She was back. He felt her and his eyes shot open even in his daytime slumber. Sookie!
He paced the floor, a jumbled mess of anticipation, until nightfall when he could go to her. He clenched and unclenched his hands as he paced, ignoring the blood escaping from his body. Sookie!
As soon as he could, Eric flew to Sookie's house to see her. Of course fucking Bill Compton got there first since he lived closer. That bastard barely let him talk to her before telling him to leave. Bill Compton, the vampire king of Louisiana. Wouldn't Sookie be surprised. Eric would have to make sure he got to see Sookie alone soon so she did not fall back under Bill's spell. Making his way back to Fangtasia, he spent another night sitting on his throne, but this time he could feel her. He made up his mind to go to her tomorrow evening. Sookie.
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Sookie sensed both vampires coming closer so she stepped out onto her porch to greet them. Bill. The shock and pain she felt at his betrayal came hurtling back as soon as she saw him. He thought she was dead? Well, maybe he felt a little of the pain she did when she thought about how he had misled and beguiled her.
Then Eric showed up and she could tell that Bill was not happy about it. When Eric said he was the only one who didn't give up on her, she wondered if that was true. Bill had thought she was dead and Jason had sold her house. Maybe Eric was telling the truth. But then Bill told Eric to leave... and he did?
Sookie spent the rest of the night with Jason, drinking hot chocolate and talking. He said he didn't know who bought the house but Sookie needed to find out so she could buy it back. She wouldn't lose her family's house. It was the only thing left.
The next morning Sookie made her way to Merlotte's to see her friends and try to get her job back. To her, she was only gone for a few minutes but it was more than a year to everyone at home. It felt wrong to lie about where she was but it's not like they would believe her anyway. She was used to being harshly judged. Just one more thing to hide.
Sam said she could start back part time and then it was time to meet with Portia Bellefleur, a lawyer, to see if she could find out who bought her house. Her heart sank as Ms. Bellefleur told her that some super secret company had bought it and that she had no real clue who was behind it. And they had put fifty thousand dollars worth of improvements into it? Sookie had no idea how she would pay that back. Ugh, this was worse than she thought.
As Sookie drove home after her meeting, she tried to think of what she could do. So far, nobody from this secret company had come to her house to try to force her out. Maybe they didn't know she was there yet. Well, when they did come, she would be ready with a plan to get her house back.
As she pulled up to her drive way, she noticed Eric leaning against her porch railing. Really? She was so not in the mood for him tonight.
"Eric? What do you want?" she questioned tiredly.
"To see you. We need to talk," he started before she cut him off.
"Eric, I'm not in the mood to talk to you. I have a lot on my mind. I need to find out who bought my house so- "
"I did," he stated casually, causing Sookie to abruptly shut her mouth.
"You!? You bought my house? Why would you do that?"
If he was honest with himself, he would know that he bought her house simply because he missed her. The nights he spent there made him feel closer to her. The whole house was filled with her scent and it was the only thing that made her absence somewhat bearable. As the months went on, he found himself spending more and more time there and even going to his daytime rest there.
"Because your idiot brother was selling it," he said instead, since he hadn't exactly examined his real reasons for wanting her house.
Ignoring the fact that he called Jason an idiot, because, let's face it, he was an idiot for selling, Sookie started up her front steps and decided to invite Eric inside. She supposed he could come in anyway since he owned the house, but she noticed that he waited outside instead.
Eric walked in at her invitation and sat down. He intended to talk to her about a lot of things. He had had a year to figure out what he wanted to say to her. A year to think about everything that happened between them. But there was one thing that he needed her to know right away.
"Sookie, I would have never let Russell Edgington hurt you. I hope you know this," he started. "I had a plan- that I shared with Bill- to keep you safe. I regret that you were scared as much as I regret drinking from you against your will."
"You...are apologizing?"
He nodded. "I never wished to harm you. Russell would have stopped at nothing to have you. I could not allow that."
In thinking about this, Sookie realized that was the second time Eric had sacrificed himself for her, the first time being at the Fellowship of the Sun church. Why would he do that for her, she wondered.
"But, Eric, you could have died. You almost did! Why would you die for me?"
"I would not have been the only one to die. It would have settled a very old debt... and also kept you safe. I believe you call that killing two birds with one stone?" he questioned with one eyebrow raised.
"Yes Eric, but I don't want anyone dying for me! I couldn't live with myself knowing you had died to save me!"
