The Tempted Telepath

Chapter 1

Being a telepath sometimes has its perks. Hearing every nasty thought that people have about you is not one of them. Yes, I have been called crazy, but I promise you that I'm not. My name is Sookie Stackhouse and I am a telepathic waitress from Bon Temps, Louisiana.

For years I have worked at Merlotte's which is owned by my friend Sam Merlotte. I'd like to say that my profession was a little classier than slinging beers every which way, but that would be a lie. People can say all they want that they came in for the food, but we all know that they just came in to order a beer after a long day, or to stare at the waitresses.

Within the last year I have lost more than just a few of my friends. I also lost my Gran. All because someone was small minded and didn't agree with the fact that I had no problems with people who were just a little different than I was.

During this time I was dating Bill Compton. My first boyfriend and first vampire that I had ever met. At the beginning Bill was great. Everything about him oozed sex appeal. Dark and brooding. The fact that he was a veteran only kicked him up a few notches in my "sexy checklist". After my Gran died he was there for me every step of the way. Well, not every step, seeing as how he couldn't take steps in the daytime. Vampire. Remember?

Any who, just when I thought that everything was going great I find out that he is using me to advance his position in, I guess you would call it, the vampire hierarchy. Something to do with his queen wanting to use my special gift for something. Right now, I can barely remember what she wanted to do with me. Needless to say, we broke up. And just about every day since then he has been trying to get back in my good graces. Newsflash, Bill! It ain't gonna happen!

This evening while I was working Bill came in and sat in my section. "Arlene, can you take care of that," I asked her. Arlene is one of my best friends that works at Merlotte's. She's worked there even longer than I have. "Sook, when are you going to start talking to him again?" She was well aware of the reason why I wasn't talking to him in the first place. "When is he going to stop being an asshole and start taking what I say seriously?" All she could do was look at me with her jaw dropped. I wasn't normally someone who would curse, at least out loud, but Bill deserved it.

A few minutes later she came back over to me. "He really wants to talk to you."

"Did you mention to him that I have nothing to say to him?"

"Yes, I did. Just go talk to him so he will leave. You know he gives me the heebie-jeebies." Just like Arlene. God love her, but she was just about as small minded as everyone else. The heifer owed me. After all, it was her boyfriend that killed my Gran and I would never let her forget it. "Fine. I'll go talk to him, but you need to make sure that he leaves afterwards."

I walked over to him. The way he looked at me still made me sick to my stomach. "What the hell do you want, Bill," I asked him. "Sookie, I need you to come with me. My Sherriff requests your presence. It won't take too long, but you will need to take the rest of the night off." All I could do was look at him. Dumbfounded. Who the hell did he think he was!? "Bill, we aren't together anymore. I don't have to do anything that you ask me to do. Now, please leave. Don't make me call Sam over here."

"I have already cleared this with Sam. I have agreed to cover your wages for the remainder of the evening and anything you will lose in tips. Please do this for me and I will leave you alone as you have asked me." I didn't believe a damn word that he was saying. "And how do I know you will hold true to your word," I asked him. "After this is over I am moving away from Bon Temps. I am going back to my maker. She has summoned me. A call that I cannot refuse."

Thank God! Bill was going to leave me alone if I did this one thing for him. All I had to do was leave work, go home, shower, change, and re-do my makeup. "When I do this, Bill, do you promise to leave me alone? For good?"

"Yes. And I will remain true to my word." Yea, the eff right. Here's to hoping. "Just let me go tell Sam that I am leaving and get my stuff. You can meet me at my house in about 45 minutes." I couldn't help but think that if he was feeding me another line of BS that I was going to stake the bastard myself. "Where are we going anyway," I asked.

"Shreveport."

"Are you taking me to that vampire club? What's it called? Fantasia?"

"Fangtasia. Yes. Now please hurry. We have to be there by 9:30."

"Well, why didn't you say something sooner? Let me just kick my ass in gear so you can take me to your leader. Oh, how I long to serve you, Bill."

"You don't have to be a smart ass, Sookie. We just need to hurry."

"Alright. Like I said. Meet me at my house in 45 minutes."

Ugh. Was I really doing this again? I swear. What is wrong with me? This is the inner monologue that I was having while I was taking my shower.

What am I doing? Why am I doing this? If that fucker does anything to cross me, I will stake him. This was my monologue while I was getting dressed.

What do you expect to come from tonight? Peace? The fact that he will finally leave you alone and never bother you again? "Totally worth it," I said to myself.

After I had finished my 'pep talk' I was ready to go. When Bill came to knock on my door I was a little more than miffed. He was 30 minutes late! If there wasn't a promise of silence I wouldn't be doing anything for him. "Let's go. I'm ready to have my life back. A life where you aren't part of it."

"It's nice to see you too, Sookie."

"Don't be a smart ass. You're the one who asked me to do something for you. If I had my way, the only thing that I would be doing for you is staking you."

