A/N: The one-shot turned short story is dedicated to janjan2009, luckyway, box5angel, JamesNorthman96, sheshe073, dispatcher652, Darkskinned Goddess, CaliKat87, Silent-Reader-220, Khaz'Dynn, Flowery Meerkat, Scully Fox and my amazing ride-or-die chick Codename-Me. Thank you so much for the encouragement and support!❤

Eric POV

I patiently waited as the sun dipped below the horizon, I felt eager to start my night. I had received a tip that a Coven opened a Wiccan novelty shop in the town of Bon Temps.

This would be of no concern, but this particular Coven is rumored to be powerful enough to control the dead. The leader is said to be a formidable voodoo priestess from New Orleans.

Needless to say, this is a serious concern; I needed no invitation when I arrive at the shop just before it closed. As I open the doors and enter, I am immediately struck by the fragrance of honey, skåne and pure sunshine. I paused in disbelief.

Could it be her?

It's been nearly a decade, but it would take centuries for me to forget a creature so enthralling. My question was pleasantly confirmed when my beautiful long lost Goddess emerged from the back of the shop.

When our eyes met, I knew she had not forgotten me. My fangs dropped as I took her in. Her smell was inebriating, filling the room as she approached me.

"Eric Northman?" The beauty gazed at me bashfully, my stare causing her sweet smelling blood to rise to the surface.

"What brings you to Moon Goddess?" She questions me from behind the counter. For a fleeting moment, I'd forgotten why I was there. I wanted nothing more than to become reacquainted with my sexy runaway lover.

Alas, as Sheriff, I must first uphold my duties.

"Your coven has taken residence in my jurisdiction, tell me why." Her rich and smoky doe eyes narrowed, showing her displeasure.

"Is it a crime to open up a Wiccan supply shop here?" She wet her plum fuckable lips, then bit them inwards, peering at me with disapproval.

"It is a crime to practice necromancy on Vampires," I answer, while eagerly awaiting her response.

And then she giggled...she fucking giggled. I had tried to erase her contagious and adorable laugh from my memory. But I quickly gather, I will never forget anything about her.

"I don't know what the fuck you talkin about Thor! My High Priestess only conjure spirits of recently deceased." She callously rolled her almond-shaped eyes. "Humans...that's our main source of money. People wanna know about wills and buried treasures and shit."

Her heels clicked as she saunters around the counter and pressed her backside against it giving me an eyeful of her dangerous curves.

I'm in awe, after all these years she is still breathtakingly beautiful. She wore a sexy little purple corset -blouse, giving me a perfect view of her luscious cleavage. And skin-tight black jeans that hugged her shapely hips. She looked fucking edible.

"We haven't the power or any reason to summon vampires. Hell, we can't even get Ole Uncle Bob to speak with us most of the time. The spirit must be willing."

Oh the fire that burns within her. So fucking hot...After all this time, nothing has changed. I listened intently, surveying her eyes for any signs of dishonesty, listening consistently to her heartbeat. Her pulse remained calm, steady. She was telling the truth.

"Why did you choose Bon Temps as your place of residence..?" I questioned, still inspecting her face diligently for any signs of deception.

"I never told you Blondie, but I was born here, not Shreveport. My friend Holly sold me this shop for a very reasonable price. It was practically the only thing the coven and I could afford."

"I see," I nodded and after brief contemplation, I had come to the conclusion that out of all the unsavory things that surround me constantly, Tara Thornton and her Moon Goddess Emporium was not one of them.

"I forgot how beautiful you are," I admit, unable to bite back my signature dirty smile.

"Still the charmer I see," she replied shyly. My flattery caused her heartbeat to hasten. In response, her breath quickened and she swallowed hard, she shifted her neck in the most alluring way.

"I was just about to close the shop and make the night deposit." Her scent splashed over me making my eyes close involuntarily.

I stifled a groan.

