the King dismissed her with the wave of his hand. I didn’t know what I was about to drink and I didn’t like being ordered for without being consulted. Eric placed his hand on my thigh and gave a little squeeze. I put my hand on top of his leg and squeezed back. I could do this. I needed to fit in with the other girls. What seemed like record time the waitress with the round of drinks. I took a sip of the red drink in front of me, hey this was pretty good, I would have to ask Eric what I was drinking.
“King, if you don’t mind I would like to dance with Sookie, if you will pardon us,” Eric was playing his role as humble guest too. Drake nodded and Eric took my hand and led me out onto the floor. On the way to the dance floor I was eyed by several vampires, both men and women and I was glad I couldn’t hear their thoughts. Eric actually snarled at one of them. Once we were on the dance floor and I was wrapped in Eric’s arms and he was leading me around the dance floor I was able to let my guards down and listen I focused first on the people on the dance floor. As usual there were lots of different thoughts about lots of different sex acts and I picked up on one that vividly involved Eric and it made me a little distracted dare I say jealous. Eric felt something and looked down at me and I just shook my head no. Another that involved me, Eric and some nasty looking fang banger and I actually cut him a look that sent shivers down him and then he disappeared off in the crowd. I was beginning to think this was pointless, and I heard from somewhere just off the dance floor in a woman’s voice I wonder who the new dead meat is with the blond tramp that came in with the King. I wonder if he is here to take over interest in the bar. It would almost be a pity to stake such a hunk. I froze and Eric almost tripped over me. I took his hand leading him off the floor in what I had hoped was the right direction. I hurried through the crowd listening for the voice. Where the hell are they off to in such a hurry, that was the voice and I stopped and turned to Eric, he bent and kissed me and breathed into my mouth, “relax Lover, I have you, just concentrate and we can go from there.” We stood in each other’s arms and I let Eric cover my face shielding me so that I could focus. I will have to let the boss know that there is a new player in town. I need to focus, but he is just so good looking, I believe he is a better specimen then the King himself. I took Eric by the hands and led him a little deeper into the bar looking for the voice. I had a big smile planted on my face trying to look like I had something in mind that had to do with the big vampire I was pulling behind me. I stopped, nothing, where did she go? I turned back to Eric and he pulled me into him again, I searched out even further. Nothing. We wondered back to a corner so I could tell Eric what I had heard. “Let’s go back to the table and I will take Drake and Ethan aside and let them know. You can go to the table and relax a little. I know concentrating so hard tires you, Lover.” He led me back to the table and sat me down. “King, could I have a word with you and Mason for a moment, in private?” The men stood up and walked off to a hallway at the back of the bar. “What was that about,” Justine questioned. “Who knows when it comes to these boys and their business,” I said with a strained smile on my face and drank half of my drink. I didn’t put my shields back up, I didn’t want to miss anything. After several minutes and the rest of my drink I didn’t hear anything other than Natasha. She was thinking about the little roll in the hay she and Drake had before we left and about how she felt like he fed a little too much from her tonight, she was feeling a little weak. Justine was just singing to herself in her head along with what was playing in the club. Wow, I don’t think I had ever met a real actual airhead. The guys came back and escorted us all out to the dance floor. I put my shields up and down for the rest of the night as we danced and chit chatted. But I never heard the voice again.
Chapter 25
Despite my working we still managed to have a good time at the club. We danced, we talked and the girls and I sang along with the music, no I can’t sing but it was fun. We left a bit before the club closed and once we were back in the limo I was ready for my mind to have piece and quiet. That is defiantly a big bonus of having a vampire for a boyfriend. “Eric, I am worried that the voice I heard was taking such and interest in you. I couldn’t bare to loose you now that we have finally found each other and are making plans for our lives.” I was at the verge of tears.
Eric took me in his arms, “I am not going anywhere. We will do what we can to help with this murders and if it becomes too dangerous for you we will leave.”
“I am not worried about myself, it is you that they are talking about staking.”
“Lover, everything will be fine. We will go home together and you can start planning our party and then our wedding.” He squeezed and kissed the top of my head. I had drifted off to sleep in the security of my vampires arms and the next thing I knew I awoke to him carrying me back into the house and up the stairs and I didn’t protest. I also didn’t protest when he undressed me and deposited me between the bedding in just my lacey panties. He undressed himself and crawled in next to me and wrapped his strong arms around me and I drifted back off to sleep.
When I woke the next day I wasn’t wrapped in Eric’s arms and he was wearing pajama pants so he must have gotten back up after I fell back to sleep. I am sure he and Drake had things to talk about. I crawled out of the huge comfortable bed and pulled the cover back up over Eric. I went into the bathroom to and found a note taped to the mirror. Lover, Drake and I spoke last night after you fell to sleep, we are at a loss of what direction to send you on during the day to search for clues. Enjoy your day, Drake has instructed Brianna to allow Natasha and Justine to spend the day with you and for you to do as you please. I slid a credit card inside your purse and some cash, enjoy yourself. We will go to the preliminary summit meetings tonight, please dress conservatively no need to wear one of your beautiful gowns tonight. With Love, E
I showered got dressed and went downstairs to grab a bite to eat. I wondered through the house admiring the beauty. I decided before getting a bite that I would very much like to take a closer look at the library from the other night. If I overstepped my bounds by doing so, well, I could just apologize later. I found the room with ease and I was just about to push the door open and I heard a voice. I think he is here only to visiting seems he and the King have a history but I do not believe him to be relocating. No the King hasn’t given me any details on the summit I have not been involved in putting it together. He has not requested my presence. Yes, I do believe his two whores are going with him and I am sure the other vampires slut will be with him they are never apart they even sleep in a bed together. I should go not that either of the two bimbos would find me in the library I don’t think they have ever read a complete book in their lives but Maria may wonder in. Thankful for the vampire blood I moved faster then a human should and I sprinted back down the hall and back up a few stairs. I stopped for just a second and then turned to casually walk back down the stairs and Brianna almost bumped into me. “Can I help you with anything today Miss Stackhouse.” This didn’t sound like the voice I had just heard. So I let down my shield to listen. Was the question too hard for you blondie. “Excuse me” I snapped with a bit of attitude. “Is there anything you need from me today?” Snap to it sweetie… too much blood loss last night got your brain a little sluggish. I just looked at her again for another minute. “No thanks” trying to control my anger and I just walked on past her. I knew for sure I needed to get closer to her today. So I was really sure I could trust Natasha and Justine, after the comment on the phone I was pretty sure Maria was trustworthy that left Brianna, who was definitely up to something but with just what I overheard I couldn’t say she was involved in anything other than a phone conversation. She definitely didn’t like Natasha or Justine and you can obviously add me to that list. That leaves Elijah and Duncan or at least that is all the staff I have met. I wondered into the kitchen and was greeted with “Good Morning Sugar! What’ll it be this morning? How about waffles or crepes or pancakes ? Coffee? Juice?” Elijah seemed really excited to have someone else to cook for. “Waffles sound great if it’s not to much trouble” I gave him a genuine smile. “Yes, I would love some coffee.” The girls came strolling in just in time to join me for breakfast. I hoped they liked waffles since they were obviously eating whatever Elijah cooked.
“Good morning Sookie, how did you sleep?” Justine beamed.
“Good morning, I slept fine, thank you.”
“We understand that we have you to thank for having a day off, not that we work hard anyways.” Natasha smiled. “So what would you like to do today? Have you ever been to Florida before?”
“I have never been to Florida before. I have no idea what I want to do. I have no idea what there is to do. I just know that we should be back in time to get ready for tonight before the guys wake up. Oh, wait, I know what I don’t want to do. I know that Florida has those swamp tours with alligators and stuff, I will pass on that, I have enough of that back home.” That got a little giggle from everyone. “Where’s Maria at today, I haven’t seen her.”
“I haven’t seen her either and Brianna didn’t say anything about her when she came bustling through here earlier,” Elijah sat waffles in front of us with fresh strawberries cut on top and a big pitcher of maple syrup.
“Do you want to get wet or stay dry? We could go jet ski or we could scuba or snorkel or hey we could go have a day at the spa! Oh, please pick the spa please please please.”
“Justine, how about we go to the spa today.” How could I refuse her after all that, “That is if it’s cool with Natasha too.”
“Sure, we can make a day of it, massage, facial, manicure, pedicure – the works. I’ll call and set it up” she whipped out her cell and hit speed dial. We ate and then gathered our purses and I brushed my teeth and gave Eric a little peck on the cheek then met the girls in the room at the bottom of the stairs. “Sookie, we can drive and we don’t mind, but if you ask the limo will take us where ever we want to go. Do you mind?” Natasha looked almost embarrassed. “Brianna is in the office off the sun room last I saw her.” We must have looked like the three musketeers walking into that office. “Brianna,” I was still pissed from the insults running through her brain earlier so I was quite blunt, “we will require the use of the limo for the day. Please have it brought around immediately as we are ready now.” If looks could kill I would already be cold in the ground. “As you wish.” Brianna picked up the phone and ordered the car around.
“Sookie, she has to hate you just as much as she does us. Maybe more because we don’t get to give her orders, she orders us around.” Justine had a horrified look on her face. We climbed into the back of the limo and Natasha told the driver where we were going, I took the opportunity to see if I could get any info on Brianna. I didn’t think she was going to let me hang out with her at any point so I thought I would just try a little investigative work. “What is the deal with Brianna? If she hates vampires why does she work for them? Or is she envious because you are His and she is just his secretary?”
“Brianna was working for the King when we moved in. She has been with him for about six months and us only four. From the beginning she let us know right up front that she was our boss when the King wasn’t around and that we were trash as far as she was concerned. She treats Elijah like dirt and Maria even worse. She is just mean and rude. I thought it might have just been me thinking that she hated vampires and what kind of credentials did she come with and who introduced her to Master Valk and/or Ethan to have her hired as the Kings daytime assistant. If she heard you call her a secretary she would blow a gasket.” Natasha was definitely ready to do gossip about Brianna.
“I overheard she isn’t going tonight, but the two of you are, right?”
I received a yes and an evil smile for both questions from Natasha. “You overheard?”
“Yes, I overheard, some may call it eavesdropping but it wasn’t intentional at first” “What else did you overhear?” Justine questioned.
“Someone was asking about Eric and the summit and she made rude references to the three of us. But that’s about it.”
“Did she call us sluts, whores, skanks, bitches, tramps or all of the above?” Natasha said with a giggle.
“Oh, you know how she talks about you? Do you tell the King? Eric would never put up with that.” OK maybe I should have left the part about Eric off but I was becoming very comfortable with these two.
“No, we don’t tell him. It really hurt Justine at first and really just pissed me off, but we have gotten used to it and realize that we really have it pretty good here. We have plenty of money, our days are free except for a few busy chores, we live in an awesome house that we don’t have to pay for, our sex lives are beyond great and we always have a date. Brianna doesn’t live at the mansion she works there. If you ask me she should offer herself to the King or even Mason or one of the other vamps that come in and out of there and maybe she would lighten up a little. Her twin sister is much more relaxed then she is.”
“Twin sister?”
“Yep, they are almost identical. Her sister seems more of a free spirit though. But I don’t think you would ever see Brittany with her hair in a bun and in one of those business suits.” Justine almost whispered the last part. You just had to love her even though she is a bit of an airhead. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. That feeling that I had seen Brianna before. The pretty dark haired girl on the plane, what in the world would Brittany have been doing in Shreveport. I must have gone completely pale because Justine grabbed my shoulders, “Sookie, you ok?”
“Yes, I am, but I think I saw Brittany on the plane when Eric and I were coming to Florida. When I met Brianna I thought she looked familiar, why would she be in Louisiana?” We had reached the spa. The driver opened the door and I hadn’t realized until now but he was a shape shifter. I guess I had let my guards slide down without realizing in the car. I didn’t remember seeing this driver before. Vampires and Weres don’t usually work together. Great, nothing is ever easy, I thought to myself.
Natasha had Justine go check us in, “Are you sure Sookie? Are you sure about what you saw?”
“I am positive, Natasha. What in the world would she be doing there?” Justine walked back up, “Please let’s just keep this between us for now. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble or put their life in danger so please don’t tell the King or Ethan. I will talk to Eric tonight and see if he remembers seeing the woman on the plane. I don’t know that he even noticed Brianna yesterday.” They both agreed and we were called into begin our day at the spa. We undressed and put on robes and put our hair up in towel wraps and went out and our naked bodies were emerged in mud. I had heard of this but I never actually thought I would pay to have someone sit me in a mud bath. We showered and then enjoyed a 30 minute message, a facial, manicure (no fake nails for me I learned my lesson on that in Jackson) and finally a pedicure. I had my nails done in a French manicure and pedicure. We had our hair done for the special occasion tonight. I was planning to wear my new black with pink pin stripe suit and look very conservative as Eric asked so I had them fix my hair in a french braid. Natasha had ringlets fixed all through her short hair. Justine had hers swept up into an updo with twirling tendrils hanging down. We received our bill and I thought I was going to faint, I hadn’t stopped to consider how much it was going to cost, $1500, but I guess I couldn’t complain, I should have asked before hand. I pulled the credit card out of my purse without looking at it, I hoped they wouldn’t give me a hard time since Eric’s name was on it. “Thank you Miss Stackhouse, here’s your card back.” I glanced at the card, it had my name on it. Eric got me a Fangtasia business credit card. I smile to myself not quite sure how I felt about that or how he was going to feel with me spending $1500 at the spa on his business account. While enjoying the day I tried to replay the plane ride in my mind and the conversation I had overheard this morning and what was up with the were driver. I just hoped Eric and I had time to talk before we had to go to the summit. We went out to lunch or possibly an early dinner since it was late afternoon and although we all agreed Italian sounded good because it had been so long since any of us had eaten, but since garlic was pretty much null in our diet, we settled on a deli with an ocean view. After our meal we meandered through the shops and I actually picked up a few souvenirs for Jason, Tara and JB. I started to pick up something for Pam but I resisted the urge. The three of us chatted like we were old friends. I definitely enjoyed the company and our common interests. These girls were so much more like me then the fang bangers I ran into back home. “Girls, are we fang bangers?” The word was like poison coming out of my mouth. Natasha laughed out loud, “Sookie, you crack me up. Do you care what other people think? Other people don’t understand. You my dear are definitely not a fang banger. You are one of the lucky one’s. I don’t know how you did it, but that big, blonde, handsome vampire loves you the way any human man loves a human woman, or more since everything with the vampires is so extreme. I hadn’t asked you about it, but I noticed that beautiful ring you are wearing, you don’t just get a ring like that for being any day to day fang banger. On the other hand, I don’t think I am a fang banger, I am not out to get bitten by just any vampire and passed around I have a claim on me. I belong to the King. He cares for me no more than what most people would care for their pets but I am young and I am enjoying my life. He will either turn me or dismiss me some day.” “You want him to turn you?” I gasped.
“I don’t know. I think that has to be the ultimate goal for those of us who hang out with vampires, don’t you want to be turned?”
“No, I don’t. Maybe some day I will change my mind and the thought that I will grow older and Eric won’t definitely bothers me, but I am not ready to give up the sun just yet. What about you Justine?”
“Oh yes, I definitely want to be turned. I don’t want to grow old and I don’t care much for the sun anyway. I desire the power they have seems to me like the only thing I would miss were my favorite foods and drinks but they don’t seem to mind too much.” She was beaming again as she talked. She is so animated.
“Sookie, you want to tell us about that ring on your finger?” Natasha raised her eyebrow. “It was a gift from Eric.”
“Really, like we hadn’t already figured that out. There has to be more behind it than that.”
“Please don’t think I am being rude, but right now the meaning of the ring is private between Eric and I.” I looked down at the ring and had so much joy in my heart.
“Honey, your private life is yours. But if you ever want to share we are here to listen. I really hope that we can stay in contact once you go home. We really like you, Sookie.”
“Thanks, I hope the same thing. I really like y’all too. You have been so nice and welcoming and it’s so nice to not be judged because of who my boyfriend is.”
“Boyfriend? Did you say boyfriend? Eric is not your Master? He is your boyfriend?” Justine was beside herself.
“Uh, yeah, he is. He is not my Master. Sorry I didn’t let y’all in on that sooner, I just didn’t want to” and Natasha cut me off “flaunt it” she said with that big grin. I just smiled back. Hey at least I hadn’t slipped and called him my fiancé but I hadn’t quite gotten used to that myself yet.
Chapter 26
When we got back to the mansion we all scurried up the stairs to get ready for the night ahead of us. It was getting late but it shouldn’t take any of us very long since we already had our hair done and we were squeaky clean and exfoliated from our spa treatment. I quickly put on a conservative amount of make up and some pink lip gloss. I grabbed a sexy pink bra and panties as I passed by the chest to replace the comfortable cotton one’s I had worn during the day. I changed my underthings and put on the pink camisole that matched the pin stripes on my suit and slid the skirt on and reached back and to zip my skirt and almost jumped out of my skins to feel another pair of hands. Eric didn’t manage to sneak up on me very often because of the bond but it happened every once in a while. I turned around and play slapped him on the arm, “You scared me dang it! Since your hear could you finish zipping my skirt?” Then the zipper went down. “No zip it up not down. You said I was to be ready when you got up because we wouldn’t have much time. Besides I don’t want to mess my hair up.”
“Hum, your hair won’t be an issue and we can make it quick.” There was that smile that made my knees weak.
“You are never quick. Not that I am complaining. But you are the one that told me to be ready – so go shower and I will finish getting dressed and we can talk about my day while you get ready.”
“You are right. We will need to leave soon. Tell me about your day Lover” he stepped into the shower.
I told him about Brianna’s conversation I heard this morning. Then I told him about her twin. He actually stuck his head out of the shower. “You did see her,” I said.
“I only glanced at the woman once yesterday as we descended the stairs I was much more interested in finding you and then when I saw you in that swim suite I didn’t want to see anything else. The sight of her haunted me, I had felt I had seen her before. Yes, on the plane. How did you come by this information?”
“Natasha and Justine, Brianna hates them. Eric, I trust them but I did not tell them why we were here. Another thing, our driver today was a shifter. I am really worried about you I have overheard this second conversation talking about you”
“Lover, I will be fine. Now we must decide if we talk to Drake about this now or when you have more information. What else did you do today?”
“I do need to talk to you about what I did today.” I looked at the floor. He tilted his head down and looked down his nose at me with eyebrows raised. “I went to a spa today. I had a mud bath, message, facial, manicure, pedicure and got my hair done.”
“You look and smell fantastic, what is it that you need to tell me?”
“I went along with Natasha and Justine and I didn’t even think to ask how much it cost. It was rather expensive. By the way, thank you for the credit card, are you sure about that?”
“Sookie, finish,” he was almost ready by now.
“It cost $1500, I promise I will pay every penny of it.”
“Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Then Lover, it was worth every penny. We can expense it out for entertainment. You need to have a business credit card you are a manager at the club now. Just be sure to keep the receipt.” He slid his jacket on and gave me a hug. He looked so good. He was wearing a black suit with a dark blue silk button down shirt. I love it when he wears blue.
“You look beautiful.” I smiled at him, “good enough to eat. We better go before we both end up undressed.”
“Lover you are right. We better go now, but later we will pick this conversation back up.”
“Are you going to talk to Drake?”
“Would you mind riding to the summit with the other women and I can ride with Drake and Ethan and we can talk. I will question him about Brianna and then decide what to tell him.”
“That’s fine. I don’t mind. It will at least keep us from attacking each other in the limo.” Wow I was being really forward tonight. Where was this coming from.
The guys climbed into their limo and us girls into ours the third limo followed. I guess there was no questioning you were told to do a job and you do it and it didn’t matter that your limo was empty. Besides, we may all ride back separately to the mansion. None of the drivers were the one that drove us earlier today all of these drivers were definitely human. Natasha was looking very elegant in a shimmering green slip dress that matched her eyes with a sheer wrap and strappy shoes to match. Justine was a vision dressed all in white lace, a white lace long skirt with a high slit up one side and a very fitted matching jacket with the a lace camisole peaking out behind with matching white pumps covered in lace material. I almost felt like a librarian next to their elegant clothes, but I looked good too, just more conservative.
I was a little surprised to see that we were at the convention center instead of a hotel that catered to vampires. The driver opened the door and Drake stood reached out to take Natasha’s hand, then Ethan for Justine and then my beautiful vampire stood to take my hand as I exited he bent and said “we saved the best for last”, I think I actually blushed a little. As we entered the convention center everyone stopped to bow to the King, this still just cracks me up. We entered into a large room set up much like any other conference room you can imagine, there was a table facing the crowd then there was a “throne” sitting up higher behind the table so that the King could sit above all. There was a small section off to the side of the stage with a cluster of chairs, Eric myself and the girls were escorted over there. The chairs were set in an arch to where we could see the stage and the crowd. Eric took the inner most chair with me next to him and then the other girls next to me. This would work since I could see the audience without forcing myself to turn and see them so I could scan without looking obvious. Everyone filed in and there was a low rumble of talk and then the panel walked in and near silence and then the King took the stage and the only noise you heard was everyone standing at once. As he stepped up onto his throne everyone bowed and once he was seated everyone took their seats. Ethan Mason sat center table. There was a very serious looking woman with long dark hair that was an extreme contrast to her extremely pale skin. She looked to have been maybe 40 when she was turned sitting to one side of him and to his other side a slightly heavy balding grey haired man that could have easily been 50 when he was turned. Ethan actually looked like he was young enough to have been their child. Not that he looked anything like them, it was just the way I pictured the setting. Ethan stood and called the meeting to order. He outlined the events over the next several days. There were to be a few elections to take place and the announcements of the results. There were to be various business meetings. There would be social times and entertainment. The events would conclude with a ball and during that event the announcements of the elections would be made. There would be a special meeting of only invited vampires of the business community with their guests. This would be the meeting to talk about the murders and that was going to be held tomorrow night. Eric and I would of course be at this meeting. The meeting tonight seemed to drag on with minutes from the last meeting, announcements and acknowledgements. I was straining to stay focused since I was so incredibly bored. There were quite a few humans in the room and I scanned and rescanned the room but the only thing I was picking up from many was the same boredom I was feeling. Of course there was the abnormal amount of sex thoughts that I quickly scanned past. I encounter a few questions on some minds about Eric and I and why we were sitting here separate from everyone else. Ethan sat down and the King stood, he motioned toward Eric and Eric stood. This is my special guest, many of you are acquainted with Eric Northman already, please extend he and his companion every courtesy, they will be attending our functions at this summit. Now please join us in the ball room for music, drink and conversation. Drake stepped down from his throne and disappeared out the side door. The room emptied but Eric and I did not join the masses. “Did you hear anything of use during the meeting, Lover?”
“No, nothing of use, thoughts of boredom, sex and normal day to day things although several people were wondering about you and I.”
“Maybe you will pick something up while everyone is being more casual.” We joined everyone in the next room and Eric snagged a warm bottle of True Blood as we walked into the room and then grabbed me a glass of champagne. We made our way through the crowd and Eric spoke with many people introducing me to all of them This is Sookie Stackhouse, my companion. I smiled and bowed and kept my mind focused on the human brains. The girls came and found me after about an hour and asked if I would like to go powder my nose with them, I could definitely use the break. We went in and all took care of necessities and freshened our makeup, checked our hair, all the normal girl stuff. There was a sitting area outside the main area of the bathroom so we decided to get off our feet for a few minutes and just chill out. We chatted about nothing important and then we decided we better get back. I walked out first and really wasn’t paying attention and ran smack into what felt like a brick wall. I started to give my apologies and when I looked up into the face of the person I stopped speaking.
“Babe, what are you doing in Florida? Sorry about running you over. How have you been?” Quinn had that beautiful smile on his face and he hadn’t let go of me yet from catching me to keep me from falling. I hadn’t even thought about bumping into him here, but it made since he was partners in the premier sup event planning company. And his region was the southern states.
“Eric and I are just here on a little get away visiting King Valk.” I put my left hand on his chest and gave a little push back and he reached up and grabbed my hand in his.
“So you two are together, really together?” he had a disapproving look on his face. I looked back at Natasha and Justine, “I’m fine, I will be back into the gathering in just a few minutes, Quinn and I are old… friends.” They both smiled at me and went on. “Quinn, yes, Eric and I are definitely together. I live with him in Shreveport now and when we get back I will be working at Fangtasia.”
“Oh Babe, you let him turn you into one of those chicks slinging drinks at his club, why would you do that?” I swear I saw pity in him beautiful purple eyes.
That made me upset, I started pulling my hand away be he held on, “Actually, I am going to be managing the human staff. Quinn, I am happy, Eric and I are happy, we are in love.” Just then I heard a loud growl and Eric was beside me.
“Take your paws off of her Tiger.” Eric was snarling and Quinn snarled back. I began to gently pull my hand away as to not move to fast to cause either one of the circling beasts to attack. Just then Quinn felt my ring slide through his fingers and grabbed hold, Eric tensed even more. Quinn took his eyes off of Eric and moved them down to the ring. He gave an audible hmmph, “Is this what it looks like Babe?” I glanced up at Eric because we had decided not to make our engagement public yet. Eric grabbed my hand from Quinn and moved up very close to him, “Sookie is mine. She is mine in every way. She will always be mine. Soon we will make this official and all will know. Those of you in her past have lost her forever. She has chosen. If you wish to stay alive Tiger and keep your business thriving I suggest you keep your paws off of her and keep your distance from her.” Quinn is tall but Eric is taller by at least three inches so it gives him the advantage of looking down at Quinn. He was angry and Quinn was not backing down. I stepped between them, not necessarily the safest place to be, “Ok Ok, this is enough. Eric is right, there is nothing to fight about, I have chosen, I choose Eric. Quinn you made your own choices a long time ago, now I have made mine. I am happy and not that I owe you any type of explanation, but for the first time I have someone willing to put me first and actually make plans for the future.”
“Babe,” Eric interrupted with a low fierce growl and Quinn just cut his eyes at him and continued, “I am glad you are happy, I think you are making a huge mistake, and I can’t believe you are planning to marry him, what do you think he is going to do with you when you get older, he certainly won’t be growing older with you. But whatever, like you said you made your choice,” he tossed his hands up and turned and walked off.
Eric grabbed me and began feverishly kissing me. I could barely catch my breath. His hands began wondering. “Eric we can’t do this here.” I knew confrontation was a major sexual stimulus for all supes including vampires. He pushed the ladies room door open and wrapped his arms around my waist and carried me inside into the sitting room area. I scanned the bathroom with my mind and it was empty and Eric locked the door. Kissing, fondling, groping our hands and mouths were moving furiously like we couldn’t consume each other fast enough. He turned my back to him and was kissing my neck and unbuttoning my jacket and he slid it off and he began messaging my breasts and pinching my nipples and I grinded back into him. He slid one hand down and pulled my skirt up and pushed my panties down, at least he didn’t tear them off. He bent me over the couch and entered me from behind. One of his hands on my shoulder and one around my waist and he was relentless pounding so hard I didn’t know if I was going to be able to stay on my feet. I came with loud screams and he continued pounding. He was claiming his territory over and over. He stopped and withdrew just long enough to spin me around an pick me up and push my back against the wall. His hands slid my cami up and he bit hard and as he began sucking I came again and he released my breast with a beastly growl he came. I just held on for a couple of minutes as I wasn’t sure my legs would hold my weight after such a work out. He kissed me tenderly and ran his hand down my face tenderly, “I didn’t hurt you did I?” I just smiled at him and shook my head no. “I couldn’t stand the sight of him touching you. I wanted to rip him to pieces right then and there.” He had a low growl under his voice.
“Eric, you don’t have to worry, I love you and there I’m with you and I’m not going anywhere.” I mimicked him by running my hand gently down the side of his face. “You realize that Quinn knows we are engaged, right? Are you worried about this?”
“I am not worried. Soon everyone will know. I think we can be sure that he won’t bother you anymore during our trip.” Eric zipped his pants and help me put my jacket on. “We should get back to the gathering, it will be ending soon. Have you heard anything yet?” I just shook my head no as I righted my clothes. “I told you before we left we could enjoy ourselves and I would not mess up your hair,” a smug grin on his face.
We walked back in and I notice that the room had already started to clear out. Ethan came up to Eric and took him to go speak with someone and soon after Natasha and Justine were at my side, “Sookie, who was that in the hall? He was absolutely gorgeous. You seem to surround yourself by gorgeous men. When we came back in Eric was worried when you weren’t with us and we told him you had ran into a friend in the hall and he asked who and we told him you said his name was Quinn and he was out the door in a blur.”
“Well, Quinn is my ex-boyfriend. He and Eric don’t like each other at all. Quinn’s company hosts these special events. There is just some unpleasant history between us all.”
“Too bad,” Justine smiled, “I wouldn’t have minded being introduced to him.” “Justine, you belong to the King just like I do, don’t forget that!” Natasha scolded her. “So what happened out there? You and Eric were out there a while.” I was learning Natasha, full of questions.
“They had words. There was growling and snarling neither of them willing to back down. I wedged between them and basically told Quinn to go away. Then Eric and I had … uh… we had a discussion about it.” I think I blushed a little.
“By the look on your face I think you had multiple discussions.” Natasha was grinning from ear to ear and Justine just looked confused. I caught a glimpse of Eric and he motioned for me to join him and the girls just followed. It was time to go and I was definitely ready.
Eric and I climbed into the limo alone. I was thankful for that. I needed to let my mind rest. “Lover, I am sorry for tonight,” that was the second time he apologized for the same thing in one night, “I hope now that he knows you have given yourself to me and I to you that he will not be a problem in the future.”
“Eric, I was never in love with Quinn. We never had a chance to let our relationship get that far.”
“But you were with him, he has had you.”
