UP All Night in Dallas
[Season Two. Bill and Sookie find 'new' places to go while visiting Dallas, Texas. And find a little unexpected adventure on the road to bliss. All of this occurs before they are caught up in The Fellowship of the Sun gambit. Three Chapters… maybe more, if Sookie's customary stubbornness and curiosity prevails.
WARNING: MATURE/Adult themes/language/explicit situations in this story.]
Chapter One ~
"Bill, why can't I go anywhere? Not even for a walk around the hotel? Geez!"
"Jessica… if I return and find that you have not obeyed my orders-"
"Okaayyy! Damn! I'll stay in my room! This is some ridiculous shit! Like bein' in a fuckin' prison or something.' I should have just stayed home!"
"Do not make me wish that is exactly were I had left you, Jessica. This was Sookie's idea, to bring you with us, remember? Not mine. Do I need to command you as my progeny, Jessica?"
"Oh hell no, Bill! That is so lame! Alright, alright I promise. I will stay in my room! You and Sookie have… fun…whatever! Good-bye!"
Bill heard the abrupt click in his ear as Jessica snapped off her cell phone. Bill shook his head in frustration, looking down at his phone. Baby vamps! What a distracting nuisance Jessica was sometimes, he thought to himself. No manners to speak of. Bill understood her impulses were all over the place right now. He certainly remembered how that felt as a new vampire. But still, did her human parents not provide her with any home-training in her mortal life? Bill had to wonder. She was a calamity just waiting to happen.
Bill surmised all of this attitude was exclusively reserved for him, as her maker. And Jessica being a teen-ager first and a vampire second, did not help the situation.
Bill almost called her right back. But then he decided not to. Jessica had better do exactly as he had instructed her while he and Sookie were away from the Hotel Carmilla for a few hours. Bill had taken Sookie out for just one evening together. He shook his head again, putting away his cell phone into his inside jacket pocket, as his eyes were drawn back over to the dance floor.
Bill watched as Sookie was dancing in the arms of a tall, red-haired Texan vampire.
And Texan was holding Sookie way too closely for Bill's liking. Bill squinted as he watched them from across the room, the vampire whirling Sookie around, then bringing her right up against his lumbering body, again and again. Bill's jaw was set.
Sookie glanced over at Bill, as she was trying to back up an inch or two from the Texan. She was trying to create a little more space between herself and her amorous dancing partner. While the vampire kept stepping into and invading the personal space Sookie had tried over and over again to carve out for herself. But the Texan vampire was grinning at her, holding Sookie around her waist much too tightly against that big shiny rodeo-styled belt buckle of his. He was squeezing Sookie's hand as he guided her backwards, leaning forward against her on the dance floor. The wide brim of his tan-colored Stetson cowboy hat, dipping down as he kept trying to place his cheek next to Sookie's. Obviously, he was enjoying the way Sookie smelled. And only wanted to get as close as he possibly could to her. And Sookie wasn't having any of his insistent cheek-to-cheek stuff.
Not now. Not ever. Bill or no Bill.
Of course, Bill recognized by this time that Sookie had a forced smile on her face. Every now and then, she would glanced back to find Bill. He was standing next to the bar, his disapproving blue eyes following her everywhere the Texan led her. She would give Bill a 'look' as to say 'It's alright Bill. Everything is okay here…"
And for at least half the time she had been dancing with the affectionate Texan vampire, it had been working. But Sookie could sense that any minute, Bill was about to go ballistic.
Only a few minutes before, Bill and Sookie had stood in the doorway, looking around the newest, most talked about Downtown Dallas night club, Kat's Kradle. Sookie had seen advertisement for it on the hotel tv channel in their room. She had begged Bill to go.
Bill, not being able to refuse Sookie hardly anything, there they were. And now Jessica was alone, probably getting into some mischief. And Sookie was being accousted on the dance floor. Not the sort of night Bill would have envisioned.
Before Bill had realized it - almost as soon as they had walked through the door -a local vampire had walked up and asked Sookie to dance with him! Without hesitation, Sookie had graciously accepted the dance invitation! Bill was incredulous. Of course, it was Sookie's choice to make, he thought. Trying to be nice to these god-damned Texas vampires. And for what? To have Sookie get pawed on the dance floor by one of these goons?!
Now, because that moron cannot act like a gentleman, I am going to have to break that up, Bill said to himself.
Sookie looked warily at Bill again. She could not read Bill's mind, but she could read the look in Bill's eyes: I cannot tolerate this shit anymore!
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"Oh my God!" Sookie sighed.