"Well, Miss Stackhouse. It was worth it. I do not regret that part."
"Well, I do! Eric, you have to promise me you won't ever do that again!"
"Oh, but that is something I cannot do."
"Ugh!" Sookie replied, frustrated. Calming herself with a deep breath, she switched gears. She did not want to spend tonight rehashing the past or fighting with Eric Northman.
"Fine, Eric. Well, thank you for taking such good care of my house while I was gone."
Eric's look filled with heat as he replied. "If you would like to offer me your gratitude, feel free."
"My... gratitude?" Sookie asked, confused. Then her eyes widened. "I'm not going to sleep with you, Eric!" she sputtered, his crudeness dawning on her.
"Hmm, we shall see. But that is not what I meant. I simply meant a kiss," he said in a deep voice while placing a finger on his cheek and turning his head slightly.
Sookie looked at him. She could kiss his cheek. That's not such a big deal. He had saved her from Russell and fixed up her house. Sure, a kiss. Fine.
"Just a kiss, Eric. On the cheek. Okay? Don't press your luck."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
As she bent down to kiss his cheek, she couldn't help but remember the last time she was this close to him. The thought of that magnificent kiss in Eric's office made her breath hitch and her heart race. Her face was so close to his that she was breathing in his ear.
Her scent enveloped him and he closed his eyes as he felt her lips on his skin. His hands made their way to her hips and he pulled her closer. Her face was still at his cheek but her breath, hot on his ear, was coming out faster now. Eric turned his face slightly toward her and brushed his lips lightly against hers. She made a small gasping sound against his mouth that went straight down and settled low in his belly, awakening his body. His fangs descended as Sookie brought her hand to the back of Eric's head, deepening the kiss. His tongue licked softly at the seam of her lips and she parted them. A soft growl rumbled through his chest as his tongue met hers. As her tongue grazed one of his fangs, he stiffened, all over. He hissed and then growled loudly.
That sound broke through the haze in Sookie's brain and she was slightly mortified to see how close together their bodies were. She was practically straddling him!
She jumped back when she noticed where her body was, but not before noticing his enthusiasm for her. She couldn't help where her eyes went and when she finally looked back to his face and saw him smirking, she knew he had seen where she was looking.
"See something you like?" There was that eyebrow.
At his familiar words, she was brought back to that time when she had walked in on Eric and Yvetta in the basement of Fangtasia. That time when he was stark naked and very excited. It had taken all her willpower to keep her eyes on his face but she did it because she was so worried about Bill. Ugh, that bastard! The thought of Bill brought her back to reality and the very amused vampire in front of her.
"Where did you go, Miss Stackhouse? Perhaps remembering something else you liked when in my basement?" When her eyes shot to his, he continued. "You know, you and I could be having just as much fun right now, if you are so inclined."
Sookie stared at him, willing her mouth to work and her words to form. She was thinking about how expertly Eric controlled Yvettas body and all the extremely contented sounds she had been making when Sookie walked in. "I- I don't think so Eric," she stammered but her words lacked conviction and Eric took this as an opportunity to continue where they left off.
"Sookie," he grunted out as he stood and his gaze locked onto hers. His eyes were lust filled pools of black. He was a wild animal and he had just chosen his dinner. She felt the pull of his influence as if by glamour. Not that he was trying to exert control, but that the intensity in his eyes was so powerful. His gaze was fire and her body was burning. She felt unable to look away.
He stalked towards her and like a skittish animal, she stepped back. He advanced and she retreated in some unchoreographed dance of predator and prey. Her back reached the wall and stilled her movement. He smiled, and his eyes bore into her own, lips parted, fangs glistening, eyes narrow. He loomed above her, a deadly Adonis. He caged her with his arms and her heart beat wildly as he leaned down to her.
His hand reached out to trace her collarbone slowly and for a moment Sookie forgot how to breathe. When her body regained the ability, she took in a great shuttering breath and then his lips crashed into hers. His hands were in her hair and then tracing her body and all the while his mouth was working against hers. She opened her mouth to get some oxygen and that was his invitation to sweep his tongue in to touch hers.
Sookie lost herself in Eric's mouth and in the press of his body against hers. The only things she could think of were his talented lips on hers, his fingertips trailing down her body, his other hand in her hair. Sookie could feel his hardness against her belly and it made her feel wonton and sexy. She pushed against him until there was so space between them. He groaned against her lips. His coolness contrasted with her heat. She backed him up until he reached the couch and he sat down, pulling Sookie onto his lap. Her legs straddled him and she pushed her chest to his.
Sookie now felt his hard length under her and pushed herself down onto it. Eric growled and his hand in Sookie's hair tightened. He used his other hand to cup her ass and pull her more fully onto him. Sookie began to rock her hips and as her core rubbed along his length, Eric palmed her breasts and began to massage them.
He ran his thumbs over her nipples, enjoying the feeling of them as they hardened to peaks. He brought his hands down to tug at the edge of her shirt and lifted it over her head. He expertly unhooked her bra and leaned back to look at her.
"Beautiful," he murmured, reaching out for her again.
He continued to touch her and she continued to rock against him. He ran his hands along her shoulders and down her arms. His fingertips traced the swells of her breasts and along her ribs, over her stomach and hips. Then she moaned- low and long and sexy as hell. Her breath washed over his face and his fingers dug into her flesh.
His fangs flashed as he growled at her. His hand went to her hair, fisting it and tugging it back to bare her neck. Her sharp intake of breath caused him to pause and look at her face. He let go of her abruptly.
"Fuck, Sookie...," he whispered, as he felt himself beginning to lose control. He felt almost crazed with the desire to possess her, to take her, to pull her down and never let her up.
He dipped down to lay his forehead against her collarbone and inhaled deeply. He wanted his time with Sookie to be sweet and slow, not frenzied like this. He wanted to savor every second of it and worship her body like she deserved. He would not let the animal control him. As much as he wanted to drink her down and claim her hard and fast, he would resist. At least for their first time.
"You smell amazing, Sookie. Like sunshine and everything sweet and good."
"Mmm, thank you Eric. You smell good too," she purred as she kissed his hair.
She brought her fingers into his hair. She lightly scratched his scalp with her nails and felt him shiver slightly as his eyelids fluttered closed.
"Mmmm," he purred.
"Like that, huh?"
"I like anything you do to me, Sookie," he growled, his voice low and sexy. Raising his head, he continued. "But we have to stop. It cannot be like this. I have waited so long for this, I will do it properly."
Sookie just looked at him. This was not what she expected from Eric Northman, that's for sure.
"Okaaaay" she said, suddenly embarrassed as she put her shirt back on and got up. Taking a deep calming breath she rambled, "Well thank you for fixing up my house. It was really nice of you and I'm not sure why you did it, but thanks. This house is all I have left of Gran and I would like to buy it back from you. I don't have the money to pay it all back right away but we could make a payment plan or something?"
She had said all of this in one breath while looking down at her hands, feeling awkward and unsure.
"I will give you back your house Sookie. It is not your money that I want. I want you, Sookie. I want you to be mine."
"Eric, you know I don't like all this vampire possessiveness. I'm not a thing to be owned," she said, sighing.
"But Sookie, I can protect you and you need protection," he said while walking toward her. "And there's something else we both need that I can do very well," he finished with a leering grin.
"Ugh, you are infuriating! Is that all you want from me? Sex? Did you do all this," she gestured with a sweeping hand, to her house, "just to get into my pants, Eric?"
"Not just for that. But I do admit it is a very nice added benefit."
"Eric, I'm sure you get plenty of benefits with the girls at Fangtasia. So until you can come up with a better reason, I will be just fine on my own!"
"You need me, Sookie! It will not be long before another vampire comes looking for you, and when they do, you will not be fine on your own! You will be dead!"
Eric had raised his voice, his fangs long and menacing, his eyes wild as he paced the living room. Sookie looked at his face, and the fury in his eyes and voice unnerved her.
"I'd like you to go!" she gasped, tears threatening her eyes. Eric stopped suddenly and his eyes searched her face. He retracted his fangs and walked to her slowly.
"Sookie," he brought his hand to her face and touched her gently, the backs of his fingers skimming over her cheek.
She stiffened and leaned away from his touch. As he brought his hand down, his eyes filled with an emotion that Sookie recognized as regret and sorrow. They stood silently for a moment until Eric whispered, "very well," and then was gone.
Sookie collapsed down onto her couch and let out a shaky breath. That really wasn't how she expected her evening to go. They hadn't even talked about her getting her house back. Ugh, next time Sookie was determined to have that conversation with Eric. He was even more complicated than she thought possible.