"Then let me take you home," I suggested, and then I closed the space between us. Moving at vampire speed, I was in front of her before she could blink. Now, I was inches from her face, but she didn't move, and I inhaled her sweet scent again.

"You think you gonna get some tonight?" she tisked, looking up at me through long, fluttering eyelashes. She took a few long deep breaths, enchanting me with the rise and fall of her bountiful breasts as she did so.

"I only want to make sure you arrive home without harm, you are alone with a bank-bag full of earnings," I said innocently.

"Oh, well, I thought you were...Never mind" She said, her eyes darted away from my face. I was thrilled when I saw a hint of regret cross her face.

My mind raced with the images of her completely nude, her shapely legs spread wide and her searing pussy glowing with wetness as I thrust into her without abandon.

"Tara," I said trying to sound offended. "Were you implying that my act of kindness was a ploy to get you home and have passionate primal sex with you?" Against my will my voice came out rasping, loaded with desire.

"Don't even think about it Viking." She sassed, but her body could not lie. The sweet aroma of her arousal was undeniable. I had to clamp down on my straining bulge. I purred, knowing full well it would be a pleasure if she yielded to me. Of course, I would never touch her against her will. She would give herself to me willingly. And I gave her an unmistakable leer, letting her know I was not leaving her side until she was safely home.

She arched her raven brow and then smiles and hands me the red bank-bag. My fingertips lightly brushed hers. Her skin was still soft as silk and I found I hungered to touch more of it.

"I'll take the money to the bank in the morning. I'm just ready to go home, relax on my porch and drink frozen some margaritas."

She leaned over the counter giving me another wonderful eyeful of her stunning backside. My jeans tightened even more. She grabbed her keys, purple clutch purse, and black jean jacket.

"Alone?" I ask, as she locked the shop and set the security alarms.

Her mahogany eyes coarsely rolled. "Yes, alone Northman, no boyfriend, if that's what you're fishing for..."

I had figured that much. Only a foolish man would allow a woman like Tara to be alone at night. We stepped outside and I opened the door to my Corvette for her. The drive was brief and silent, she lives less than a half-mile away from her shop.

I walked her to the porch and as she unlocked her door, in my mind, I questioned if this would be goodbye again. She turned to me and I handed her the bank-bag.

"Thank you." She murmured coyly.

We stared, locked on each other's eyes for a moment and I wondered why she had left me with no explanation.

We were so great together.

I had met Tara about a month after the launch of Fangtasia. It was 2000 when she came storming into my office just an hour before the club opened. The alluring, woman was upset, screaming at me, demanding that I stop glamoring her roommate Ginger for her mind was turning to mush.

She was bold, foolishly so and in all my years, I'd never come across anyone that smelled as sweet as her. Out of all the beauties I've known, Tara Mae is certainly a sight to behold, sultry eyes, which hold wisdom that one so young should not carry. A long, wavy, raven mane falls seductively down her back and her petite, yet shapely curves commanded my attention.

Simply put, her ass is fucking flawless.

It is ridiculous what she does to me.

I licked my lips and spoke. "Let me in Tara."

She pulled her lip between her teeth and stepped away. "Why... so you can have primal sex with me?"

My cock throbbed and my fangs ached at the thought. "You'd rather be alone tonight with alcohol?"

Like me, Tara has locked her emotions away. But no matter how many women I bed, Tara's face will always be the only one I see. After a long moment, which felt like time without end, she inhaled a shuddering breath and said, "It's better than spending my night falling in love with a vampire."

I could have sworn I felt my dead heart flutter in response to her confession. Only Tara could draw such a reaction from me.

She's afraid to fall in love with me.

Is that the reason she ran?

"You were the one who demanded the no-strings-attached deal."

"You wanted a blood bond..." she sighed heavily again. "I-I wasn't ready."

I did not blame her. Being at my side would come with challenges. But I always believed Tara could handle it. She's beautiful, clever, and formidable.

Fuck, she's practically a vampire already.

"Are you ready now?"