Title: Love, Hate, Love
TV Show: True Blood
Author: Beloved Slayer
Rating: T
Summary: Eric Northman is the new neighbor of Bon Temps who has the ability to bed any woman he chooses. He has his eyes set on the virtuous, smart aleck outsider name Sookie Stackhouse, who happens to be a telepath. Will she resists his charms, or will she fall in love despite her hatred for him?
Author's Note: Slightly inspired by Pretty in Pink and also, unfortunately, some of my real life experiences. This story here is all human, ala alternate universe, and that Sookie doesn't have fae blood. Enjoy!
Chapter One
"My, my. Don't you look delectable in your overalls, Miss Stackhouse?" a husky male voice hovered over me as I dug my shovel into a pile of freshly fertilized dirt; an attempt to plant my double set of lavender bulbs into the newly dug up holes, my arm swiping against my forehead to remove all traces of sweat that were produced underneath the sizzling rays of the golden sun.
I would know that voice anywhere, and currently, it was filling me with dread, and irritation. Eric Northman. The Swedish import who recently claimed arrogantly that he was the hottest man alive; on the very first day that we had exchanged our introductions.
I rolled my eyes, the urge to hit him with the shovel rising with intensity, but Gran had taught me better than to be rude to a new neighbor, even if he was annoying. Out of all the women who settled and lived in Bon Temps, apparently I was the only one insane enough to resist Eric's affections. At least that was what they've been unknowingly muttering while I had read their thoughts.
Good for me, I decide. "Hello to you too, Eric. What are you doin' here, may I ask? Do you have business of some kind with my Gran? Otherwise I have no time for you," I sniped, trying to add the politeness in my acid tone, but failed.
Eric flashed his dazzling smile, taking his time to respond. "Well, dearest, I came here simply to ask your grandmother for a bag of cocoa beans. Nothing more. Honest." I released the shovel, pulling myself up to my feet, my eyes peering into the icy blue ones of Eric that were squinting against the sun at the moment. I knew immediately that he was lying. There was something else he wanted. I entered his mind and discovered what I was looking for.
"You're lying," I accused smugly.
"Am I? Sookie, you have only known me for a week, and you're already accusing me of lying? What manners you have," he smirked, taking a step forward whereas I instinctively took a step back. Eric's movements reminded me distinctively of a coyote moving in towards its' prey, a documentary that I had once seen while staying at Sam's trailer last year.
"Doesn't mean that you're not lying. I can see it in your eyes. What do you really want Eric?" When I threw the question at him, immediately all traces of amusement vanished from his expression, and a hungry look took over, his eyes darkened with what appeared to be lust and desire.
I pressed my lips into a tight line. There was no way that he was looking at me like that, was he? Not many men ever looked at me that way before. Not even while I was doing my shift over at Merlotte's. But then again, most of the bar patrons were unappealing to look at, compared to Eric's golden looks and charismatic presence.
"Simply, you, my dear. I want you," he queried, his voice also full of yearning. "Why? Don't you have a tramp already sleeping next to you in your bed? What's her name? Bella?" I scowled, tugging at my shovel, holding it between my hands. I was ready to swipe it in case Eric foolishly decides to approach a bit closer to me.
"I see nothing wrong with wanting to have two women in bed. Every man's fantasy, I assume. At least the straight ones," Eric sneered, his height close to towering over me. I was a small pebble compared to his frame. "Don't you dare come any closer Eric Northman," I barked, swiping the shovel, but he narrowly missed by jumping back. "Aren't you feisty? I love that in a woman. Do it again. You're only forcing me to want you more."
I lowered the shovel then, tossing it aside. I wasn't going to give in to whatever game he was trying to lure me in. His constant flirtation was enough to send most women reeling high to heaven, but for me, it was the entire opposite. It repulsed me to the point of wanting to gag. I couldn't understand the town's fascination with him just because he was the fresh blood with the perfect physique and good looks to match.
He had the personality that probably resembled that of a Viking, since apparently they were his direct descendants, according to one of his aunts that was living nearby here, much to my surprise. At least that was what I heard from the grapevine so there was no confirmation. I was accustomed to Bon Temps being full of gossipmongers.
My irritation for him first began since the very moment in which I was forced to introduce myself to him. From then on, he would seek every opportunity to throw himself at me; each time I resisted. I quirked my lips, eying him warily. I snorted in response to his vile words. They were revolting to my ears.
"That might be the case, Eric, but all you're doin' is making me feel like I wanna throw up in my steel bucket. Why the sudden interest?"
"Unlike my other escapades, you have fire that the others don't have. I'm attracted to that very much. But also because you are beautiful and honest. But forget it. To you it may seem ridiculous to hear those words coming from someone such as myself," he confessed, his mouth set in his own personal line.
For the second time that day, I snorted. For all of my twenty seven years of living on this Earth, no one had ever called me beautiful. Except for Gran.
"You gotta be kiddin' me." I laughed at his expense, until his blond brows were furrowing into a frown, which sobered me up quickly. "Forget the cocoa beans, I'll be leaving for now. Good day to you Sookie," Eric announced glumly as he trotted back to his red Corvette, leaving me with my mouth agape, suspicion rising. I knew suddenly that I had added a dint to his pride, but I didn't care. I was too confused at the moment to observe what it might mean.
What in the hell was that? With Eric, one could never be certain of his moods, which I had come to recognize. In spite of the fact that he brings irritation into my daily life since his arrival, something else was on the horizon; another emotion, perhaps fear. Or maybe, just maybe, there was something more going on that I wasn't willing to explore?