She watched Bill striding across the crowded dance floor, maneuvering his way around the other dancers, making a bee-line straight for her and the Texan. She caught a glimpse of the unfriendly and determined look on Bill's face, the way he set his jaw, and his pointed, unwavering stare, that she knew only meant big trouble was coming
"Whad? Whad you sayin', darlin'?" cooed the Texan, smiling down at Sookie, the tip of his nose brushing her cheek; "Damn…you smell good, honey! Whad you say your name was again, baby doll?" The Texan tightened his grasp on her right hand.
Sookie cut her eyes back up at the Texan. He was not even aware that Bill was fast approaching them. "Sookie," she told him her name again, bracing herself for Bill's arrival.
She turned slightly, looking over her right shoulder into the crowd for Bill.
The Texan was blissfully ignorant for the moment. Not having a clue that her boyfriend was probably going to knock out all of his teeth in the next few seconds.
Or maybe something even worse.
Sookie realized Bill was standing behind her then. She could only turn around a little more because her dance partner had her hand in a vice grip and his other hand was still clapped firmly around Sookie's waist. Bill was burning a hole through the Texan with his blue eyes at that point.
Bill was not happy.
"Alright. This dance is over," Bill said, his chin going up slightly. His voice was almost hissing. The Texan looked over at Bill in confusion at first, startled by the sudden interruption. He stopped trying to sway Sookie to the music. Sookie had already stopped dancing when she realized Bill was behind her. The Texan stared at Bill, still holding Sookie's hand.
"Who the fuck'er you?" said the Texan smoothly, looking Bill up and down.
"I am the vampire who has just informed you that your dance is now over. Let her go," said Bill sternly. He had not even glanced at Sookie, yet. Bill raised his hand to her right elbow as if to disengage her from the Texan. Bill and the Texan were eyeball to eyeball.
The Texan was completely surprised. He quickly dropped Sookie's hand, then unclamped her waist. He stood back in a squaring off position, his hands balling into fists at his side, as he regarded Bill. Sookie was still positioned between the two vampires.
"You're her fuckin' bodyguard?" asked the Texan, raising his voice slightly over the music. Sookie could feel Bill tensing up behind her.
"No,' said Bill; "I am your worst fucking nightmare, ass hole."
Suddenly, Sookie heard the familiar threatening sounds of fangs snapping forward. Bill had unleashed his fangs first, with an aggressive grunt. Then, just as fast, the other vampire followed with his own fangs. Sookie looked up at the glinting, menacing sharpness of the Texan's fangs. She quickly turned her head and saw Bill with his lips bared back and his fangs gleaming too, ready for a fight. Some of the couples dancing closer were starting to notice the altercation between the three of them.
Sookie raised up her hands in a halting motion as she stood between the two angry vampires. She touched Bill's chest with her palm.
"Oh Bill, please! Don't!" Sookie said quickly; "It's o.k. It's o.k., Bill! I-I'm just gonna finish my dance with Mr. Larkin and we're done. There's no need for anyone to start a scene or get upset!" Sookie gazed up at Bill.
Bill had not looked directly at Sookie yet. He was still glaring at her dance partner.
Neither of the vampires had moved.
"Do you know how to properly dance with a young lady?" Bill asked him very slowly;" I am tellin' you this one time. And one time only. You will hold her… at a respectable distance throughout the duration of this dance. Or… I shall return."
Bill snapped away his fangs and straightened his jacket, never taking his eyes from the Texan. The Texas vampire snapped away his fangs too, then he smirked at Bill, not liking at all that his manners were coming into question. He looked down at Sookie.
"It's the lady's choice," said the Texan. His eyes lifted again, looking at Bill.
Bill nodded. "Indeed, it is." He looked at Sookie a little impatiently. Sookie sighed.
"We'll finish the dance, Bill. It's fine….." said Sookie with a weak smile. She gingerly turned back to the Texan, after staring at Bill for a few seconds.
Bill squinted his eyes, his body recoiling, the tension subsiding. He turned slowly and walked away back in-between the jostling dancers, who were looking on with curiosity. Sookie let out another sigh of relieve, the Texan taking her hand again and returning his other hand to her waist.
Bill was still fuming. Not at Sookie, but at himself. What was I thinking, he chided himself, bringing Sookie to a place like this? Crawling with vampires? Bill walked back until he was standing at the bar. He took a seat at the very last bar stool, so he could keep an eye on Sookie and the vampire.