Bill looked at me as though what I had said surprised him. "I can't believe that you still have so much hostility for me. Didn't we once love each other?"

"Get over it. Let's go. I'm ready to have you out of my life for good."

Forty minutes later we were in Shreveport. "One step closer."

"What?" Bill asked.

"Nothing. I wasn't talking to you."

As we walked in to Fangtasia Bill placed his hand on my back. "Don't touch me," I barked at him. Quickly removing his hand from my back he looked at me and said, "Sorry."

"I bet you are. Just keep your hands to yourself."

"Can you just keep a smile on your face and do this last thing for me? Without being such a bitch?"

I was shocked to say the least that he had the gall to tell me that I was being a bitch. He wants to see a bitch? I will be more than happy to show him one.

Just as I was having another monologue with myself (I was doing that a lot tonight) the most handsome creature to ever walk the face of the earth walked in the room. "My Lord, Bill, who is that," I asked. "That is Eric. My Sherriff," he said. His voice laced with malice. I looked back at Bill trying to determine why he held such contempt for his superior. "And what exactly does he need me for?"

"Ask him yourself. He's walking over here right now." I subconsciously fixed my hair. Gahhh, this man was gorgeous. Tall, blond, and muscular. Who turned up the heat in here? Oh, right. That was my sex drive telling me that it has been way too long since my last orgasm and the man walking towards me was sex on a stick. A very long stick. I stopped myself before I went any further down that road. I had to. Or else I would find myself wondering about the size of his dick.

"Good evening, Miss Stackhouse." Oh, man. He even sounded sexy.

"Hello, Mr. ...uuuhhhhhh? I'm sorry. Bill failed to inform me of who you are exactly."

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Eric Northman. I am the Sherriff of Area 5. That includes Shreveport and all surrounding areas. Bill has informed me that you have a very special gift that may be of help for me this evening."

"Oh, he has. Has he?"

"Bill, you are excused. Please go gather your things and leave my area immediately."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait. Why does he have to leave immediately? How in the hell am I supposed to get home?" I asked.

"Do not worry about your mode of transportation. I will make sure that you are returned to your home once the matter has been resolved. Now, please accompany me to my office where we can discuss the details. In private." When I turned my head to look at Bill I found that he was already gone. "Geez, if I knew that was all you had to say I would have come to see you sooner. Bill has been nothing but a pain in my rear since I broke up with him."

He snickered at my words. "Yes, dear, I know. When I found out that he was using of the humans in my area to get ahead with our snake of a queen I made sure that he was banished."

As we walked to his office, Eric told me all about why Bill was no longer staying in Bon Temps. "I do not take kindly to my vampires going above my authority. Bill didn't register as a new resident when he first move to the area, he refused to inform me of what exactly he was doing back in the area, and he used you. And worst of all, he didn't share you with me." He turned to look at me with a smirk on his face and winked at me. HE actually WINKED at me!?

We finally arrived at his office when he turned to me and asked, "Do you currently belong to any other being? Human or Vampire?"

To say I was surprised would be an understatement. "What business is it of yours whether or not I belong to anyone else," I asked. If tonight was going to be filled with questions like this I was going to leave. Who in the hell did he think he was asking me about my personal life. "Merely asking a question. Please, have a seat, Miss Stackhouse."

"Don't call me, Miss Stackhouse. Sookie is fine. Now, what do you want and why am I here?"

"Well, Mi- Sookie. I need your special services. I am willing for pay you for them, of course. It seems that one of my employees seem to think that it is okay to steal from me. This is not something that I take kindly to. In the past weeks I have found that several thousand dollars have gone missing from my books. I would like for you to read all of my employees to see if we are able to find out where the money has gone."

"So, you want me to snoop around in the heads of your employees to find out where the money is. Did Bill inform you that my, uhh, talent doesn't work on vampires? One of the reasons that I was with him to begin with."

"I have been made aware. I need you to read my human employees."

"Why don't you just glamor them," I asked. I thought it was legitimate question.

"If I did that I wouldn't have had the pleasure of meeting you." He winked at me again. That was going to get on my nerves if he didn't stop. Well, maybe not. I was lying to myself. It was the sexiest thing I have ever seen. I don't know why it was so appealing when he winked at me, but when everyone else did it I just wanted to slap the shit out of them. This man was getting me so hot by just looking at me. Did I mention that he was sexy? Like super model, double take sexy? Stop thinking about it, Sook. You are here to do a job.

"How much are you willing to pay me to do this little task for you?"

"What do you think is an appropriate amount," he asked.

"I want $5,000 for my services and another $2,000 because you took me away from my job to do this for you."

"Once the service has been rendered I will gladly pay you your required amount."

What!? Not that I was complaining, but holy shit! $7,000! That is more than I make in three months. "Well, let's get started. Where are the people you need me to read?"

"Follow me. They are in my associate, Pam's, office. Right this way." He gestured to the hallway for me to step into it so that I could follow him. As we walked into the office in the adjoining room I was surprised to see that there was only two people in the room. "Is this all," I asked. "Yes, Sookie. These are the only two people that I need you to speak with. This is Ginger, our bartender, and Yvetta, our entertainer."

Looking at Ginger I could tell that she was scared shitless. The poor girl was physically shaking. Yvetta was sitting there like she could care less about what happened. When I looked at her she glared back at me as if to say, "Bring it, bitch." As I sat down with the both of them Eric leaned into my ear and said, "Don't be nervous, my dear. They won't bite. And if they do, I will too." I glanced back at him. I don't know why, but hearing this from him made me feel very safe. What was it about him that made me feel so safe? So secure? So loved? And what the hell was happening to me? Yes, the man was hot, but I'd seen hot men before. Maybe it was the fact that he treated me like a man should treat a lady and spoke to me with respect? Who knows? I sure didn't.

While I sat there interviewing the women I tried not to concentrate on the fact that Eric was breathing down my neck. In an odd way it turned me on. Jeez. I needed to get this done and go home and take an ice cold bath. Yep. That's was I needed.

When I was finished I asked him to take me back to his office so that we could discuss my findings in private.

"What did you find out," he asked.

"Ginger didn't do it. And neither did Yvetta. Although I can't help but wonder if you have any other vampires on staff. It seemed to me like they had it glamored out of their memories."

"What makes you say that?"

"When I was reading them there was a block of some kind that I couldn't get past. It was almost like a detour in their minds."

"I do have a few other vampires on staff. I will speak with Pam about your findings. Your services are most appreciated, Miss Stackhouse. Would you like to join me in the bar for a drink before I take you home?"

I thought on this question for a while. What do you have to lose? You're getting paid for the full night at Merlotte's, plus what he has agreed to pay you. Might as well have some fun.

"Sure. One drink wouldn't hurt. First, do you have a bathroom that I can use?" If I was going to do this I was going to look my best. This was the closest thing to a date that I had had in months. Good thing I brought a few of my cosmetics with me. In the bathroom I fixed my hair and checked my makeup. Don't ask why, but I felt the need to make sure that my breasts were in the right spot too. When I walked out of the bathroom, Eric gestured to me. Asking me to join him in a booth.

"My dear, I thought you had abandoned me," he smiled through the whitest teeth I had ever seen. Jesus, help me. I don't know if this was a good idea. Too much to drink and I may have to forget that I'm a lady and jump this man's bones.

Needless to say, one drink led to two and so on. By the time we had finished drinking we were the only ones left in the bar. I started to turn to Eric to tell him that I needed to go home because I had to work the next day and he kissed me. Man, could he kiss. I pushed him away. Why? You ask. I have no idea.

"Eric, I really need to go," I said. He turned to kiss me again. This time I didn't push him away. I melted into this man's mouth. For a man so muscular you would've thought that his kisses would be hard and forceful. They weren't. His lips were so soft and inviting. So smooth and perfect. When his tongue pressed at my lips asking for entry I granted it. Oh, the things he could do with his tongue. As I felt my temperature rising I also felt a wetness between my legs. I have never had just a kiss make me wet before. Jesus, Shepherd of Judea, I wanted this man. My body had been telling me this all night. I just wasn't listening.

His lips started to make their way down my neck. As he started nibbling at the crook of my neck I moaned, "Eric, I need you to take me home."

"I'm sorry," he said. "Do you not like this?" As he said it he nibbled at my neck again. "Ohhhh. It's not that I don't like it, but we just met and I don't think that we should do anything too quickly. Please, take me home."

"As you wish, my dear, but we will pick this up on another night." As he rose I could see the straining erection in his pants and I no longer had a question about the size of his penis. I licked my lips. "Like what you see, Sookie?" How embarrassing! He just caught me staring at his dick! "Do I?" I reached out and rubbed the hardness in his pants. What was it about this man that brought out the inner sex kitten in me? "But I think you should take me home before we both do something we are going to regret."

He walked back to his office to grab his car keys and as he brought the car around to the front of the club I couldn't help but think that he was even sexier behind the wheel of his fire engine red Corvette. "Hop in," he said. I walked to the passenger side of the car and before I even saw it he had gotten out of the driver's side and opened the door for me. "Are you trying to impress me," I asked smiling at him "No. Unless it's working." He smirked at me again. "I am just showing you the respect that a true lady deserves."

Oh, boy. This was going to be a long ride home. I laid my hands in my lap and stared up at the sky. Before I knew it we were pulling into my driveway. "Just pull around to the back if you don't mind." It was almost over. I had almost done it. Finished the night without compromising myself. All I had to do was get out of the car and walk to the door. He walked me to my door. "Goodnight, my dear," he said as he leaned in to kiss my cheek. I moved my mouth into the path of his lips. Best good night kiss. EVER.

Why was I resisting what my body had been telling me all night? It's been too long since you had sex. Just invite him in. Men have one night stands all the time and think nothing of it.

"Would you like to come in, Eric?"