“Only once. Now I am with you and only you and I will never betray you. I am not that type of person. Even when I knew Bill was cheating on me and had left me our relationship was not resolved and I could not bring myself to be with you or Alcide even out of revenge. You have promised me that you would not feed from anyone else I trust you and I believe you, I certainly can not be jealous over all the others you have fed from or had sex with over the last 1000 years or I wouldn’t have time for anything else. Quinn is just part of my history and we are bound to run into him from time to time with his business dealings. There is nothing between us at least not for me. You and I will also have to learn to cope and deal with Bill. He knows I am with you but the engagement announcement will be very hard on him. I am not in love with Bill. I will not lie to you and tell you that I don’t care about him. On some level I will always care about Bill’s welfare and his feelings and it has taken me a long time to accept that myself after what he has put me through. But now the only thing I am focused on is our future, our engagement announcement and our wedding. Oh, and something a little more immediate, I plan to proclaim my love for you multiple times tonight.” With that I initiated a very heated make out session that lasted until the car stopped in front of the mansion. We went inside and had to do play the polite guest and have a night cap and chat about the nights events with our host and his entourage all the while my mind was focused on seeing my vampire out of that suit and our body entwined together. At one point my thoughts were so focused on the events to come Eric bent to my ear when the King stopped to take a phone call, “Lover if you don’t calm yourself and your thoughts I am not going to be able to contain myself and I will have to begin to ravage your beautiful body right here in front of everyone.” At this point I don’t think I would stop him, the blood bond definitely helped escalate the physical desires between us. Finally I think Drake must of picked up on something. He looked at Eric then to me then back to Eric and then back to me, “I have some business to attend to that would only bore you, so if you will please excuse me,” but the grin on his face didn’t say business. Eric stood and took my hand and we said our good nights to everyone and calmly walked out of the room. Our pace seemed to quicken the closer we got to the stairs and then Eric swooped me up and with vampire speed we were up the stairs and entering our room. He sat me down beside the bed and I clicked on the little radio on the alarm clock and tuned it to something with a beat. We kissed and I took his jacket off, then I slowly untucked his shirt and then slowly unbuttoned it and slid it off his broad shoulders and let it fall to the floor. I leaned in and kissed his bare chest as I unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned and unzipped his pants. I began kissing my way down his rock hard stomach as I slid his pants down slipping my thumbs in the top of his boxers to pull them down at the same time and he slid out of his shoes. I stopped kissing just below his navel and began kissing around him toward his back. He finished stepping out of his pants and quickly raised each leg just high enough for him to reach and take his socks off. I had each hand planted and squeezing each cheek on his perfect ass and began kissing my way up his back. I turned him to face me and we shared a very passionate kiss and he raised his hands to unbutton my jacket and I stopped him. I pushed him gently back toward the bed until he was sitting and I backed up away from the bed several steps. He moved to lay on his side propped up on his arm and his other hand rubbing his own body. I had to refocus myself after that sight. I slowly took my hair down out of the braid and I began moving to the music on the radio. I slowly unbuttoned my own jacket and continued to dance and remove my clothing very slowly until I was standing in only my pink lace bra and panties. I moved toward the end of the bed and using the post of the huge four poster bed began a suggestive pole dance for the man I loved and he watched me dance and run my hands over my body then I removed my bra and panties during my little show and I could feel Eric desire continue to increase through our bond. He was stroking himself as I moved over to him, “Let me do that for you” I smiled. I took his massive shaft in my hands and continued the motions for him and I received a low grumble from deep within him and he released my name from his throat, I could never imagine my own name sounding so sexy. He moved into a sitting position with his legs hanging over the edge of the bed and with the height of the bed it wasn’t much for me to bend and take him into my mouth. The effort was fitting much of him into my mouth. His hands made fists clenching the comforter on the bed and moans of pleasure escaped him. After I was sure I had satisfactorily service him with my mouth I raised up to kiss him. He lifted me onto the bed and he stood me at the head of the bed as he remained seated in front of me, “Spread your legs Lover,” I reached up and grabbed the canopy railing and propped my foot on the headboard and he moved in between my legs. I was already dripping wet and his fingers slid into me with ease. His rigid tongue began working its magic and I leaned my head back in sheer pleasure and let my own moans escape. I quickly came for the first time but he remained working his tongue into me until he consumed all the evidence of this. The he began kissing his way up and out my thigh of my propped up leg then he bit, I didn’t feel the fangs go in only the pleasure within him of taking in my blood. He finished and licked the wound and continued to kiss his way up stopping to give each of my breasts the attention he felt they deserved. Kissing his way up my neck and to my mouth rising to his own feet we were both standing on the bed. He slid his one leg under my leg I had propped on the headboard and entered me. Bending at the knees and entering again and again nearly lifting me off my feet. We were both moaning and calling each others names and he would talk to me in his native language. “Oh my God, yes yes, Ohhh,” and I came for a second time. He picked me up without exiting me, I wrapped my legs around his waste and he fell on top of me on the bed we were joined at the mouth as well as below and I felt another orgasm coming on and it was so intense that as I moaned into Eric’s mouth I bit and I sucked the blood oozing from his tongue, with that he moaned back into my mouth slamming harder and harder into me until he reached his peak and he withdrew from my mouth leaning his head back and let out a animalistic roar then collapsed on the bed next to me and I just looked over at him and smiled. “You are happy?”
“Oh, I am happy, after all that any woman that wouldn’t be happy would have some definite issues.”
“You are becoming much bolder and more adventurous, this pleases me too.”
“Eric,” I ran my hand down his chest, “with you I know you accept me for any way I want to be, you love me for who I am and don’t want to change me, this allows me to be more uninhibited. I act on the emotions I feel or I feel from you. I must say that I am beginning to surprise myself a little. I never imagined myself being in control being allowed to be the initiator when making love.”
“Sookie, my darling, I want you to be whatever you want to be, I want you to want you to enjoy yourself and never be afraid to try anything,” he stroked my face, “I have walked the earth a long time, I have done almost anything you can imagine. The art of successful love making is a joint effort for one or the other to always be in control will only end up being satisfying for that person. I know your experience is limited and I am honored to be the one to help you find yourself and we will continue to grow and experiment together, I am willing to try anything that doesn’t make me meet my final death.” I expected him to laugh or smile about the last statement but his sentiment was serious and heartfelt. I got up and went to the bathroom and then crawled back into the big bed and snuggled into my vampire and we drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 27
Again I woke up not in Eric’s arms. I immediately got up to look for a note. Yep, a note same place as yesterday. Lover, Drake did not want to talk in front of Mason last night as he has not been privy to the reason we are here. Please, as distasteful as it may be, stay as close to Brianna today as possible, listen to her thoughts as much as you can and we will talk when I awake.
Love, -E
Two days of relaxation, I guess that was better than nothing. I decided I would shower later since we would have to attend the summit tonight. I put on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt pulled my hair up in a high ponytail slid on some sandals grabbed my book and headed downstairs. I walked quietly as I didn’t want anyone to hear me coming in case I was able to over hear something important. I didn’t hear anyone as I rounded the bottom of the stairs with my ears or my gift. I quietly walked down the hall where the library was and no one was in that part of the house. I walked quietly towards the kitchen and as I walked through the preparation room from the formal dining room I heard Elijah. He was very upset his mind was buzzing… That bitch who does she think she is! I have had enough of her I have enough money saved and I have my military retirement I should just quit but then what would I do with myself all day. I really want to tell her to shove this job up her anal retentive tight ass. I eased myself into the kitchen just in time for Elijah to throw a metal bowl into the sink. He spun around and was a little surprised to see me standing there. “Mornin’ Sugar. What can I get for you this morning?”
“Everything OK, Elijah?”
“Nothing I can’t handle, that wicked witch is just giving me a hard time I swear she wants us all to leave so she can have this house to herself.”
“You don’t need to cook for me you have enough troubles. I can just grab some cereal.” “No guest in my presence is going to eat cold cereal. You just tell old Elijah what you would like Sugar.”
“Well, I would really love a BLT if it’s not too much trouble.”
“Sugar, that ain’t no problem at all.” He got out the stuff and I sliced the tomato. When he was all ready he sliced an avocado and place on the sandwich, it was perfect. He put some baked chips out and I grabbed a diet soda I was starving since we had eaten so early yesterday that I actually ate a second sandwich. “I like a girl with a healthy appetite, there are too many toothpick girls walking around, women should have curves.” I blushed. I wanted to help him clean up but he wouldn’t have it.
“Where is Brianna this morning, uh, I might want to be sure to avoid her?” Ok that was a lie, I wanted to know where she was so I could listen in on her. After yesterday I am sure I am the last person she wants to see.
“Sugar she is probably in her little office of the sun room. She seems to always be in there on the computer or on the phone.”
“Thanks for the meal, Elijah, I am gonna go settle down and relax and read a while.” I was trying to figure out how to sit out in the vampire sunroom outside her office without her seeing me. I approached slowly and luckily she was facing a different direction then the door. I slipped passed and propped myself up on the couch trying to look like I was just casually reading my book. Why the hell hasn’t Brittany called today everyone came back alive last night so nothing must have happened at the summit whatever is going to happen needs to happen I am tired of the shit around here I am ready for the next step. That busy body Maria got what she deserved – I just wish Brittany would have told me what she was going to do so I could cover it better around here. Ok, well Brianna and Brittany were up to something and what was she talking about happened to Maria. Her cell phone rang and I almost dropped my book. It’s about time you called what have you been doing? I saw Mason’s outline, they vote on the elections tonight. Tonight would be perfect anyone of importance will be there. Oh crap, it’s too early in the day for this. I am going to have to sit on this the rest of the day. The bonus is those three little vampire whores will be there along with all the other low life sinners cows that feed the vampires. I need to go, call me back later after you have spoken to the committee and get something set up. I better get off here and see if any of those whores are up lurking around. Oh shit, she’s coming out… I moved with speed faster and quieter then a normal human thanks to the vampire blood I had been taking from Eric. I ran out into the real sunroom and sat looking like I was engrossed in my book. Just a moment later Brianna walked out took in a deep sigh, “Miss Stackhouse my I be of any assistance today?”
“No thank you Brianna I am just going to spend my time around here today and rest up for tonight’s activities.”
“I’m sure.”
“Excuse me.”
“Um, nothing, if there is nothing you need from me I will get back to work.” Whore, skanky vampire whore if I had it my way I would stake that big blonde vampire right now and slice your throat. But the Fellowship will not allow it.
“Look Brianna, I really don’t care what you think about me I have encountered people all my life that think they are better than anyone that doesn’t conform to their ways. But I promise you are barking up the wrong tree if you choose to mess with me. So you go on about whatever it is you need to do today and I will do the same.” She spun on her heels and out the door she went. Great another Fellowship that hates vampires, they are going to attempt something bad tonight I know it. I am really going to have to put my skills to work to keep up with her from a distance today. I was still sitting in the sunroom when Natasha walked out. She hadn’t bothered to shower or even brush her hair. I guess she had had a late night too.
“So what’s on the agenda today, Sookie?”
“I just planned to hang out around the house and relax and read today. I want to rest up for tonight. It takes a toll on me after a few days when I try to keep human and vampire hours.”
“I understand that. I think just chillin’ today is a pretty good idea. Have you eaten?” “Yeah, and when I went in the kitchen Elijah was pretty ticked off at Brianna, she had said something that pissed him off big time this morning..”
“Great, she is on another rampage then. I think I will just try and avoid her as much as possible today.”
“Hey, I was just curious, does Florida have a big anti-vampire activist group? I have to say I have had a bad experience with them in every city we have been to. I was at Rhodes when that happened, did you hear about it? I was just hoping we weren’t going to run into that here.” OK that was as inconspicuous as I could make it.
“Yeah there are several small groups but the big one is Guardians of the Sun Fellowship. I heard about Rhodes, I can’t believe you were there. That had to have been horrible.” “Hey, where is Justine?” I was beginning to worry, I don’t think I had ever seen the two of them not together.
“She is still asleep, after the King was done with her she went to be with Ethan. I know that sounds horrible, but she really has a thing for Ethan but to be here and reap the benefits she has pay her dues to the Valk.” Ok… Ewww was all I could think. Natasha excused herself to go get something to eat. I opened up my mind and reached out searching for Brianna in the house. I am sure she was in the house but I wasn’t reading any thoughts. I spent most of the day in the sunroom stretching my mind out through the house and finally late in the day she was back in her little office with the door closed. Ok I will call you when they leave so that you know they are on the way. Once Valk arrives all the other vamps will move into place for the nights events. That will give plenty of time to get everything set up. I agree the closer to dawn that this can happen the better that way what the fires don’t get the sunlight will. I actually had a chance at stopping this I knew when it was going to happen, where and by whom, well mostly by whom. I couldn’t wait for Eric to get up. I ran upstairs and sat on the bed staring at him until he first started to wake up. I started shaking him and telling him to wake up. “Wake up Eric, wake up now, its important, come on focus, can you hear me.”
“Lover, give me just a minute,” he sat up stretching his naked body. Focus Sookie you are about to save a lot of lives you can have Eric later. After a couple of minutes, “what is so important, what do you need to tell me?” I was fairly sure he was coherent enough to listen and I told him everything. He pounced out of bed and slid on some jeans and a t-shirt and ran down to Drake’s office with me in tow. Drake had obviously just woke himself and was checking his messages. Eric shut the door and he told Drake pretty much word for word what I had told him. Drake summoned Ethan and the guys filled him in on what was going on. Then the wheels were set in motion. The made phone call after phone call and their plan for thwarting this attempt to erase the vampires was set into place. Drake dismissed us to go and get ready and his final step for his plans was carried out. He called Brianna to his office and told her that in appreciation of her good work and her dedication over the last several months he would like her to accompany him to the events tonight as his special guest. She was hesitant but she couldn’t very well say no, besides she was planning on being there anyway to see the evil destroyed so why not arrive in style in the limo she told herself.
I decided that since I wasn’t sure how much I would be involved I should dress for anything so I opted for the navy pant suit I had bought along with practical shoes with just a little bit of a wedge heel. I pulled my hair up and into a twist so that my hair wouldn’t be in the way and I wouldn’t have a ponytail for anyone to use as leverage. I was preparing for battle. My life was nothing like I expected it to be just a few short years ago. Natasha and Justine were not filled in on what was going on and I thought it was probably for the best. Once it started if I needed to I could help get them to safety. We all climbed into our limos as normal and Brianna rode with the King and Natasha.
The thought was that if the King had Brianna with him then when she made and excuse to excuse herself then we would all know that the bad was coming. Everyone went through the motions and I kept my mind open to Brianna and kept her in close proximity. She and her sister were actually sending several text messages keeping each other up to date. Normally in any vampire event any human that would dare send a text message would be in serious trouble but this was a definite exception. We were in the middle of one of the seminars and she excused herself and I heard her think to herself that it was time. All the bombs had been set into place outside the building and that the doors were all guarded with Fellowship members armed with silver. I told Eric what I heard and excused myself to follow her and I grabbed Natasha and Justine to follow me. I quickly explained to them what was happening while I was searching for Brianna with my mind. I heard her and she was with her sister. I needed to confront them. I needed to know why Brittany was in Shreveport. “Sookie, I wish you would have told us about this sooner,” Natasha was definitely concerned, “we could have come better prepared?”
“Prepared?” I was a little confused.
“Sookie, we are witches. We could have done something to help.”
“Are you serious, does Drake know?”
“No, we are pretty secret about it. We don’t practice in the mansion we go back to our old apartment for that.”
“That explains why I didn’t feel the magic”
“Feel the magic, what are you?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, I’m a telepath.”
“Cool” Justine piped in.
“Are you full witches or still in apprenticeship? One of my best friends is a pretty strong witch”
“We are strong and when we combine our powers we are very strong.”
I explained to them that I wanted to go and confront the sisters and that I wanted to find out why Brittany was in Shreveport and they were more than willing to help. We bound into the ladies room and found the sisters in what appeared to be an argument. I didn’t even care why. I rushed over to Brittany and grabbed her by the arm and she tried to struggle but with Eric’s blood in me she didn’t have a chance to wiggle loose. “You’re the slut of that big blonde vampire. I can’t say that he isn’t enough to make even me have second thoughts about a roll in the hay but then I remember what an abomination he is.”
“Actually I am the fiancé of that big blonde vampire and I want to know why you were on the plane from Shreveport to Florida and what were you doing in Louisiana?”
She actually laughed in my face, “Fiancé, how pathetic, but I guess after you have disgraced yourself with the undead no human man would want to touch you.” I slapped her, “what were you doing in Louisiana!”
I had actually busted her lip, “not that is matters now, but I was there to visit with your local Fellowship to find out about your boyfriend. All Brianna could get was he was an important guest and where he was coming from. So I came to get the scoop on him to see and check him out before he got here so we could determine what the intentions were.” “Why the murders?”
“For exactly this reason, we knew that if we could create enough of a commotion in the ranks then there would be an official meeting and the masses would assemble and we could take them all out at once. It’s just a bonus that trash like you gets taken out too.” It was then that we heard the screams start and we knew the battle or what there would be of it was starting. There was terror in the twins eyes and they tried to run but the witches said a quick spell and bound them together holding them in place. I asked them to stay with them and I wondered out into the hall to get an idea of what was going on. There was obviously no chance in the bombs going off since the vampires drained those that were to set off the charges before anyone else. By the time it was all said and done there were many dead Fellowship members, a few vampires that got burned by silver but no vampire casualties. The Fellowship really hadn’t planned for any deviations in their plans. We delivered the twins to Drake. It would be his choice on what happened to them. I knew the likelihood of them being turned over to the human police was slim to none after all if that happened the vampires would have to admit to the murders they committed even though in all reality it was self defense. Valk instructed Mason to take them back to the mansion the twins were terrified and they had every right to be. The vampires reassembled briefly to assign tasks for the cover up but me and the girls didn’t stay for that we headed back to the mansion. Eric kissed me good bye and told me he was staying to help and he would see me before dawn.
I told Natasha and Justine about Amelia and a little more about myself and they talked about their practices and their coven. Then the question from Natasha, as though this had been rolling around in her mind, “you and Eric are engaged? That’s the story behind the ring?”
I nodded with a big smile on my face, “Could we keep this between us for now? We have officially announced our engagement. Eric still has to speak to his King and well, we have special plans for the announcement.”
They both smiled and promised my secret was safe.
The first limo was still parked in the driveway and I had an uneasy feeling about what was happening or what was going to happen to the twins. The house was quiet and I didn’t feel any other brain activity in the house. The twins must either be unconscious, dead or somewhere else. But I tried not to think about it. The further I got into the vampire world the less I seemed to mind the measures they took against those that wronged them. In this case it really was self defense against many, against Eric, against me. I learned a long time ago that the police weren’t always so eager to help the vampires or to punish those that wrong them. I understood why they often took matters in their own hands. The United States has come a long way in the acceptance of vampires since they came out of the coffin. The government was quick to accept them so that they could find ways to tax them.
The girls and I went into the kitchen to find a late night snack while we waited to see if the guys would be home soon. Eric and Drake came back in as we were cleaning up. I have to admit I was beginning to worry a little since dawn was so close. I knew Eric could always go to ground if he found himself out too late, but I didn’t want to think about sleeping without him. “Everything OK?” I gave him a nervous smile. “Lover, no problems, everything is fine,” he took me into his arms and for me everything was fine. “We are cutting the summit short. We will have the final night, the election results and the ball here tomorrow night, the convention center is unusable,” Drake announced. “Duncan will be here soon ladies and he will arrange and oversee the set up for the events. Please make yourself available to help him in anyway possible.”
“Then we better get a few hours sleep so we can be of some use,” I chimed in and looked up at Eric.
“The sun is very near, see you all tomorrow night.” Drake motioned his hand dismissing us all as he walked out of the room.
Eric and I went to our room and I went to the bathroom to take down my hair and take care of necessities. I came out to find Eric slipped in between the cover and beginning to drift off to sleep already. I slid on a night shirt and climbed in next to him. “We will stay for the party tomorrow night and then we will go home the following when I awake. Could you take care of making the flight arrangements, Lover.
“Yes, gladly. I am ready to go home.” I snuggled into him and we both drifted off to sleep. I slept much later then I intended. It was 2 p.m. when I woke up. I gave my vampire a soft kiss on the mouth and climbed out of bed. I went to the bathroom brushed my teeth washed my face and pulled my hair up put on some shorts, t-shirt and my sneakers and went downstairs.
Chapter 28
The mansion was bustling with people. Cleaning, decorating, cases of True Blood being brought in, I walked into the kitchen and Elijah was busy, he was happy to have so much to do. He was preparing more food then I thought the humans could ever consume but he was happy. Maria walked in and I couldn’t help but run up and hug her. “What happened to you? I was so worry that you might be…”
“Dead” she interrupted.
“Yes, and I noticed that she was bruised up and had a few healing cuts.”
“I was afraid I was going to be dead. My family too! Brianna sent me on a errand, it was a set up. Some of the Fellowship people grabbed me and took me to my house, they already had my family, they tied us to chairs and the knocked me around a little trying to get information from me. I kept telling them I didn’t know anything which was the complete truth. Just before dawn this morning Ethan came and cut us loose and disposed of the one Fellowship member that was there.”
“I am so glad you are OK!” I hugged her again. “What can I do to help?” I did odd and end jobs and finally I walked outside. It was going to be beautiful. There was a sturdy plastic type cover over the pool that allowed you to walk over the water and a band stand was set up. The pool and all the area around it was set up to be a huge dance floor lighted from underneath. I walked down to the beach and there was stage set up and at least 100 chairs under a huge tent with tons of lighting. I guess this is where the business was going to occur.
It was time to get ready so I went upstairs and took a shower, shaved, put on my makeup and fixed my hair. I put lots of spiral curls in my hair then I pulled part of it up to so it cascaded down my back. I had decided I would wear the gold dress and thought my golden hair would look nice trailing down the V in the back of the dress. I wasn’t quite ready to put my dress on although I did go ahead and put my shoes on and put my robe over my underthings. There was a knock on my door. Justine asked if I could help her fix her hair. I went to her room. She had her room decorated like a dorm room. Her room had it’s own private bath too. I never did anyone’s hair but my own. I felt Eric wake up. I wanted to be there with him when he woke up but I told Justine I would help her. I finished her hair, I did it really similar to Natasha’s the other day. We left her hair down and put spiral curls running through it. I left to go get dressed and Eric had already showered and left the room. I was a little disappointed. I got dressed and headed downstairs, the train on the dress trailing behind me I felt so elegant. I walked down the stairs and Eric met me at the bottom he had a sexy smile on his face. “You look like a scene out of a movie coming down the stairs. Where were you when I woke up? I knew you were near.”
“I felt you wake up. I was helping Justine get ready. You look very handsome.” He always looked so good in a tux, then he looked good in anything or nothing. He extended his hand to me and we walked through the house. Several vampires and humans were gathered through the house. And several heads inclined to Eric as we walked through. He inclined his head back and I just smiled. The ceremony was called to order and everyone took down to the beach. The night was beautiful and the weather was perfect. The announcements were made on the election results and then the King stepped forward “we have two additional matters to deal with before we commence with festivities. First all of you are to recognize Eric Northman from Louisiana as an honorary member of our clan. In addition we will accept his human companion Sookie Stackhouse as a protected human. You all owe her a great thanks, she is the one that discovered the plot against us.” Everyone stood and clapped and just as suddenly there was silence. “Our next order of business,” then I saw Ethan for the first time since last night and he brought the twins out onto the stage, “these two women planned the events of last night. We need to decide what to do with these two traitors. Do we drain them, do we turn them, do we set them free to spread the word to the terrorists that are left. We all had equal part in the events last night, we will vote for the fate of these two.”
I couldn’t believe this. The vampires were casting ballots to determine what to do with the twins. Each took there turn to drop their vote in the box. The twins were made to actually separate and count the votes while Ethan loomed over them. That job in itself was pure torture. The votes in one stack were definitely stacked higher then the others. Their fate was decided, Ethan handed the results the King. “They will be drained.” You could hear the growls emanating from the crowd. “We will prepare them for your pleasure in the basement. You may all take a turn at your leisure.” The King waved his hand and Ethan and two other vampires removed the sisters. They were struggling to no avail.
Eric led me to the dance floor and we danced and socialized and danced more. If you blocked out the events that were happening in the basement of this mansion the night was as perfect as a girl could want. The night was winding down Eric and Drake excused them selves to conclude their personal business and I told Eric I would see him in our room. I packed my bags only leaving out what I might need tomorrow. I pulled my hair up and decided I would draw a nice hot bubble bath and turned on the jets and lit a bunch of candles around the edge of the tub and turned off all the other lights relaxed and waited for Eric, hoping he wouldn’t be too long.
I heard the bedroom door open Eric was standing in the door way to the bathroom. He must have sensed my mood because by the time he made it to the bathroom he was pulling off his boxers. “Sorry I left you for so long. Drake and I had a few things to discuss as well as I had to convince him I was not kidding when I told him I would not go the basement and help him to finish draining the sisters. It was quite an honor that he asked since the final blood left in their bodies is saved for the King alone.”
“I’m sorry you missed out on it,” I wasn’t really, but it was either that or get angry. “I’m not. Not only have I promised you I would feed on no other human, but I have no desire for any other human. Sookie, in all of our fighting last night I found it odd that I had no desire to feed on any of the people we were slaying. I seem to only crave you. Honestly, I don’t know if it is the increased blood bond or my deep love for you. This is whole new territory for me.”
“I understand, I truly do, taking blood from you or even from Bill had always been in some capacity life saving. Now, I find myself craving your blood. What is that about?” He sank into the tub behind me kissing my neck and shoulder and I turned my head for our lips to meet. His hands went to my breasts and began pinching and pulling my nipples and I moaned into his mouth and I grinded back into him. He wrapped one hand around by ribs just under my breasts and moved the other between my legs sliding his fingers in and rubbing my nub with his thumb. I threw my head back into his chest and began moving my lower body in rhythm with his fingers. “Eric, please, I want to feel you inside me, now.” He lifted me and I slid down onto his huge shaft. We began a frantic rhythm splashing water everywhere. “Bite me now,” I wasn’t asking, I was demanding.”
“Where?” he growled in my ear.
“My shoulder, now!” He kissed my neck and I felt his fangs scrape neck and I tilted my head all the way over. He bit. I raised his arm from around me and put his finger in my mouth and began sucking and scraping my teeth over his finger. He drew harder on the wound without stopping any of the momentum we had happening under the water, then without thinking I raised his wrist to my mouth and bit and sucked. He released my shoulder and roared and then he came. I think this was the first time ever that he climaxed before me. I kept sucking on his wrist, I didn’t want to stop, he whispered in my ear, “Lover, that’s enough.” I pulled away. “Eric, I am so sorry. Did I take too much?” I moved away from him still holding his hand watching the wound heal before my eyes, I moved to the other end of the tub and looked into his face.
“No, but you took more than you ever have from me, even when I healed you when you were staked. You are healthy so I am not sure what effects this will have on you.” He pulled me back to him. “I just don’t know what effect this will have on you. I don’t want you to withdraw from me if the results from this scare you.”
“This was my choice. You didn’t force me, you didn’t trick me, it wasn’t to save my life. I will never draw away from you again. I love you and you aren’t getting rid of me.” He drew me in and kissed me passionately. “Um, Eric, you have some unfinished business to attend to.” I smiled at him and raised one of my eyebrows.
“So I do,” he smiled back, scooped me up out of the water and carried me to the bed. We were dripping wet but neither of us seemed to care. Eric moved his skilled mouth between my legs sliding two of his fingers inside of me and turning his hand palm up and curling his fingers deep inside me. I began arching my back feeling the climax that was coming. Then Eric bit my thigh, one of his favorite places. I came and I continued to come as he continued to move his fingers and suck. He withdrew and I sat up pulling him to me and flipping him onto the bed so that I could mount him. He looked up with me with wide eyes. I realized I had done this with speed and force that shocked him. Right that moment I didn’t care as I mounted him and then bent my mouth to his and he responded as feverishly I my actions. I sat up on him placing my feet flat on the bed next to his hips and began raising myself up and down as if posting in a saddle when riding a horse and my force down on him grew until I felt like his huge shaft was halfway up my body. His hands were on my hips but he was simply along for this ride he was having to give no effort. I moved my hands to his locking our hands together and leaning his elbows against the bed giving me a little more leverage. I increased my speed and threw my head back and I was coming again and I was screaming in a language that I had never used before, in Eric’s language but I found him coming to and he was echoing the exact same words. I collapsed next to him breathing no where as heavily as what I thought I should have been. My legs are strong but I don’t think any human could have given an equivalent of 30 minutes of deep knee bends especially as fast as I had started moving.
“Lover, the next few days may be very interesting. You just spoke a language that has been dead for near 700 years.”
Chapter 29
I was awake the next morning by 9am. I thought I would end my last day the same way I started. A nice relaxing day on the beach I hoped that Natasha and Justine would be able to join me. I felt fantastic. I looked in the mirror and I could see the glow I see when I see vampires. My hair was shinier and as I looked really closely into the mirror I could swear I saw some of my small lines on my face that you naturally get as you begin to approach 30 had disappeared. My laugh lines were almost completely gone and the little lines around my eyes were gone. I had to look really hard to see the bite marks on my shoulder the one’s on my thigh were a little more noticeable. I put on my swim suite under my shorts and t-shirt and slid on my sandals and headed down stairs. I didn’t find anyone in the house so I went to the kitchen to make some coffee. I found a note on the coffee maker
Sookie, the staff has the day off make yourself at home if you get up before us. We will see you when we wake up.
Nat & Justine
I decided on a bowl of cereal, toast and coffee. That was fine with me. I ran back upstairs and got my book and headed out to the beach. I left a not on the coffee maker myself. Out at the beach, hope you can join me. – Sookie
There were workers all around cleaning up from the festivities from last night. I grabbed a beach towel and a water out of the cabana and settled into one of the lounge chairs too off my clothes and put on some sun tan lotion and started my book. I had been sitting there in my own world and someone walked up behind me and I jumped up. The guy approaching was definitely thinking of me but he was still 50 feet away. It was a young guy, one of the workers breaking down the set up, odd the way I felt his mind I thought he was up on me. He smiled as he approached and as to not look odd for standing I adjusted my lounge chair. “I am on a break and you looked lonely out here,” he flashed his smile again. “My name is Todd.”
“Well, Todd, I am not lonely, I am trying to relax and enjoy my day sunning on the beach. I am sure you are not being paid to socialize, not even on your break.” I sat back down on my chair and he was actually arrogant enough to sit on the end of my lounge. “The boss doesn’t mind. Like I said I am on a break,” This chick is hot, this is just what I need is to hook up with a little rich chick, even if she is a bitch, the money would be worth it. She’s just playing hard to get. Then he put his hand on my knee and I put my hand on top of his and I plowed into his brain, Todd Johnson, Elm Street, Daytona Beach, FL. “Todd,” my hand on his knee he was feeling very confident, I slid his hand up my thigh just a little bit at a time and opened my legs ever so slightly, his mind was buzzing and his pants were beginning to bulge, “let me show you something,” I said in a sexy little voice.
“Sure, anything.” I don’t think his smile could get any bigger.
“Take a look right here,” I had moved his hand only two inches up my thigh and had a good hold on it with my other hand I moved my left hand in sight, “you see this ring, it’s probably worth more then everything you own plus your annual salary, it’s my engagement ring. He was staring at it and feeling a little pain from me squeezing his hand. With his eyes fixed on my ring I pointed to my thigh, “Can you imagine what my fiancé would do to you if I told him about your intentions and unwelcomed solicitation? We could easily come pay you a visit any night just after dark on Elm Street here in Daytona Beach.” Fear filled his eyes, I squeezed just a little harder, increased strength I knew was a side affect of Eric’s blood, “Todd, when a girl brushes you off take it as a hint. If you want to move up a class you have to start with getting some class” I released his hand.
“I am so sorry. I promise I won’t bother you again, please don’t tell you boyfriend. I have never met a vampire and I really don’t want to start with meeting one mad at me for offending his lover.” He was rubbing his hand with his other one and he scurried off. I was actually laughing to myself when Natasha walked up. “Sookie, what did you do to that poor boy? He looked like he was about to throw up.” “Oh, you know, unwelcomed advances, I decided to teach him some manners and give him a little scare both with a little glance in his mind and a threat with a vampire boyfriend”
“Oh you are so bad, sorry I missed that one. Natasha is on her way out, we were talking, we are so bummed that you are leaving today, we would like to treat you to an early dinner before the guys wake up. You don’t even have to get dressed up just put your clothes back on over your suite we want to take you to a favorite place of ours on the beach just about 15 minutes from here. But we would like to treat you to some other fun too so we would like to leave soon if that’s ok with you. It was fine with me so we headed into the house. We gathered our purses and headed out to the garage. The three of us climbed into a pretty black 300Z with IMORTL on the license plate and the T-tops were off. We took our short drive and parked near a pubic beach. The girls grabbed my hands and we took off. We went into a surf shop, “Hey Seth,” Justine said as we walked in, “this is our friend Sookie and she is going back to Louisiana today but we wanted to teach her to catch some waves before she left, you mind if we borrow some boards?” “Nice to meet you Sookie, with that glowing tan and that blonde hair I would have pegged you for a surfer girl anyway. Anything for you Justine, help yourself you know where everything is.”
“I don’t know the first thing about surfing, but I am willing to give it a shot.” We got boards and walked down to the beach and they gave me some basic instructions before we got in the water and then we began to paddle out. I was really excited and I fought the waves coming towards us with ease and paddled through them. I found with that I had reflexes like a cat, I was having a blast surfing, I was beginning to enjoy the side effects of the vampire blood. We surfed for a couple of hours before we took the boards back. We showered the salt water off of us at the public shower on the beach toweled off got dressed and I was famished. We went to this quaint little burger shop and I had a huge burger, medium well with onion rings and a chocolate shake. I must have eaten like a horse because a couple of times I caught the girls staring at me a little strange. Instead of looking into their minds, after all I made every attempt not to look into the minds of my friends and I was finding it extremely easy to keep up my shields. “What, why do you keep staring at me?” I asked finally not wanting to probe.
“You seem so different today, Sookie. It’s like you are you or at least the you we have gotten to know over the last few days but only improved. You look different, Seth was right you have kind of a glow about you. Has something happened?” Natasha had a very serious look on her face.
“I’m the same me. I think I am just relieved that we are finished with the summit and done with the Fellowship and I am going home and I am going to start planning my engagement party. Eric and I get to get on with our lives, I think y’all are just picking up on all of my excitement and joy.” I gave them a convincing smile but I knew that wasn’t what they were picking up on.
“Party, are we invited?” Justine was so excited.
“Sure, I will be sure you receive your invitation in plenty of time.” I smiled a little more self assured.
“Sookie, I have a great idea,” I didn’t realize Justine had ideas of her own, “when you decide when the party will be, call us, we can come to Louisiana and help you plan and decorate.”
“Great idea! Sookie we would love to come and visit. Since the King and Eric seem to be such good friends I am sure he wouldn’t object us being gone for a few days. Everyone deserves a vacation every once in a while.” Natasha was just as excited as Justine. “That sounds great! If you guys don’t mind staying about an hour away from Shreveport I could put you up in my family home in Bon Temps, Amelia is living there now but there are two more bedrooms. It’s nothing fancy but y’all are more than welcome.” I was so happy to have met Natasha and Justine, I really felt like we were true friends.
We went back to the mansion and I was enjoying the feeling of the sun on my face and the wind in my hair while Natasha zipped down the costal highway in the fancy sports car. By the time we got back it was getting close to dark and I could feel Eric starting to wake up and I hadn’t even gone upstairs yet. We walked up the stairs and the girls and I said our goodbye’s and passed hugs around and I went into our room. I had packed our luggage and left Eric out clothes for our trip home. I wasn’t going to have time to shower before we left so I decided to just wash up and put my hair up and change clothes. I walked out of the bathroom and Eric was awake sitting on the side of the bed. I walked up to him and gave him a kiss. He inhaled me, “I can smell the sun and the ocean on you. Did you have a good day?” He licked my neck, “I can taste the ocean on you as well.”
“I did have a good day, I went surfing.”
“How was your day Sookie?”
I knew he wanted to know about any side effects I might be having, “Eric, do you notice anything different about me? Anything at all? Really look at me.” He leaned back and gazed at me.
“Your hair is different. Is that an effect?”
“You really don’t know what I should expect?”
“No”
“Yes, my hair is shinier, the laugh lines around my face and eyes have near disappeared, of course I have the increased strength and speed, I feel great, I feel younger, healthier. I can also control my gift better, I can put my shields up and keep them up with almost no effort. But that’s not all, I can also pick up on thoughts much easier. Eric, is it possible that your blood in the amounts that I have had can reverse or slow my aging?” “With my age my blood in quantity could have many effects. Sookie, you realize that if this is the case and you continue to drink from me and your aging slows this will just prolong our time together in this lifetime.” Eric had a bit of a concern on his face as he raised his hand to my face and caressed it softly.
“A similar thought ran through my mind this morning. But we will talk about this more later. Now you have to get dressed so we won’t miss our flight home.” I gave him another kiss and pointed to the clothes I put out for him.
“You picked my clothes out,” he said with a smile.
“Well, I picked out your clothes from the clothes you already had. It’s not like it was a big choice, your jeans, a t-shirt and your boots. I already packed your bags.” “Thank you, Lover.” He stood and got dressed, brushed his teeth and hair and he grabbed all the bags and we headed down stairs. Drake met us at the bottom of the stairs and he and Eric said a few words to each other in the language I still didn’t understand even though I spoke it last night. They hugged, heavy pats on the back, Drake thanked me again and hugged me, “Sookie, if you ever tire of this buffoon, move to Florida and I will take care of you.” He smiled and he and Eric shook hands and the limo was out front waiting on us.
We arrived at the airport and as we walked through the terminal you would have thought we were running through the terminal naked with our hair on fire with all the stares we got. We boarded our plane and had an uneventful flight home. “When do you think you will be able to meet with Filip de Castro? I am anxious to start planning our engagement party.”
“I will request a meeting with him at his earliest convenience. I will contact him as soon as we are back in Louisiana. Lover, do you have a wedding date in mind?”
“I know the nights are shorter during the summer but I was hoping to have it while the weather was warm so we could have an outside ceremony. If you aren’t up to this summer then we could plan it for next if you want to wait.” I was hoping he wouldn’t have changed his mind about whenever I wanted he was ready.
“Lover, I told you that you pick the day and I will be there. I can’t wait to make you my wife to make you Mrs. Eric Northman – Sookie Northman. Do you like the way it sounds?” He was rubbing my hand.
“Oh yes, nothing could sound more perfect.”
I was so glad to be back in Louisiana when we landed. I loved the sun and the ocean but home is home.
Chapter 30
After Eric loaded the luggage into the Escalade he asked if I minded if we stopped by Fangtasia on the way home to check on things. Of course I didn’t, this was his business and he had been away a lot lately. We arrived and we parked in the back. The front parking lot was packed. It seems that business was thriving, Pam was doing a good job. We went in the back door and walked into Eric’s office which was empty. Pam was out in the bar taking care of business. Eric flipped open his cell phone, “Victor, I need to meet with the King on personal business. Could you set this up as soon as possible.” He said he was going to call as soon as we got back, I didn’t know he meant this soon. “Lover, Victor will call me back as soon as he checks the Kings schedule.” The phone rang. “He will be, that will be fine. I look forward to seeing him then. Thank you for your expedience.” He looked at me, “de Castro will be in Shreveport tomorrow night and he has time for us.”
“Us, I am going with you?” I was a little nervous.
“Yes, I think it is best. After all it will show your respect at having the status of protected.” Pam walked in.
“Master, welcome back.” She smiled. “You too Sookie.”
“Pam, we have a meeting with de Castro tomorrow night I will need you to handle the bar again at least to open the bar. Have things been well?”
“Things have ran smoothly. Would I be out of line to ask what the meeting with the King is about?” She was completely expressionless.
“Pam, be seated.” She obeyed and sat in one of the chairs in front of his desk. Eric held his hand out to me and I got up from the couch and went behind the desk to stand next to him, “Pam, Sookie and I are going before the King to ask his blessing for us to be married. We will ask you to keep this information to yourself we have decided not to share this information until we make an official announcement.” Is that understood, Pam. “Yes, I understand. Master, Sookie, I give you my best wishes. Sookie, anything I can do to help please let me know.” Eric gave her a pleased smile.
“Pam, thank you, I really appreciate it.” I gave her a pleased smile of my own. “Sookie, Florida agreed with you. You are simply radiant. You smell of the ocean and the sun and sand. I take it that your business went as planned?” the last statement addressed to Eric.
“Sookie was able to get more information then we could have ever hoped and no vampires lost their lives.” Eric stood, “Come Lover, let’s spend some time on the floor before the bar closes for the night.” He took my hand and led me out to his booth, our booth. Pam followed back out to the bar and went back to work. We were no more seated and one of the waitresses were checking on us. Eric ordered a True Blood and I ordered a Diet Cola. Eric spoke to several vampires that came up to visit with him while consuming a six pack of True Blood and I just focused on my thoughts of the engagement party.
Eric and I stayed until the bar closed and then we headed home. I was still adjusting to the idea that I was living in Shreveport that Eric and I share a home. We went in and Eric carried our luggage upstairs and then came back down. I had settled on the big soft leather sofa in front of the TV. “Shall we watch a movie,” Eric asked?
“Sure, whatever you like, I’m not picky.” This is what normal feels like I thought to myself. He laid down on the couch, he just barely fit, and I laid down in front of him. He flipped through the channels and settled on the movie NEXT. Neither of us had seen it yet. We lay there on the couch, me wrapped in his arms, enjoying being with each other and being together. After the movie he flipped the channels and we watched and laughed at an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This reminded me of the time Eric spent with me when he was cursed. We watched the series from beginning to end and laughed. Eric especially found the facial changes that happened to the vampires humorous. We went up and then down to bed just before dawn. We didn’t make love and we didn’t drink from each other this first night home. We enjoyed our time just being together and lying next to each other. We could feel each other’s contentment through our bond.
Chapter 31
I woke up the next day around noon and feeling great. I was glad to be home. I went down stairs and made coffee and made a list of things we needed from the store, ok, things I needed from the store and I would pick up some True Blood for Eric. I ate oatmeal and toast and went upstairs to take a shower, I still hadn’t washed the ocean off me and I was starting to feel a little gross. I washed my hair twice and conditioned it and shaved. I felt great when I woke up but now that I had eaten and showered I felt fantastic. I slid on my fluffy pink robe and dried my hair. I stood looking at myself in the mirror examining my face. I had never felt old and the fact I was 28 had never bothered me. But looking in the mirror I looked at least 3 or 4 years younger. I opened my robe and stared at my naked body in the full length mirror, I took care of myself and I had been doing some serious work out in our home gym before our trip to Florida, but I think my boobs were riding just a little higher and my stomach was completely flat. I looked great, I felt fantastic, I am in love, I am engaged. My life was more than I could have ever hoped it would be. Just a few short years ago I was sure I was destined to be alone for the rest of my life. I suppose I had Bill to thank for introducing me to the world I found myself in now. Bill taught me how to love and be loved. He also taught me what it was like to be betrayed and to have my heart broken. I guess every girl has a fantasy of spending the rest of their lives with their first love. I still wonder if Bill loves me as deeply as he proclaims or if he wants to possess me for his own because he lost me. I didn’t go back to him after all that had happened and his vampire pride is in the way. But he does tell me that he will always be there for me and that he would die for me and I do believe that. Eric and I needed to tell Bill our news in private and before everyone else knows.
I shook myself out of my deep thoughts pulled my hair up and put on some lip gloss and a little mascara. It was May 2nd in Louisiana and that was definitely early enough to start pulling out the Spring clothes. I put on a pair of black Capri leggings and a cute pink and black baby doll top and slid my feet into Mary Jane slides. I grabbed my purse and tucked my grocery list in locked up the house and jumped in the Corvette and headed out to Super Wal-Mart. I picked up the things I needed and a few things I didn’t as is always the case when I make a trip to Wal-Mart. I went home and put up my purchases then went upstairs and unpacked mine and Eric’s bags. Sorted out the dirty laundry and made a pile to go to the cleaners, wishing I would have thought about that before I ran to the store. It was a little after 5pm so I decided I would give Jason a call and let him know that I was home. “Hey Sookie,” the miracle of caller ID, “you home?”
“We got back last night.”
“You come back in one piece?” He actually sounded worried.
“Yes, not a single bruise or scratch,” wiith a little pride in my voice.
“Good, it’s about time you come back from one of those trips without having a near death experience.”
“How are you? Everything ok big brother?”
“I have some bad news. I didn’t want to call you while you were in Florida since there wasn’t anything you could do, but that whore of an ex-wife of mine lost the baby. He lived for about 15 minutes and that was it. Sookie, he was beautiful. Calvin called me to tell me she was in labor and I met them at the hospital, I was thankful that I got to see him. We are going to have a little service for him this weekend and bury him out at the Hot Shot cemetery, please come and be with me, sis.”
“Oh Jason, I am so sorry. I really am. Of course I will come with you.”
“Thanks sis, they let me name him. I named him Corbit, after dad, Corbit Jason Stackhouse.” He was crying on the other end of the phone.
“Jason, do you need me to come back to Bon Temps for a few days? I have a meeting with the King of Louisiana tonight, but I could come after the meeting is over or in the morning.”
“No sis, it’s ok. Just be at my house by 10am on Saturday morning, please. The service is going to be at 1pm out in Hot Shot but I want to get there early and make sure everything is taken care of.”
“No problem, I will see you then. You call me if you need anything from me before then, you hear?” I was so sad for Jason, I actually think he would make a great father. If there was any good news to this at all it was that he wouldn’t be tied to Crystal, she wouldn’t have a hold over him. That is her third miscarriage that I know of. I really thought since she was at the end of her second trimester that she might actually be able to have this baby. Hot Shot really does need some new blood. I sure wish them good luck with that. But I also hope that my brother keeps his ties to them at a minimum. He runs with the pack on the full moon, but he has acres upon acres of woods right out his own back door, maybe when the time is right he and I can talk about all this. Here I was with the best news of my life and Jason with the worst. Jason and I have been through a lot in the last several months but I felt like we have both grown and we can concentrate on being family again.
It was still a while before dark so I decided to give Amelia a call and let her know that I was home. I got her voicemail so I just left a quick message letting her know I was safe and sound and to call me when she got a chance. Next I called Claudine, my cousin, my fairy godmother. She was very excited to hear from me. We chit chatted, I told her about Jason, I asked about Claude, her twin, I asked about our grandfather. I told her all about the events in Florida even about surfing. Ok, so I didn’t tell her everything. I didn’t tell her about my reactions to taking Eric’s blood. She told me about a couple of dates she had been out on with some fae guy she had recently met. As we were talking I wondered if my grandfather, Niall, would be able to shed any light on what was happening to me. I wondered if the reactions I was having to the large and often consumption to Eric’s blood had to do anything with my fae blood line. I needed to talk to him. I said my good-bye’s to Claudine and called my grandfather. I left a message with his answering service asking them to have him call me as soon as he could. I had a feeling I wouldn’t get around to eating dinner tonight so I decided to make myself a quick meal before I had to get ready for our meeting with the King.
I was just finishing cleaning up and the doorbell rang. I was shocked to see my grandfather when I opened the door. “You needed to speak to me. Is there anything I can do for you child?” I hugged him as he came in and received a pat on the back.
“Grandfather, you could have called me. It wasn’t urgent.”
“Child, I haven’t seen you in some time, I wanted to see that you were well. Claudine told me that you had moved in with the Blonde Sherriff Vampire. Child I can also smell his blood in you. Is this by choice?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I hadn’t told you this before but I need to tell you now along with ask you a question. Grandfather, I am blood bonded to Eric.” He started to speak and I raised my hand to stop him, “I have much more to tell you please let me finish. I do love Eric and he loves me. I know this with all my heart. I have consumed more of his blood, recently I have consumed quite a bit and honestly it has been my choice. I have noticed some changes in me. I was hoping you could give me some insight on them. My aging process has seemed to reverse a little. I have ingested large amounts of vampire blood in the past for live saving measures and the results were intensified beauty, speed, strength, but the results lasted only a short time. But with Eric my aging lines have disappeared, I feel stronger and healthier, I have noticed changes in my body mass, my telepathy is easier to manage, my hearing has increased as well as my other senses. Does this have anything to do with my fae blood and Eric’s blood mixing?” He stared at me for a long moment, “I was really hoping that you could meet and settle with a fae or at least half fae and produce a few off spring. Sookie, child, fae coupling with vampire is not something that has ever happened in the past. You know how the vampire react to fae being near. Only those of us that are very old and of royalty can mask our scent from the vampire. You are the first with fae blood that I know of to carry on a relationship with a vampire. Your blood line gives you extended life and healthiness. I do suppose that with your vampire being over 1000 years old his blood mixed with yours could slow or slightly reverse your aging process and even extend your life well beyond human years, even with what you might expect with your fae blood. I assumed that your human years would carry you to be over 100 before your fae blood would become to week and your human body would give up. If you are feeling such extreme effects upon ingesting the vampire’s blood then only time will tell the results.”/ “Am I interrupting?” Eric had walked into the room.
“Come join us, Sookie was just telling me about the two of you.” Niall motioned Eric into the room.
“Was she,” Eric looked at me and raised an eyebrow.
“I thought if anyone could shed any light on what is happening to me that it would be my grandfather. I had a thought earlier today that maybe my fae bloodline mixed with your strong blood is what had given me the effects. I have noticed a few more changes in my body today. Grandfather was confirming that this could be a definite possibility and that we would just have to wait and see what came of it since I am the first with fae blood to have a relationship with a vampire. Eric, this could slow my aging process considerably. My fae blood would have let me live a longer than normal life, but mixed with your blood the results could extend our years together considerably.” I was near tears.
“Niall, thank you for coming and talking to Sookie about this, while you are hear there is something I would like to talk with you about.”
Niall actually looked a little surprised, “continue” was all he said.
“Obviously Sookie has told you about our blood bond and filled you in on a few of our intimate details and as you obviously know she now lives here. A few nights ago I asked Sookie to be my wife. I know that it would mean a great deal to her as her oldest living relative if you would give us your blessings.” Eric was being very humble and even gave a slight bow of his head when he asked for Niall’s blessings.
“Has your King given his blessings?” Niall questioned.
“We speak to him tonight.” Eric responded
“Child,” Niall took my hand in his and noticed my ring at that time, “Is this what you want? Is this what will make you happy? Have you given this all the consideration it deserves and weighed the disadvantages to the advantages? You will never be a mother, you will never have a normal life in the sun with your chosen one, you will never be able to have a relationship with your fae family and your vampire at the same time.”
“Yes Grandfather, I am sure this is what I want. I have never been as happy as I am with Eric. Many people do not have children, I am able to spend more time with Eric then many people do with their human spouses, I can enjoy time in the sun alone or with my friends just as I can my fae family, which as far as I know contains you, Claudine and Claude and we have managed fine to this point. Grandfather, Eric is right I would very much like your blessing it would mean a lot to me. However, this is a decision that is mine and only mine and I have made my decision.”
“Child, if you are happy and this is what makes you happy I have no right not to approve. I know that the Viking will take good care of you and will not allow you to be harmed. You will be provided for and protected. You both have my blessing and my best wishes.” He kissed me on the cheek and then shook Eric’s hand and he left.
Eric looked at me and took my hands in his, “Lover, I must feed and it must be from you not True Blood.” His eyes were a little glazed and his fangs fully extended. “Eric, what’s wrong?”
“Niall was not covering his scent, actually he was doing quite the opposite, he was projecting his scent very strongly. It was a test for me to prove something to him.”
“I had no idea, you didn’t react the way you normally do to the presence of a fairy.”
“It took all the strength I had, and since he gave us his blessing willingly I will assume he was satisfied with the results. Lover, I will do anything within my power for you. But now you must do this for me, I need to feed before we get ready to see de Castro.” He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder and with lightening speed we were upstairs in the master bedroom. My t-shirt was ripped in half and he didn’t even bother with my bra he sank his fangs into the exposed skin on my breast. My hands went into his hair and pulled him into me harder and he drew harder on the wound. He pulled away and with my hands still in his hair I pulled his mouth to mine for a deep kiss tasting my blood in his mouth only seemed to kiss him more desperately. He pulled away, “Lover, we will have to continue this later, I promise we will continue this, but now we must get ready for our visit to see the King, we do not want to be late.” He kissed me softly. My entire body ached with disappointment but he was right, we could not be late. Eric got into the shower while I began to get ready. I took my hair down and brushed it out and added a few curls, freshened up my mascara and lip gloss and went to the closet. Why hand’t I thought about this earlier? What am I going to wear? I opted for a black pleated skirt that hit just below the middle of my thigh along with a white sheer blouse with a white satin shell underneath and a pair of strappy black medium heeled shoes. I could hear Eric drying his hair as I finished getting ready with a squirt of his favorite perfume, Obsession, I slipped in a pair of white gold hooped ear rings and a white gold chain with a dangling double heart pendant. I had managed to purchase a few pieces of nice white gold jewelry over the last few years since I couldn’t wear any of my silver jewelry any longer. Eric came out, still completely nude, I wanted to jump him right then and there, “Lover, you look beautiful. I will be ready in just a minute.” He slipped into the walk in closet and came out just a couple of moments later, black slacks and dress shoes with a white button down long sleeved shirt and he was sliding his black suite jacket on.” Ok, the clothes were just an obstacle to over come, I still wanted to jump him right then and there. “Lover, calm yourself, we can’t be late, we will pick up where we left off but now we must go.” We went downstairs and after assisting me into the car Eric reached down to slide his the drivers seat all the way back before attempting to fold himself into the Corvette.”
Chapter 32
We arrived at a historic looking colonial home with a beautiful treed driveway. As if reading my mind, “This is the King’s Louisiana home, Victor resides here full time.” We parked right in front of the house in the huge circle drive, Eric came around to help me out and Victor met us on the veranda. “Eric, Miss Stackhouse,” Victor gave the standard tilt of the head, “Victor,” Eric gave the same response. “This way the King will be with you in a moment.” Victor opened the door and guided us into the parlor. “Please be seated, may I get you anything?”
“No thank you,” Eric responded. I could feel he was a little nervous and this was so NOT Eric. Which through our bond made me nervous, the blood bond had it’s advantages and disadvantages.
We were in the room for a couple of minutes and the Filipe de Castro, the King of Louisiana, Arkansas and Nevada came in. Eric and I stood simultaneously and bowed. “Northman,” and Eric rose, “Miss Stackhouse always a treat to see you.” I rose and smiled and he took my left hand glancing a long second at the ring and then kissed my hand and returned it. “Northman, what matter did you have that required a face to face meeting?” No small talk straight to the chase.
“King, let me first thank you for making time for us on your one night passing through. The matter I requested the meeting for is strictly on a personal nature. As you know Sookie and I were bonded in Rhodes, she has saved my life as well as yours making her a protected human.”
The King interrupted, “Northman, I know all of this, did you come to stroll down memory lane?”
“No Sir, I, we, came to ask you grant us your blessing, I wish to take Sookie as my wife.” “Do you plan on turning her?”
“If and when Sookie desires to be turned vampire I will do it without question. We are asking that our wedding be vampire/human. The state of Louisiana will allow this but we are humbly asking your permission before we make a public announcement.”
“If I do not give my blessing, what then?” The King questioned and quite honestly pissed me off. Eric felt my change in blood pressure, if the King did he didn’t react.
“Honestly, I had not thought of this, Sookie has been of great value to many of our kind often risking her own life mortal life in the process. She has never not done the job she has been called upon to perform. Our bond has tied us together for all time, we wish to legalize the union. With our bond Sookie is mine, our wedding vows will only make that bond stronger and to help ensure her safety.” Eric’s voice was smooth and steady but I could feel his nerves on end. He has had a trying night, first with Niall and now the King.
“Northman, do you plan to be faithful to her for as long as she lives and share your wealth as would any human husband would promise?” “Yes.” The answer was short, sweet and I could feel it within him there was no doubt. “Miss Stackhouse, have you given this great thought? Have you considered what you are giving up, what you are gaining, what your life will be like? Do you plan to have Northman turn you vampire?”
“I have done nothing but think about this. I am certain with all my heart and soul that this is what I want to do. As for your second question, please don’t think me rude, that is a very personal choice and when the time comes to make that decision I will first consult Eric and then we will ask your blessing yet again.”
There was silence, the silence seemed like hours when I knew it was only a few minutes, “You have my blessing and my best wishes that this does not cause either of you undue strife or even worse, death.” Now if you will excuse me, I must leave you, I have other business to attend to then he walked out of the room before we even had a chance to stand let alone bow.
I threw my arms up and around Eric’s neck and he engulfed me in a shower of kisses ending in a long passionate kiss the was interrupted with “Uh um”. We slowly separated our lips and looked at Victor. “Will there be anything else?”
“No, thank you again for arranging this meeting for us so quickly,” Eric inclined his head in appreciation, “We will be going now.”
We hurried out to the car and sped off. We were on the frontage road and Eric pulled off to the side. He just sat there in with both hands on the wheel for a few moments. Then he turned to me unbuckled both our seat belt and leaned in for a kiss which quickly became passionate and his hands slid between my legs and under my skirt. His fingers quickly found way under my panties and entered me without problem since I was already wet with anticipation and his thumb began rubbing my nub as I moaned into his mouth. My lower body grinding in rhythm to meet the thrusts of his fingers until I couldn’t stand it any longer I needed him now. I reached over and undid his belt and pants working them down just enough to free his huge dick from his slacks. I slid out of my panties and then climbing over the console and gear shifter I slid between his body and the steering wheel. I took his face in my hands and kissed his mouth feeling his fangs run out I ran my tongue up and down and around each one, this drove Eric crazy it was like giving his fangs little blow jobs. I eased myself on him but only a little and then all the way back off only taking the head of his shaft inside me and then back out all the while my tongue going from fang to fang and then biting and sucking his bottom lip. His moans and growls were making me more excited by the second. I eased myself half way down and back off several times. Then in one hard motion I pounded against him taking him all the way in me and we both moaned in pure pleasure. I continued with removing him from me completely and then thrusting back down all the way picking up an increasing rhythm all the while still assaulting his mouth. His hand found their way to my breasts he was fondling them through my shirt and pinching my nipples. I couldn’t believe we were sitting on the frontage road on the side of the highway going at it like a couple of teenagers in a car. Pounding harder and harder with one goal in mind there was no more teasing, Eric began a low growl and words of his native tongue came out in a loud booming voice that shot right through me as I reached my climax screaming “Oh my god, Oh my god, Oh Eric,” and I threw my head back in ecstasy. I raised up with a smile on my face, then just as quickly the smile was gone. “Oh shit,” I said but didn’t move. Before Eric could even get out the question he knew the answer, a police cars red and blue lights came on. I still didn’t move.
“Not to worry Lover, I will handle this.” He smiled.
“What seems to be the trouble folks,” before the policeman even looked into the car.
“No trouble officer, we were just celebrating our engagement.” Eric said still smiling with me still on his lap. It seemed the safest position to stay in as to not give the policeman an eyeful of either of us.
The policeman looked down into the car and within a couple of minutes realized Eric was vampire. He actually looked a little afraid, “Miss are you alright? Sir please keep your hands where I can see them.”
I busted out laughing, “Officer his hands are the least of your worries. But yes, as a matter of fact I am perfectly fine, however, if you would have arrived 30 seconds earlier I would have been a little pissed off.”
“Sookie!”
“What, it’s the truth.”
“You folks know what you are doing is illegal, right?”
“Officer,” Eric stopped smiling and looked seriously into the policeman’s eyes, “we aren’t doing anything wrong. You had no reason to stop, you are going to go back to your car and move on down the highway forgetting you ever saw this car or us.”
“I never stopped, I never saw you, “ the policeman shook his head and walked back to his car and drove on. I actually had only seen one other person glamoured and that happened to be a policeman as well, the very first night I ever met Eric as a matter of fact. Bill was not so subtle, he actually made the policeman pee his pants. I knew people who had been glamoured and seen the results inside their brains I guess it was just something done in private. I leaned in and gave Eric a big kiss, during all this he was still inside me. I eased myself up and back over to my side of the car and slid my panties back on.
We drove to Fangtasia, I would be starting my job there soon now that we were back, but tonight Eric needed to work since he had been away so much lately. We went in the back and as usual straight into the office. Eric looked through his messages and stopped at one of them. “Bill is back in town, he will come by Fangtasia tonight. Lover, we should tell him tonight. I know that you still care for Bill’s feelings, I will let you choose how this is handled.”
“You are right, we need to tell him. I will tell him. If you were anyone else other than his Sherriff I would want us to tell him together. Right now I can’t decide if I should tell him alone or if we should be together. Thank you for understanding and going along with my wishes. I may not know how to handle it until the time comes.” I wasn’t nervous about telling Bill, I think I was just feeling sorry for him because I knew he would be crushed. Eric made a few phone calls and arranged a meeting for next Monday night here at the bar with someone. I didn’t pay much attention I was thumbing through catalogs and my mind was wondering over the party and invitations and spreading the news of our engagement. “Shall we go out into the bar?” Eric held his hand out to me and we took our place in the booth.
“We have been so busy since you woke I need to tell you something about my day.” I had sadness in my voice and didn’t know how to mask it.
“Lover, what is the matter?” He took my hand.
“I spoke to Jason today and he told me that Crystal lost the baby. He actually lived for about 15 minutes and then they couldn’t revive him. Jason named him after our father. They are having services on Saturday afternoon in Hot Shot. I am going to go spend the day in Bon Temps depending on how Jason is I may stay the night with him. If I do I will call and leave you a message on your cell.”
“I know this is horrible for you and for Jason. I am sorry that your family is going through this tragedy. I am sorry I can’t be there with you to comfort you through it.” “Thank you,” I gave him a soft kiss, “I know that you are there for me even in the absence of you standing next to me. Eric, I feel kind of lousy because I am still so happy and looking forward to so many things even with this tragedy my brother is going through. Does that make me horrible?”
“Lover, you couldn’t be horrible if you tried. You are kind and gentle and caring. You have every right to be happy, you are newly engaged.”
“I don’t plan to tell people in Bon Temps until I can tell my brother, he deserves to know first and today on the phone was not the right time, I don’t think this weekend will be either.”
“You do what you feel is best,” his turn to give me a soft kiss. It was then that Bill walked up to us. Eric’s soft kiss turned a little more heated, I knew he felt Bill walk up behind him. I looked in Bill’s face and I think I could best describe the look as disgust. “Sit,” Eric motioned to the other side of the booth and Bill slid in across from Eric. Eric motioned over to a waitress and she hurried over, bring Bill a True Blood, A positive. “Anything for you Master,” Tori asked. Eric waved her off, “Mistress, for you?” I was shocked she addressed me, she called me Mistress. “I will have a diet cola please.”
“I wanted to let you know I was back in town and the sales of the CD went very well as expected.” Bill was getting to the point and took a big drink as Tori sat it down. I elbowed Eric and gave a little head nod back towards the office.
“Bill come with us back to the office, we have something of importance to talk with you about in private.” Eric took the hint very well. I decided I did want him with me when Bill was told. I am not afraid of Bill, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to deal with the emotions, whether it be rage or sorry, I wanted Eric with me.
We were back in the office and Eric took his place behind his desk and I sat on the arm of his office chair. “What is this about,” Bill took another drink and finished off his True Blood.
“Bill, Sookie and I have some news she felt it important that we tell you before announcing it to everyone else.” Eric was using a very matter of fact tone. Bill looked very uncomfortable.
“Bill,” I gave him a gentle smile, “Eric and I are getting married.”
Bill was speechless for several minutes and we all sat in uncomfortable silence while he gathered his thoughts, “Married? Married? You’re getting Married? Sookie, you are marrying Eric?” Eric just raised his eyebrows and glared at Bill. Normally Eric would be at Bill’s throat for a comment like that but he was being very patient for my sake.
“Yes Bill, I am marrying Eric. I told you when I moved to Shreveport that Eric and I are in love, we belong together, I know it’s hard for you to understand and you had hoped that we would get back together but Bill that isn’t going to happen and this between Eric and I is. I am hoping you can learn to accept it if nothing else for the sake of your business interactions with your Sherriff.” Ok this isn’t going as I had expected the words weren’t coming out quite right. “Bill, this is your time to voice your opinion and say whatever you like without consequence, right Eric.” Eric nodded.
“Sookie, I had hoped that at some point you and I would be able to get back together, that hope greatly diminished when you became bonded to him, when you told me you were moving to Shreveport to live with him I was very saddened that I would not even be able to see you just across the street. Now you tell me that you are marrying him.” With each time he said “him” he hissed it a little more. “Sookie, are you sure about this? This could be the biggest mistake of your life.” I felt Eric becoming very tense.
“Bill, I don’t believe this is the biggest mistake of my life. Eric has always been there for me, he doesn’t lie to me, he doesn’t leave me for anyone else and he doesn’t try and deny I am human. He embraces my human-ness, he understands that I need to eat and he kisses me without me having to brush my teeth five times, he understands that I need to use the toilet, he allows me to take charge in bed if I desire, he isn’t too rough and then have to apologize after. Bill, for someone that prides himself on mainstreaming you have a lot of intolerance for human needs. Bill I wouldn’t trade our time together for anything. You taught me how to love and be loved. You also taught me hurt and betrayal. I don’t hold that against you anymore as I realize even that has helped me become the person I am. Eric takes me to the next level of who I am. He allows me to be his and still be myself and have self discovery and lastly, his loyalty is to me, and only to me, he feeds from me and only me and when he I can’t because I need to rebuild he refrains from other humans and makes due with True Blood. You promise me you will always be there for me you promise me that you would protect me with your life, I always believed that, I still believe that, but I belong to Eric you and I will never be together again in any other capacity then friends if you can tolerate that. I have told you more personal detail about Eric and I then you deserve but I know you well enough for you to believe that Eric the Sheriff you know couldn’t possibly be good to me. I just want you to know that Eric treats me great we are each other’s world. I am safe and I am happy and I am in love and I am loved.”
Bill looked at me and he looked at Eric, “Eric, you are my Sheriff and you do your job very well, you are my elder and you are stronger than me, but just know if you do anything to hurt Sookie one of us will pay with our lives.”
“Dooley noted,” Eric said smugly, “but know this, this will be the only conversation of this sort, Sookie will never explain herself to you again and I will not allow you to make her uncomfortable and you have had your one and only shot at insulting our relationship. If you question our love for each other or my devotion to her ever again the consequences will be severe. Am I understood?”
“Understood.” Bill got up and walked out of the room.
Eric and I went back out to the floor and after a slow dance we sat on the stage in the thrones. Eric didn’t receive callers but he nodded and acknowledged several people which I am sure made his night. After about an hour we left the bar it was just before closing on Thursday night the bar was beginning to thin out. Friday’s and Saturday’s the bar was packed to capacity until closing time. “Anything you need or anywhere you would like to go before we go home, Lover?”
“No, home will be just fine.” We climbed in the car and headed home.
“Eric, were we too harsh on Bill?”
“Sookie, you are always worried about other, that is one of the things that I love about you. But Bill had to hear from you that it was finally over and that we belong to each other and he no longer has a chance as your love interest.”
I changed the subject, “Tomorrow I will want to call it an early night at Fangtasia, I need to be in Bon Temp by 10am on Saturday morning so I will need to get up early. When do you want me to start my position at Fangtasia?”
“Let’s go out tomorrow night and we will call it and early night. We can go to dinner and a movie and call it an evening. As far as Fangtasia, I told you, you can start whenever you like, next week, next month, next year. If you want to wait until after the wedding and the honeymoon that will be fine, I know you will be busy.”
“Honeymoon? We are going on a honeymoon?”
“Lover, we are only getting married once and I want it to be everything you ever expected and every girl deserves a honeymoon.”
“I tell you what, I will plan the engagement party, I will plan the wedding, you plan the honeymoon, deal”
“I think I can handle that.” We pulled into the driveway and into the garage.
Once inside we sat down on the couch, “I can cover the cost of the engagement invitations and the party, but I don’t know what our budget is on the wedding.”
“You will not cover the cost of anything. I will pay for everything, I asked you to marry me. Let’s set a budget for the engagement party and the wedding right now and then you can put everything on my credit card. Anything you can’t put on the credit card I will give you back the money. Deal?”
“Ok, I am not going to argue with you on this. I will get some prices together and then we can plan a budget.”
“No, we are going to set the budget right now. Let’s get this out of the way and you can start having fun. How about one hundred thousand dollars, do you think you can plan everything on that budget?”
“What, Eric, no that is way too much. I would never in my wildest dreams think of spending that much.”
“Hum, then I guess you will have budget money left over, I am sure we can find something else to spend it on. Lover, I don’t ever want you to worry about money, if there is ever a time to worry I will let you know. On Monday the meeting I scheduled is with my accountant. We are going to get you put on my accounts and get you copies of all my credit cards and a list of where I have expense accounts. You will never want for anything I promise.” He pulled me to him looked deep into my eyes and then kissed me. “Eric, I don’t need all of that. Your money is not important to me.”
“I know, that’s why I am doing it,” he kissed me again and we had a long passionate embrace. He pulled away, “Sookie,” he I felt the chills through my body, “I love you. Please don’t ever leave me. I have spent over a 1000 years walking this earth searching for what would make me whole, what would make me feel the way I do since our time together in your home in Bon Temps. I thank the witches that put the curse on me and led me into your arms.” He pulled me in tight and held me.
“Eric, I will never leave you. I love you, you are my life.”
“Sookie, there will be a time when you will leave me. If what we feel we are seeing is true and my blood mixed with your fae blood will slow your aging and prolong your life then we will have stolen time together and I will cherish every moment of it. But Lover, you are human and I will be faced with loosing you some day. Thinking of that day makes me very sad. The day I loose you will be the day I choose to meet the sun.” “Eric, don’t talk about this right now. I know this is a matter we will have to deal with at some point, but not right now. Some day we will have to make a choice, I will grow older or I won’t, but I am not ready to make that decision now. Right now I want to focus on the present and our near future.” I looked into his eyes and he had a single red tear rolling down his face, I had never seen Eric cry before tonight. I leaned up and licked his tear away and we just held each other for a long time.
“Will you begin planning our party tomorrow,” he smiled at me.
I smiled back, “first I have to find a place for us to have it. I also need a list from you of everyone you want to invite. If you will get your list together and I get mine then we can pick a place to have the party. I can’t order invitations until then.”
“I will get with Pam tomorrow night and we will get a list together for you.”
“That’s not fair, you have someone to do it for you.”
“That’s one of the benefits of being Sherriff,” he smiled.
“I suppose so. Daylight will be here soon, are you ready to go to bed?” I gave him a little wink.
“Already nagging me about bedtime, I can see what the future has in store for me,” he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder and carried me his day chamber and tossed me on the bed. He undressed and then he undressed me. “Lover, until we fall asleep let me just spend the time touching you and being with you.” He rubbed and messaged every inch of my body from my head to my toes. There was nothing sexual about this but it was a completely sensual experience. I felt so relaxed that as soon as he wrapped his arms around me and tucked me in under his chin I was asleep.
Chapter 33
I must have been really relaxed because I slept until 2pm Friday afternoon. I may have slept even longer if nature wouldn’t have been calling and I was starving. It was late afternoon but I still needed at least one cup of coffee. So I headed to the kitchen and put on the coffee. I didn’t dare set the timer even though it had one because I never knew what time I would be getting up. I decided I would start working on my list for the engagement party so I ran upstairs and got my address book poured myself a cup of coffee grabbed a bagel with strawberry cream cheese and went out to the patio to sit in the sunshine and work on my list of guests. I heard my cell ringing and ran back in the house to grab it.
“Hello,” I didn’t even look to see who was calling before answering I didn’t want it to go to voicemail.
“Hey Sook, sorry I missed your call yesterday, I’m glad to hear you are back safe and in one piece,” Amelia was rambling on the other end, “so was Florida great did you get to do anything exciting or was it all business?”
“Everything was fine in Florida and when I wasn’t working I was enjoying the sun and beach. I actually went surfing with a couple of new friends. I would love to introduce you to them sometime, you three have much in common.”
“You surfed, that is so cool, did you wipe out? So you met witches in Florida?”
“Yeah, it was funny because they were hiding the fact they were witches and I was hiding the fact I was a telepath. They are really cool. They may be coming to Louisiana soon and I told them they could stay at the house in the extra two bedrooms, I hope you don’t mind that I didn’t even check with you first.”
“Sookie, it’s your house you can have anyone you want stay here. It’s been a little lonely around here since you left. I have been thinking about getting another cat if you don’t mind.”
“As long as the cat isn’t human or a witch,” we both laughed, “speaking of have you heard from Bob since he went back home.”
“No, I have even called to check on him and he won’t return my calls. I guess he is still pretty mad. Speaking of men, how are you and Eric doing?”
“We are great. I will have to fill you in when I see you. I will be in Bon Temp tomorrow. Did you hear Jason’s sad news?”
“Yeah, Hoyt came in and told everyone at the bar. Sam and I are planning on coming to the services if you don’t mind.”
“Why would I mind? And thank you for stepping in at Merlotte’s it really does mean a lot to me.”
“I love it here Sookie, I may not ever want to go back to New Orleans. I am living in your house, working your job, I feel like I just stepped into your life. It’s not such a bad place to be. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow, sorry it’s under such sad circumstances though.”
“We’ll catch up. I think I will just plan to stay the night tomorrow night. What’s your work schedule?” “I am not working tomorrow and then I am working from 6 to close on Sunday so that would give us some time. Are you staying at the house or with Jason?”
“That will depend on Jason.”
“Ok, then I will see you tomorrow.”
“Looking forward to it, bye.” I have to tell Amelia about me and Eric, I want her to help me with the invitations, I don’t know if I should ask or wait and see if she volunteers. Then there’s the wedding, Amelia really is a great friend but Tara is my oldest friend, I can only have one Bride’s Maid, who should I choose. I wonder if Tara will even be up to it with being pregnant, but I guess we need to set a date before I start worrying about that stuff. I finished working on my list, I invited Calvin Norris and Trey Dawson from out in Hotshot some of the witches I have met through Amelia, Tara & JB, Heidi & Andy, Portia and her husband, Holly and Hoyt, some of Jason’s other buddies that I have practically grown up around, I of course will invite Sam, I am not sure if he will come, Kevin and Kenya, since I am a friend of the Longtooth pack I will invite several of them, I am not sure how Eric will feel about Alcide coming, but it’s the right thing to do, of course my new friends Natasha and Justine. If everyone I invite comes and those that are single bring a date I have about 40 people. Eric will have Pam work on his list tonight, maybe she can get it together tonight. Then we can concentrate on finding a place to have the party so I can get the invitations ordered. It was already May 3rd and if we want to have a summer wedding then we are going to have to get the ball rolling. I suppose putting the wedding off until September or October wouldn’t be a horrible thing Louisiana is still nice that time of year as long as we aren’t getting rain.
I went upstairs to take a shower and pack a bag for tomorrow so I wouldn’t have to do it later or in the morning. I figured I would only stay Saturday night but I packed clothes for Sunday too, just in case. I still had a toothbrush and all my other essentials at my house in Bon Temp but since I didn’t know if I was staying there or with Jason I went ahead and packed a few of those things. It was date night for Eric and I he had said he wanted to take me to dinner and a movie tonight. It still amazed me he was willing to take me to dinner at a restaurant and sit with me while I ate. Bill would never do that, eating was something I had to do on my own time. I went to the closet to choose what I was going to wear tonight. I didn’t want to be cold in the theater so I decided to wear a pair of low rise jeans that were very low rise. I chose a red tank top and then I would layer a black form fitting t-shirt with a scoop neck that left just a little of my midriff showing a little more if I moved just the right way. Casual sexy, that was the statement for tonight’s look. It was getting close to dark I had taken a lot longer to pack then I thought I suppose because my thoughts kept drifting off to other things, specifically the wedding. I decided since it was almost time for Eric to rise I would go down stairs and wait for him; I could feel him starting to slip into consciousness.
As I got downstairs and saw this beautiful man laying in bed my thoughts didn’t seem to focus on a shower any longer. Just the sight of his near naked body sent me into thoughts of lust. Would I really have to just wait and stare at him for the next 15 minutes? I had been able to wake him in Rhodes in the middle of the day, surly he could become coherent just a few minutes before sunset. I pulled the cover off of him and admired his body laying there in nothing but his black silk boxers I knew he could since me and I knew he was coming out of his sleep a little since he stirred a little when I pulled the sheet off of him. I started at his ankle and lightly ran my fingers up his leg and up over his boxers, the reaction was just a slight tilt of his head. With my other hand I started at his next and ran my hand down his chest to meet the other. The movement from him was another tilt of his head and his shoulders moved up and down and side to side. I stripped myself of the shorts and t-shirt I had put on when I got up and then slid Eric’s boxers off. Looking at him completely naked asleep was almost more then I could stand. He and his manhood lay there lifeless. That was something I intended to change. I straddled his legs and bent my head to his lifeless dick, this would be the first time I was ever able to put more than the head of it in my mouth. Although his eyes weren’t open I did get an immediate response in a low groan and immediately his shaft started to stiffen. With each up and down motion of my head it was harder and harder, until it stood at full attention and I was only able to slid the head into my mouth. I felt him move and he was up on his elbows looking down at me with eyes still not quite awake. I put as much of him in my mouth as I could and forcefully scraped my teeth up the shaft. This got a little more reaction then I expected, he grabbed me by my shoulders and flipped me over onto my back with such speed I had little time to react, he was inside me in what felt like all the same motion and we both let out a groan. He wasn’t gentle but he was no where near hurting me. After only a minute or so his fangs pierced the flesh of my breast and he was feeding pumping his lower body hard and faster and I was rising to meet each thrust. He withdrew his fangs and let out a guttural growl and together we climaxed and he collapsed beside me. “Good evening,” I said with a smile.
“Lover, you can wake me like that anytime,” he leaned over and kissed me then fell back onto the bed.
“Don’t go back to sleep,” I elbowed him. “We need to shower and get ready, remember dinner and a movie.”
“Of course I remember and a shower and round two sound like a great idea, give me just a minute for my mind to catch up to my already awake body.”
I stood up and started the shower in the bathroom off the day chamber, the shower wasn’t huge but it was big enough for both of us. I went back to the bed and pulled his hand until he followed me into the bathroom. He was still a little groggy but I was sure the hot shower would fix that. He liked to shower as soon as he awakened. I was right he became much more alert and he was ready for round two. Our first place to make love was in my shower in my house in Bon Temp and continued to be one of our favorite places. After round two was successfully completed and we finally got around to showering it was time to get ready. I ran upstairs and dried my hair and put on lip gloss and mascara and got dressed. Eric stayed downstairs and got ready. He came up wearing jeans and a charcoal grey t-shirt that accented every ripple on his upper body. “Lover, if keep looking at me like that we will never make it to dinner and a movie,” he smiled and I blushed just a little.
Then I realized the look in his eyes were not dissimilar to mine, “Your right, let’s go because if we don’t leave now it might be dawn before we pry ourselves from each other.”
“That doesn’t sound like such a bad thing,” with that sexy smile and voice my insides quivered.
“Come on,” I grabbed his hand as I passed him and led him down the stairs, “I am starving.” We got into the corvette and headed out. It never mattered to me where we went as long as we were together. Eric pulled into a popular steak house and when we walked in the hostess just gaped at Eric for a long moment. I finally spoke up, “Two please.” “Oh, yes, sorry. Right this way.” She was blushing and began fidgeting nervously. It seemed all popular bars and restaurants were carrying some type of synthetic blood these days so Eric could sip on that while I ate, even though he really didn’t need it since he already fed. I wasn’t kidding earlier, I was starving. I ordered a salad, New York Stirp – Medium with a baked potato and sweet tea. Pretty standard meal at any steak house, Eric nursed a True Blood while I ate and we chatted. We got the occasional long stare from people coming and going. You would think the mass populous of the world would be used to seeing vampires by now. But it seemed amazing how many people still gawked. We went to the movies and saw Angelina Jolie’s newest action packed flick. It was still a little before midnight, “Hon, I am going to stay the night in Bon Temp tomorrow but I will be home on Sunday by the time you rise. I do have to get up early in the morning so if you want to take me home and then go to Fangtasia I understand.”
“Lover, I enjoy every minute I spend with you, but if you are sure I think that might be a good idea. Pam should have the list of guest prepared for me to go over and I can have it finalized for you on Sunday. Would you like me to stay with you until you go to sleep?” “Eric, if you lay down in bed with me I think it would be much later then sooner that I fall asleep and Fangtasia would probably be closed by the time you got there, but I appreciate the offer.”
We pulled into the garage at the house and Eric walked me in, “I will miss you while you are gone.” He gave me a deep kiss that made me week at the knees.
“I will miss you too. You know you are welcome to come tomorrow night if you like. You know there is a safe place for you to rest if you want to stay the night. But I understand you need to spend some time with your business too.” Another kiss.
“I don’t think I will make it to Bon Temp on this trip, besides your brother needs you.” One more kiss and we said our good-byes. I went upstairs and got ready for bed deciding to sleep in the master bedroom tonight since I had to get up so early. I read my book for about half an hour and then dozed off to sleep. I woke up slightly around 4 am as Eric was picking me up. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes, you here in this bed and me in my bed. I want you next to me when I go to sleep, one night without you in my bed is enough.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him carry me to bed. He placed me under the cover and in just a couple of minutes he was next to me and I drifted back to sleep immediately.
Chapter 34
Eric had sat the alarm for me before he came to bed. The alarm went off at 7:30 and I hit snooze once and gave myself a minute to wake up. I looked at my vampire and gave him a kiss and crawled out of bed and headed up to take a shower. I put on a pair of jean capri’s and a t-shirt and grabbed my dress and sandals for the service to get dressed a little later. I decided to take the Escalade in case I needed to give more than one person a ride. I stopped at McDonald’s on my way out of Shreveport for coffee and a sausage McGriddle. I went straight to Jason’s house I was there by 9:45. He said he wanted to get out to Hot Shot early and asked me to be to his house by 10, but in typical Jason fashion he was still in bed when I got there. By the looks of the house he had done a fair amount of drinking the night before. I knew I was right when he let me in then went straight to the kitchen and fixed his “cure all” hangover drink. “You ok big brother?”
“I’ll be ok. I spent most of the night last night drowning my sorrows. I didn’t even get to hold him Sook. But I saw him and he was beautiful. There were tears streaming down his face.”
I walked over hugged him and took his hands in mind, “Jason, I am so sorry. I don’t have any words that will make everything all better, no one does, only time will make the pain go away.” He was looking at my hands wrapped around his shaking his head in acknowledgment.
“Sookie, where the hell did you get that big ass ring on your finger? Wait a minute, that’s your left hand ring finger,” Jason wasn’t the brightest bulb in the pack but he had a way of working things out in his own way, “Is that what I think it is? Did you go and get hitched in Florida?” He was on the verge of yelling.
“No, I didn’t get married in Florida. Jason, I was going to wait and tell you when your life had settled down a little,” guess I shouldn’t have underestimated him and took the ring off if I wanted want him to know, “Eric asked me to marry him before we left for Florida but we didn’t tell anyone until he had a chance to get the approval from the King of Louisiana.”
“You said yes?” See not the brightest bulb in the pack.
“Yes, I said yes. I am wearing the ring. Jason he had the ring custom designed especially for me. We are going to plan a big engagement party and then we will have the wedding towards the end of summer.”
“I am not going to lecture you sis, at this point I want whatever will make you happy. You have always supported me in every thing I have ever done, even when you knew it wasn’t the right thing. I love you and you just tell me what you need and I will do it.”
“Jason, that means so much to me. Will you walk me down the isle and give me away?” I was crying. Jason and I seem to have finally reached adulthood together.
“You mean it sis? You want me to give you away?” Jason was crying now. We just hugged each other.
“Jason, I love you but I have to tell you, you wreak! You need a shower. Go get ready and I will go get my dress out of the truck and get ready too.” I gave him a little peck on the cheek and walked outside. Jason lived in our parents old house and it sat at the front of 20 acres most of it wooded but there was a big pond that never went dry a few hundred yards out the back door and Jason and Hoyt had built a big deck out on the pond for fishing and drinking, I think much more of the latter happened. Jason and his buddies hunted in the woods growing up but now they could provide hunting grounds for Jason when he had to change into a were-panther every month. I hope that someday Jason will find someone to settle down with that will accept him for who he is. He had a good job and his own home and all in all he was a great guy. Jason always took longer then me to get ready so I wasn’t in a hurry so I took time to look around and just listen to the woods and let a few fond memories of my childhood slip into my mind. I went in and slipped on my simple black dress and sandals and pulled part of my hair back into a clip and put on a little mascara and lip gloss, that’s all the make up I had been wearing since my last ingestion of Eric’s blood. I didn’t feel like I needed anything else. I went back out into the living room and waited on Jason. He came out in black slacks and a dark grey button down shirt with his suit jacket over his arm. He looked very handsome. “Sookie, you look very pretty, you look great, whatever is going on in your life keep it up, you look so happy and well just different.” In his own way Jason was noticing the effects of Eric’s blood in me. Jason didn’t know anything about our fae bloodline, Niall didn’t want to have anything to do with Jason which made me a little sad. He said he had watched Jason too over the years but the only thing Jason got from our heritage was his beauty and his ability to attract women and please them.
We headed outside and I told him I would drive and he didn’t put up a fight, normally Jason wants to drive his own truck anywhere he goes but he was content riding in the passenger seat. It was 11:30 now and it would take us about 35 minutes to get to Hot Shot. We would get there about an hour before the service. We pulled into Hot Shot and every house it he neighborhood seem to have a car in the driveway, everyone was home so apparently the whole town would be at the service. The cemetery was just outside of the far end of town. We pulled up in front of Calvin Norris’ house Jason took a deep breath and I laid my hand on his shoulder he gave me a half smile with a tear in his eye and got out of the truck. I followed close behind him. He knocked on the door and Crystal answered the door. She tried to hug him but he walked passed her straight to Calvin. They shook hands and Calvin gave Jason a firm pat on the back. The house was full of people and there was food everywhere in the kitchen. I walked up to Calvin and he smiled, “Nice to see you again Sookie, thank you for coming.”
“Nice to see you too Calvin, how have you been?” I gave a gentle smile.
“Well, thanks, I heard you moved to Shreveport to live with the Viking. You look great life must be treating you well.”
“Thanks, I am doing well. Eric and I actually got engaged recently.”
“Really, I hadn’t heard that news yet, I guess I finally have to give up all hope on you and I.” He was half teasing half serious. Calvin had done everything he could think of to convince me to be his mate and bring new blood into the pack. But I just smiled at him and rubbed my hand from his shoulder down his arm. Everyone mulled around for a little bit, I actually felt a little sorry for Crystal because everyone was avoiding her as best they could. Calvin called everyone to attention and announced it was time to go. Calvin and Crystal climbed into the truck with Jason and I we headed through town. There was an awning set up in front of a tiny casket and the four of us took the front seats Calvin and I sat in the middle with Jason and Crystal on opposite ends. Everyone started filtering in and Amelia made it a point to come up and let us know she was there and then slipped back into the crowd. The service was short and most of the crowd went back to Calvin’s house after. The backyard was set up with lots of seating and people were talking and eating and giving their condolences. I stayed close to Jason in case he needed me but Hoyt didn’t leave his side either after we got back to the house. Hoyt was a great friend and Jason could always count on him. Sam and Amelia came up and Sam just stared at me for a long moment after speaking to Jason. Finally he spoke, “Sookie, you look radiant. Life in Shreveport is agreeing with you.” I just smiled and gave him a hug. He hugged back a little too long and a little too tightly but I just went with it. We stayed for a couple of hours and then several of Jason’s friends as well as Amelia and Sam followed us back to Jason’s house. When Sam and Amelia got there they unloaded a couple of ice chests from Sam’s truck and carried them around back.
I stopped Amelia, “What’s this about?”
“Sam and I decided that Jason didn’t need to be alone and that every life is worth celebrating no matter how short lived it is. Sam is going to barbeque and we are going to all sit around and be thankful for each other.”
“That’s great. I know Jason will appreciate the sentiment. Thanks for thinking of him like this.”
“Let’s go change out of these clothes and get comfortable.” She walked back out to Sam’s truck and grabbed a bag. We went to the spare room and changed. “Sookie, what are you doing in Shreveport that is making you look so damn great? Or maybe is was the Florida beaches.”
“I spent a day at the spa in Florida that was pretty awesome. But maybe just maybe it has something to do with this,” I held out my hand and she grabbed it.