Kat's Kradle was not exclusively a vampire establishment. It was mixed with mortals, like Fangtasia in Shreveport was. And Sookie had begged Bill to take her there. She had told Bill, she wanted to 'see something else' on their trip to Texas, besides their hotel. And the Fellowship of the Sun Church, which Eric had taken Sooki's suggestion and approved of her plan for going to the church the next day in search of information about Eric's maker, Godric. So this was Bill's and Sookie's only night free to enjoy Dallas alone…before the fireworks started.
And of course, Bill had said yes.
What was I thinking? Bill asked himself again. I should have never agreed to this. Here we are. In the heart of downtown Dallas. With a rental car. And Sookie is on the dance floor. In a strange club. Without me. With some Dallas vampire shit-head!
God….. nobody should see her in that dress, but me!
Bill distractedly took a small sip of his bottled Tru Blood, that he really did not want, as his eyes followed Sookie, whirling around the floor with the Texas vampire.
Bill could not help but admire what Sookie was wearing. A little black halter dress that showed off her cleavage and every curve she had. It was short. Clingy. Made of a light-weight knit material. The halter going up round her neck of course. And fully exposing her beautiful shoulders and half her exquisite back. To make herself even more seductive, Sookie was wearing her hair up. Jesus, every angle of her neck was fully on display! For that matter, way too much of her skin was on display. Her mesmerizingly smooth, tanned skin was aphrodisiac enough. But the allure of her scrumptious, half-fae scent, lingered in the nostrils of every vampire she moved past.
Bill was concerned, as always. But he was so proud of her! How beautiful she was, inside and out. But Sookie was always, always looking like 'vampire-bait,' no matter what she wore. She could not help it. Bill knew she would be appealing dressed in a brown, burlap sack! And he would not be surprised if this was not the last time that evening, he had to keep a very close eye on her. Texas has never seen or smelled anything like Sookie, he thought.
Finally, the blasted dance tune was over. Bill watched attentively as the Texan vampire politely walked Sookie back to the edge of the dance floor, tipped his Stetson at her, glanced daggers at Bill and left.
Sookie smiled as she was walking towards Bill, who had pulled another bar stool close to himself for Sookie.
"Looks like he found his manners, after all,"Bill muttered, holding the stool so Sookie could hop up on to it next to him.
"Well, he certainly had no choice, did he?"Sookie said with a smirk;"Jesus Bill! I can't believe you were about to punch out that guy!'
"Dangerously close, "Bill teased. He came to stand just behind Sookie, his chin over her shoulder. His arms around her. He nuzzled his nose at her ear; "Sookie, let's get out of here now."
"Why?" Sookie said nonchalantly, picking up her gin and tonic from the bar.
"Because, I don't like here," said Bill;"this place gives me a creepy feeling."
Sookie laughed striking the straw in her drink with her tongue.
"Bill! Not a very cool thing for a vampire to say, "she chuckled; "You are so crazy. Ok. May I at least finish my drink first?'
"Yes ma'am," Bill continued to look down Sookie's cleavage as he stood over her, his chin still positioned on her shoulder. It seemed to him that her shapely breasts looked as though they desperately wanted to be freed from the restricted space inside that halter top. Bill gently smoothed his fingers down her right arm. God, she smelled so good. And her skin was soft as silk. "I cannot wait to get you alone," he whispered.
"Bill. If you recall, you are the one who said we need to try and get along with these Dallas vampires," Sookie said, sipping her drink. She knew Bill was totally distracted, looking down inside her dress. "Those were your exact words. Remember?"
"Hmmm? My exact words..…yes," Bill said still concentrating on the little valley between her breasts that disappeared under the folds of black knit material; "..but that very sincere and civilized request never included you accepting dance invitations from strangers."
Sookie raised her chin. "All in the line of duty, Mr. Compton" she giggled; "Did you call Jessica?"
"I did." Bill brought his hands more firmly around her waist. He lightly kissed Sookie's shoulder.
"What's she doin'?" Sookie asked.
"Nothin' I hope," said Bill;"I let you talk me into bringing her, Sookie. I don't know if that was the best idea."
"Awww, she's fine,"Sookie said, leaning her head back on Bill's chest;"You and Jessica need more bonding experiences together. That's all."
"Sookie, I don't think we needed to throw Dallas into the mix," said Bill;"things could get very dicey here. On a moment's notice."
Sookie placed her highball glass on the bar and swiveled the bar stool around to face Bill. She put her arms around his neck. "That's why we need to enjoy ourselves tonight. My one and only free night in Dallas…..with you," she smiled.
Bill's eyes wandered down to the tops of her exposed breasts, then back up to her eyes.
He caressed her waist, wishing they were back in the Hotel Carmilla.
"You look… amazing tonight," he whispered.
"Says my loving boyfriend." Sookie smiled, stroking Bill's cheek with her index finger.
"It's true. Every man and every vampire in this room wants you, Sookie. And I am a damned fool for having you out like this."
Sookie laughed. "Well, I don't know whether to agree with that statement or not, Bill Compton. Heehee! It's a compliment to me, but surely not for yourself. Now, why do I get the feeling that you want our night on the town together to wrap up fairly early?"
"Let's go back to the hotel," Bill said quickly, squeezing her close to him.
Sookie looked at him, incredulously. "Bill! Nooo. Please….We haven't seen anything of Dallas yet!'
Bill shook his head. "Sookie, I've seen all of Dallas that I care to see for one night."
"Awww. Let's not go back to the hotel just yet! I wanna go all the way downtown, Bill!" Sookie pleaded.
Bill winked at her suggestively. The hint of a smile on his lips.
"Sookie…I agree. It is long overdue, isn't it? That is exactly what I had in mind."
Sookie paused and narrowed her eyes at Bill. His somewhat cryptic message was not lost on Sookie, who was quickly learning a lot of things since becoming the girlfriend of vampire Bill Compton.
All the way downtown?
Yes, she remembered the interruption very well…..
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It happened [or did not happen] at Bill's house, a day before their trip to Dallas.
Upstairs in Bill's four-poster bed. The two hurricane lamps on the tables on either side of the bed were glowing softly. Both bedroom windows were open. The midnight summer breezes drifting into the room. The persistent but calming hooting of an owl outside in the nearby chinaberry tree. The constant rustling sound of the leaves in the trees limbs. All the sounds and senses, now familiar and comforting to them both, as they lie their together. Time filled with love, laughter and bliss. Just sharing another incredibly, romantic night.
Bill had pulled Sookie close to him after she had had a short nap. Her short naps were also very familiar. Making love with Bill was exhilarating. Strenuous for Sookie. Sometimes she found it impossible to stay awake afterward. Bill had sometimes teased her about it. But he always waited patiently until she had awakened from every little cat nap, not disturbing her rest, his mind filled with contentment at just having Sookie so close to him. He loved to watch her sleeping, anyway. Following the lines of her beautiful body with eyes. Kissing her skin, very gently, when he thought he could do it and awaken her, which was pretty often.
On that particular evening, when Bill sensed she was stirring, he pressed the palm of his right hand down along the softness of Sookie's tummy. He whispered into her ear, as she lie on her left side.
"Sookie…I would like to introduce you to something new, my sweetheart," Bill had said quietly, his voice low, just above a whisper.
Sookie had opened her eyes, already feeling a flutter of excitement going through her entire body at just the tone of his voice, his suggestion. She had heard that tone in Bill's voice before. And in their very recent past, it had always led to Bill teaching her something new about her body….or his.
"What is it?" she asked, while turning her shoulder to look at him.
Bill had reached up and gently cupped her chin, turning her face towards his. His blue eyes held a glint of mischief mixed with passion.
"Turn onto your back and I'll show you…"
Sookie rolled towards him, kicking away the muslin top sheet that covered her and Bill.
She lay flat on her back as Bill rose up beside her. He was smiling a little. He looked at her long golden hair as it spread across the pillow case, her supple warm naked body lying underneath his. Bill could see, Sookie was completely inquisitive. She trusted him completely. She was fearless. She was open to anything he wanted. And she was full of anticipation at that moment to whatever he was about to do next.
Bill bent his head, trailing kisses in a staggered row, first at her throat. Then down between her breasts. Sookie raised her arms above her head and invited Bill to kiss the under side of her arms, her elbows, down long the outer curves of each breast. Bill moved his mouth just where she wished him to. He took his time kissing across her heaving little rib cage. Then he slowly dragged his nose along her skin, pressed his lips against her trembling tummy and down into the golden shaven curls at her mons.
He opened his mouth and slowly, deliberately lapped his tongue at the tiny curls, taking his time, as Sookie moaned with pleasure, instinctively spreading open her legs for him. This is what he had in mind! Sookie had started panting. Poised for another delicious adventure with Bill. Oh yes! She looked up at the shadows across the scrolled ceiling, bringing the palms of her hands down behind Bill's head, her fingers kneading, pressing through his dark hair. She closed her eyes as she felt the palms of his hands moving underneath her to cup her bottom, to bring her up into his mouth like the rim on a sacred chalice. Then she felt his cool soft lips opening wider, the tip of his tongue drifting down between her hot folds of flesh, down further, further…..
Suddenly her eyes popped open as they both heard the booming sound of the downstairs front door slamming shut with a mighty BANG!
"Heyyy Bill? Bill? Where are you? Bill, are you upstairs?!"
OH shit. It was Jessica! Perfect timing as usual. She had been out on a date with Hoyt. Now she was home. And showing up at the worst possible moment. What did she want?
Jessica was seeking advice from her maker, as it turned out. What?
Sookie remembered it well.
She was left lying in bed alone as Bill pulled on his clothes at vamp speed, and went downstairs in a flash to meet Jessica before she had climbed the staircase.
That had been frustrating as hell.
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Sookie looked into Bill's eyes as the bar area in Kat's Kradle seemed to get more and more crowded.
"Oh yes!" she said, smiling at him very slyly; "that's a lovely idea, Bill. We were sorta interrupted before. So maybe we better not go back to the hotel."
Bill squinted. "Where do you want to go, Sookie?"
"Let's take a ride, Bill. I'll know the place when I see it. Can you have the valet bring the car around?"
The valet could not bring the rental car around the building fast enough.
Bill gave the boy a generous tip. Then he and Sookie climbed inside the vehicle and away they sped.
Bill was doing his best to be mindful of the local speed limits and to negotiate all of the one-way streets in mid-town Dallas without going the wrong way on any of them. Tas Bill was discovering, here are quite a lot of one-way streets near and around Downtown Dallas.
Bill glanced over at Sookie as he was driving. She was sitting straight up, looking around at the strange nighttime landscape. The glittering, tall buildings, the chrome and glass structures. Wide open spaces. And everything lit up almost like Christmas.
"Wow, Bill. Dallas is a really big place," she said with a warm anticipation in her tone.
"It is, yes," Bill flashed a crooked smile at her; "Someday, Sookie, I want to show you New York City. You haven't seen a more exciting place until you've been there."
Sookie looked over at Bill. "Oh Bill, I'd love to see New York…..with you!"
He reached over and took her hand. "I promise you, Sookie. I promise we will do that together some day." Bill's eyes gleamed into hers.
Suddenly the expression on Sookie's face changed. She pulled her hand free of Bill's and grabbed his shoulder.
"Bill, look! Over there!" she said.
Bill looked to his right and saw they were coming along side a tall and very long chainlink fence, which appeared to cover half a city block. The streetlamps were lit up around it. And inside, it appeared to be some sort of park.
"Bill, turn in there! Right there! Quick!" Sookie exclaimed. They almost missed the turn. But Bill managed to swerve into a parking lot entrance with many empty spaces.
The parking area was lit, too, with a tall row of shrubberies in the distance at the entrance to the park. In the shadowy light, they could see some of the playground equipment. Swings. Sliding boards. Carousels. Overhead bars. Jungle Jims.
It was a huge space with the outline of several basketball courts further out in the distance.
After he coasted the car into a parking space, Bill turned off the engine. Sookie was leaning over to Bill as soon as he took his hand from the key. She circled her fingers gently around his face, giving him a warm kiss on the lips. Then she smiled.
"I like it here," she said, placing a tiny kiss on his chin,"kinda…out of the way."
Bill ran his palm down along the smoothness of Sookie's thigh, down to her knee.
"Here? O.k.," he said;"let's get into the back seat, shall we?…"
He kissed her mouth again and then the tip of her nose. They smiled at each other.
Then they both turned away from each other and hurriedly opened their own car door.
But to Bill's surprise, Sookie was not opening the back door to climb into the back seat, as he was. Sookie giggled as she slipped off her heels, dropping them in front of the vehicle as she ran onto the sidewalk past the evergreen shrubberies, in through the opening of the chain link fence, and into the darkness of the playground.
"Sookie! Where are you going?!" Bill called to her, walking to the edge of the sidewalk.
"Come on, Bill!"
Bill looked on in frustration as Sookie had disappeared through the fence. He hesitated, then followed her inside. The narrow, gravel path was dimly lit, winding it's way down a slope around several landscaping spots filled with kudzu and ivy.
"Sookie!"
She answered Bill's query with a little laughter that echoed back to him in the darkness of the clearing. There was one huge oak tree to pass by, as the natural area winded on, the gravel road ending onto a flat dirt surface.
Bill looked out into the great expanse of the playground, watching Sookie as she sat in one of the large rubber-seat swings. Her little, black knit halter dress was hiked up, exposing all of her thighs. She was smiling at him so innocently.
"I need a really big push, Bill," she said, grinning at him.
[End of Chapter One…..]