Chapter 2
APOV
Northman had told me she was different, and looking back on it now, I wish he'd elaborated. We were almost at my apartment, and I was itching to be free of this silence. Sookie had said barely two words to me the entire trip, which is fine really, but I just couldn't figure out why. Something had set her off back at her house.
"Were here," I told her as we pulled into my parking garage. She nodded.
Jesus Christ. What's it gonna take to get you to talk, I thought.
The moment we walked into the door of my apartment, I figured Sookie would run for cover to her room. When she asked me where the shower was, I grunted, thinking I was still pretty damn close.
"First door on the left, your bedrooms straight across from it. I'll put your bags in your room," I answered. She told me thanks, and then turned to head for the shower. I watched her as she did, trying not to appreciate, but not being able to resist the way her ass swayed as she walked. I shook my head, hit it a few times, and brought myself back to reality.
"This trip is for business Alcide, not pleasure," I muttered out loud. I tried to think of Debbie, of the woman I claimed to love. It helped, but not much.
I threw my bags in my room, checked my messages, and made a few phone calls.
"Northman," I grunted into his answering machine. "For some reason you demanded that I tell you the moment we arrive, even though you won't hear this until dusk anyways," I paused, thinking of what else I felt like saying. "Were alive, and with any luck, we'll still be that way by the time you wake up." I grunted in approval as I closed my phone, wondering when he'd call back to remark on my sarcasm.
I was just about to place her bags on the floor in her room when I heard her enter. I looked up quickly, and was unprepared for the sight before my eyes. She was practically naked, with a small towel draped across her body that left little to the imagination, and mine was in overload. I felt the blood pulsing through my veins as I watched a small drop of water slide down her thigh. I had to hold back the urge to lick it off. At the sound of her cough, I shook my head to clear it, wondering what the hell had come over me.
"You can just leave them there," she said. Her voice sounded nervous, and I could guess why. I was just some strange guy eyeing her like she was something to eat, and I could too. I got up quickly, passing by her without a glance when the smell of her arousal assaulted my senses. Apparently she hadn't minded my perusal. I looked her in the eye then, giving her a knowing smile. She blushed fiercely, and I tried not to notice how cute it made her look. I shut the door behind me, and was about to walk away before I heard her softly mutter, 'shit'.
SPOV
I woke to someone calling my name softly. As I opened my eyes, they focused in on the eyes of man I had been previously dreaming about. Too tired to think about what I was doing, I smiled at him sweetly.
"Afternoon Cupcake," he said as he returned my smile. His teeth were white, straight, and more pointed than others. I felt myself melt between the bed sheets before I realized where I was. My smile dropped as I thought of my quest to rescue Bill.
"How long did I sleep?" I asked thickly.
"A couple hours. I ran a couple of errands while you did, needed to make sure we had food."
"Food is good," I remarked, my stomach rumbled in agreement. He smiled knowingly.
"Tell you what, I'll whip you up a sandwich while you get ready." My mind was still in wakeup stage, so it took me a moment to process what he'd said.
"Ready for what?"
"To start our search," he paused. "If he was taken my Mississipi weres, then the best place to start would be Lou Pines."
"Do I need to dress up?" I asked innocently, and realized when he laughed that it wasn't the right question.
"More like dress down," he answered, and left to go to the kitchen.
When we arrived at Lou Pines, I began to see what Alcide meant by 'dress down'. When I'd walked out of the room in jean shorts and a lacy white top, which, in my defense, was the simplest thing I had, he laughed.
"What?" I'd asked somewhat irritated.
"Nothing," he waved me off, and at my look he explained. "You're just too pretty to fit in, weird as it sounds. It's not your fault though."
I was caught between blushing and anger, not knowing which would better suit the situation. Now that I was here though, I could see it from his point of view. I stuck out like a sore thumb. In every direction were leather clad bikers, dyed hair, and tattoos. I didn't stand a chance of blending in, but at this point I really didn't care. I wasn't here to make friends. I was here to find Bill.
"So how exactly do you plan on learning anything here?" I raised my brows, realizing Eric hadn't let him in on my little ability.
"Oh I have my ways," I answered slyly, and left his side with a confused look on his face.
I tried mingling for a little while, but couldn't take a step without getting growled at from some direction. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, even before knowing they were real, I would have assumed werewolves weren't too friendly. I decided to take a different approach. I took a seat at the bar, was about to order a white wine spritzer, thought better of it, and ordered a rum and coke instead. I sipped at it while I reached out with my mind. It took a good ten minutes before I got a whiff. