Hello!

Welcome to my new story! I won't bother with a big note here, so Charlaine Harris owns the wonderful Southern Vampire Mysteries.

"Hello honey, I'm home!" I called out with a chuckle as I let myself into Eric's house with my own key.

"You know I hate that." He replied and I saw him walking out of the bedroom with a towel hanging loosely around his hips. I couldn't decide whether I was lucky or unlucky he was wearing a towel. My eyes took in the well defined muscles of his stomach that still had a few stray beads of water trailing down. I could also see the little trail of dark blond hair trailing from his belly button and disappearing down into the towel. I was definitely unlucky.

"That's why I do it." I laughed again as I hung up my coat and bag, shucking my shoes as well before walking over to him. "How are you?"

"Better now." He grinned, showing his fangs had elongated. That's when the fun started. I was sharply pulled against him and I didn't care I was getting damp. My arms wrapped around his neck as I went up on tip toes to meet his lips with enthusiasm and I felt his large hands grasp my waist holding me in place. Our lips moved together slowly, our movements filled with passion and tenderness until our tongues met, massaging together with fiery abandon.

"When do we have to be at the bar?" I asked, only breaking away from him enough to get my words out.

"Half an hour, there isn't enough time for what I want to do to you. Quickie though?" His fangs were sharp against my tongue and I purposefully pressed my tongue against it, letting the tip of one tooth break the skin. Blood began to ooze out slowly the tiny wound, seeping over my tongue and into his mouth. His tongue became more forceful on mine as he got the first taste, a deep growling moan emanated from his chest setting another one off in my throat.

"Save it for later, we'll have the rest of the night." I teased, pulling back and letting my arms fall down from around his neck so they rested on his hard chest, feeling the muscles that were tensed up underneath my palms.

"Teasing woman," he growled out at me but there was a smile across his lips while he was speaking and I knew he wouldn't be mad. If he was he had only to think of the hours later that we would be completely alone with no interruptions. He placed another deep kiss on my lips, sucking deliciously on my tongue to get the last little bit of my blood before pulling back completely. "Faster we get there, the faster we can get back." He turned around and headed back to the en-suite bathroom in our bedroom. The towel had slunk dangerously low on his hips, threatening to fall away completely with any sudden movement; the tops of his buttocks were showing and I barely resisted the urge to sink my fingers into the flesh there. He'd only taken about two paces when he pulled the towel away revealing the most glorious butt I'd ever seen. My eyes shut tightly; if I looked any longer we certainly wouldn't be getting to the bar on time and I wanted more than a quickie tonight.

I'd just got back in from working the afternoon shift at Merlotte's where I was still a waitress despite Eric's pretty consistent moaning about it. The truth is though I enjoyed my job and I didn't want to waitress at Fangtasia, no matter how much I loved the bar and Eric, there was no way I was going to dress up as a member of the Addams family every night for work. I walked into the bedroom, going straight to the walk in closet so that I wouldn't risk a glance of naked Viking again, and began to undress. I changed out of the winter uniform we were still wearing, it was technically still winter with it being early March but the days were getting much warmer whilst the nights were still pretty long. I grabbed vampire bar appropriate dress; black jeans, red vest top, black and red checked shirt and black pumps. Well, it was as gothic as I was going to go.

When I emerged from the closet Eric was lounging on the bed in what appeared to be down time; he wasn't moving at all and he appeared to have been carved out of stone. He was draped across the massive bed with his knees at the edge so that his feet were dropping down so that his toes barely touched the floor that's how tall the bed was. His arms were folded behind his head with his biceps bunched up so that they were straining the black t-shirt he was wearing and it didn't take much to notice his tight fitting black jeans were enhancing the toned muscles of his legs. Long blond hair seemed to be tied up at the base of his neck as it all came over his shoulder, curving around on his chest, in one silky clump. Our hair colour was exactly the same now, so much so that even Eric could hardly tell the difference, or so he told me.

"Ready?" I asked, not bothering to try and warn him before speaking. On some level he would be aware of me, my presence was usually enough to snap him out of his rest anyway, and it was ridiculously difficult to surprise a vampire.

"Yes." He replied, springing up from the bed that was still impressive even after all this time. He grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair in the corner of the room and grasped my hand as we walked out to one of the cars. He easily climbed into the cabriolet we had without bothering to open the door, just offering a flash of a grin at me as I climbed into the passenger side the normal way. "How was work?" He asked and to the rest of the world we sounded like any normal couple. It had taken us two years to get to this stage and it hadn't been easy to compromise.

"It was good, everyone was really nice, no hassle." Being a waitress had become an awful lot easier since I'd mastered control of my telepathy, the vampire blood had helped with that but it had taken a lot of work. I'd been having a lot less hassle with the handsier patrons since they'd found out about my giant of a vampire boyfriend.

"When are you working tomorrow?" He asked and I could see the sparkling glint in his eye, the mischievous smile playing slightly across his lips.

"I'm not." I smiled back.

"Good." We'd eased onto the road by this point and he took my hand as he always did when we were driving, our fingers laced and our joint hands resting on top of the hand brake box. I still didn't know how he managed a manual transmission and steering with one hand.

The rest of the journey was spent in comfortable silence where I just relaxed back into the soft leather of the seat, just glad to be off of my feet and enjoying the mental silence around me. The gentle purring engine eased over me, making me sleepy but I couldn't surrender just yet. We soon pulled into the parking lot for the staff behind the grey building that was Fangtasia, the multiple signs lighting up the area in neon red. There was already a queue stretching around the building with people chatting animatedly as they waited in the cold evening air; the bar had only been open just over an hour.

I stepped out of the care as graciously as I could from the low seats and waited until Eric had finished showing off to take my arm. We were now officially on public show, as much as I'd hated it originally I'd begun to see the necessity for it and how much it helped keep the public face of the bar in the good press. Here was the big bag vampire owner with his human lover and she was perfectly well cared for. He'd jumped out of the car, using his uniquely good flying skills to land softly on the ground before walking quickly around to me. My hand immediately grasped the bend on his arm and we walked confidently to the front doors. It would have been easier to use the staff door, we were heading to his office anyway, but the public called. Some of them even literally.

"Eric! I'm yours!" One particularly loud mouthed fangbanger looking girl, barely legal to enter the bar, shouted out as we walked past. Her dark hair was pulled up on top of her head, revealing the neck that already had two sets of bite marks on it and the heavy make-up of her face that didn't do her any justice. She was wearing the typical Goth gear which everyone seemed to think the vampires wore on a day to day basis. Just so you know, they don't, at least not any that I've come across. Her arms were waving wildly around her and she would have run up to him if it weren't for the strong hold one of her friends had on her waist. A year ago that would have made me seethe but now I could only smile to myself, it was completely pointless. Eric was devoted to me, something which had shocked everyone at first, even himself, but our relationship was honest and we were bonded. He wasn't going anyway.

"I already have someone." Eric replied coolly, offering her a toothy smile though which sent lots of cameras flashing. They'd be lucky to keep those photos though; no one got a picture of us without permission. He held his arm out as he spoke as well, indicating my hand that connected us together; it was the hand that held my claddagh ring as well. The disappointment was clear on her face but we kept walking until we reached the front of the line.

"Hello you two," Pam greeted us with her typical bored tone. It took a long time to get to realise her emotions and how she showed them. "Any trouble about?" She was looking directly at me as she spoke and I barely blushed but shook my head. I had a bit of a penchant for getting myself into supernatural trouble, apparently the vampires all thought I was a hoot. Except the bartender, me and Fangtasia bar tenders tended to end up with a rocky relationship where one of us dies. I bet you can guess who that is as I'm still walking around and for the most part human.

"Are they here yet?" Eric inquired quietly so that no other ears would be able to hear what was being said.

"No, they should be here within half an hour though. I'll let you know personally as soon as they arrive." She gave a deep nod of her head, actually stooping her shoulders, we still caught the slight eye roll though, and we knew she was only doing such a show of formality because of the audience we had.

We walked straight into the bar then and we were immediately approached by a new waitress who was actually shaking with worry about serving us two. We ordered our regular drinks, I'd changed to diet coke with a slice of lime in it, a drop of water added in from an old vodka bottle gave the appearance that I was drinking even when I wasn't. I couldn't be drinking my normal tipple, a gin and tonic, every night when I came to the bar although I still had them occasionally, if I'd kept drinking them my liver would have packed in around now, I spent so much time here.

Wide eyed stares followed us as we walked through the crowded main room to the staff door which was directly opposite the main entrance. The heavy rock music was already pounding out of the stereo system; it appeared it was just a general night at the bar with nothing going on at all except for the usual vampire attraction. The room would be filled with new people or tourists talking a little walk on the controlled wild side, the regulars would wait until about now to start turning up as that was when the vampires did. Until an hour or so after opening the bar was just like any other rock playing bar in the city.

"After you," he whispered in my ear, giving the lobe a cheeky nip as I stepped in front of him. I continued walking down the long hallway, my soft footfalls sounding distinct on the wooden floor. There was no one else back here as all the staff had hit the bar ready for getting truly busy. I walked into the office which was situated near the end of the corridor; the only other things further back were storage rooms.

"Why do we have to meet with them? We already turned them down." I took a seat on the sofa, making sure my feet didn't touch the leather since I was wearing shoes.

"They are being stubborn, they won't take no for an answer. They're sending representatives over tonight to start negotiations although there's no point. I'm not giving up any of my business." Fangtasia was Eric's baby, I just wouldn't call it that in his presence, and he'd worked it up from scratch just after vampires had come out of the coffin a few years ago. He worked here, at some point, nearly every night, as he was a very hands on boss, he wouldn't be giving up his hard work for anything.

There was a tentative knock on the door which Eric answered, taking a tray from the waitress before closing the door behind him. He handed me my coke before taking his blood and sitting at his massive desk, readying himself for work.

"So why am I here? If it's about the bar." I didn't personally handle anything business related, except running a few day time errands for him, yet he'd started asking my opinion on things which really made me happy. He valued my thoughts.

"As a caution mainly, the witch has mentioned to some of the vampires around here that she is interested in me, I am not interested in her. With you by my side perhaps she can be convinced I'm not bothered." He shrugged his massive shoulders and used the same motion to pull the tie out of his hair to let it fall down his back.

"Err, I hate witches." I stated boldly, though it wasn't entirely true. One of my friends who lived down in New Orleans was a witch, a pretty powerful one at that, and I loved her to bits.

"My thoughts too. Let's take your mind off of it." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and I couldn't help but laugh. Of course I still went over to him though, taking a seat on his lap where I could feel his gracious plenty beginning to harden. He was truly insatiable.

"Not if we have a meeting." I stated, folding my arms across my chest mainly so that I could keep them to myself. I'd never reached this level in a relationship before, even though I'd had one, and I'd made myself promise to cherish every moment. I had my own Viking vampire who had a softer side that he really only showed me and we respected each other through our love.

One of his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me into his side and I yielded, putting one of my arms across his shoulders and the back of his neck so that I could relax into him. My eyes flickered to the computer monitor that had sprung to life and I was surprised to find a picture of me staring back although no one else would have been able to tell. The image was a close up, only showing a section of skin with two red, still slightly seeping, vampire fang marks. It was a good job no one else would be able to tell who or what body part they were looking as Eric didn't like to take blood from my neck anymore. I slapped him softly on the chest as heat began to rise in my cheeks. My only response was a deep chuckle.

He began working away on the computer and I didn't pay any attention, only knowing that he was doing some form of ordering and stock check via the internet and excel. I just sat on his lap with my fingers winding through his hair, luxuriating in the coolness of his body against mine. All too soon there was another knock on the door which was followed quickly by the heavy oak door opening to reveal an amused Pam. She loved to catch us in compromising positions; this was one of the least ones she'd seen.

"They're here." She stated simply and walked into the room, partially shutting the door behind her to give us a couple of much needed seconds.

Large hands on my waist picked up and deposited me in a chair beside him that I hadn't noticed before. Accompanied by a quick kiss to the lips, which was as chaste as Eric ever got when it came to his lips on my body, and we were ready. Pam opened the door again to reveal two surprisingly normal looking people who whisked their way into the room, taking the two guest chairs opposite the desk before they were offered a seat. Pam raised her eyebrows ever so slightly at their audacity before locking the door and coming to stand over our shoulders.

"I am Eric Northman, this is my bonded Sookie Stackhouse and you've already met Pam." Eric was using his authoritative tone which usually sent little shivers down my spine, today it only served to remind me of the severity of the situation. I sat up straighter in my chair and began to let my mental shields slide down.

"I am Hallow Stonebrook, this is my third in command Samantha." Her second in command was her brother, Mark, who was currently leading an exercise of support for the meeting from across town in their headquarters. She was also a shifter of some kind, her mind was a murky pool and I couldn't keep track of one thought for very long. Surreptitiously I slipped my hand across to rest on Eric's knee, drawing support from him without being seen to be weak.

"You have come to offer us a deal?"

"Yes. I gave you my request almost a week ago but you turned it down immediately; fifty percent of your business in return for letting you keep running it and for the safe passage of your vampires to other areas. You didn't have time to contemplate it."

"I didn't need time, the bar is mine and I'm not giving it up. The vampires under my control have the right to live where they choose which is currently right here. Without vampires the bar is nothing, taking fifty percent and taking the vampires leaves me with nothing." His voice was taking on an icy edge that made me grateful I was securely on this side of the desk.

"Very well. I have come to offer you one last deal. We will take twenty percent of the bar; your vampires can remain here as long as you swear they will not get in our way. You will provide us with a set amount of blood every month, to do with as you please." She waved her hand to show that she wasn't directly meaning Eric's own blood, but any vampire blood in general. I saw in her head though that she wanted Eric's blood, wanted it desperately and she wanted to be the one to take it by sinking her teeth into his neck whether she was in animal or human form. "In return for the smaller percentage cut you are to come with me for a week, entertain me." Images flashed across her mind of the two of them in bed, various positions yet he was still tied up in all of them, in some there was even someone watching. That was vile and I couldn't help the jealousy that boiled up inside of me. Anger was building up in Eric, our two different emotions feeding off of each other to bring them closer to the surface. I could feel him in my head.

"No. I am bonded, I am not interested."

"You would do wise to consider Hallow's words, she is more of a woman than the one you have." Samantha spoke for the first time, spitting her words out. She did slink back in her chair when Eric's stony gaze turned to face her, turning his anger all onto the one person and making her squirm.

"I have my bonded."

"Are there no other vampires that you would consider taking?" Pam asked from beside her and I knew she was speaking out of loyalty, offering herself up without so many words.

"No, but that too maybe open to negotiation." Hallows deep brown eyes blazed briefly, almost matching the colour of her nearly black hair as she glanced at Pam, taking in all that she had to offer.

"I will consider your offer." Eric stated after a few seconds of watching the exchange and I had to struggle to keep m face neutral. My hand clamped down on his knee, my nails digging into the jeans and probably bruising the flesh underneath. Swiftly his hand covered mine, his thumb stroking soothing circles into the back of my hand and his fingers squeezing my hand reassuringly.

"I will give you three days, I will expect an answer before sunrise in three nights or there will be consequences." With that they both stood up and walked to the door, letting themselves out. Eric only had to glance at Pam to get her to follow them out of the bar.

"You're not really considering the offer are you?" I said as soon as the door had shut firmly behind them, drawing my hand back from his leg as I did so.

"Of course not, but it bought us time to sort the problem out. I doubt they have enough power to cause us serious problems, but we'll have to be careful."

"You won't be offering yourself up?" I was confident in our relationship but it was still a horrible thing to hear.

"No. I am yours Sookie, just as you are mine. Never doubt that." He took my hand back, holding it in his large ones, using my arm to pull me to him as well. He kissed me, his lips moving against mine slowly and tenderly but with passion that couldn't be rivalled. His fangs were already down and I could feel them, hard beneath his lips. His hands moved up my arms, moving slowly in a feather light touch that sent me shivering, until his hands came to rest on my shoulders, his thumbs now rubbing over my collar bones.

"I won't," I whispered against his lips.

"We have three days, we should start looking tomorrow. Pam and the rest have already been instructed to gather as much information on them as possible." I was once again sat on his lap, with my face buried into his neck, breathing in his unique scent.

"She's a shifter."

"What kind?" He knew me better than to be bothered asking how I knew.

"I'm not entirely sure, Were I think." A shifter was any kind of person that shifted into any animal at the full moon. A shapeshifter was a person, like my boss Sam, who could transform into any animal he desired, a shifter who transformed into a wolf was a Were, any other specific animal was known by were- then the animal.

"I'll let them know." He pulled his phone out of his jacket pocket; his fingers flew across the keypad as he undoubtedly sent Pam a message. "Everything will be getting sorted, I'll start helping out tomorrow. What shall we do now?" His eyes lacked the usual glint of mischievousness, he needed it back. I didn't want to think about this anymore, I'd just had a brief lapse of thinking he wasn't as devoted as I knew. I needed to make sure he was mine.

"Take me home, we have plans."

So what did you think? Lemme know please, you know I love reviews almost as much as a certain Viking vampire. Thanks for reading! You probably know this but i'm team Eric so don't worry too much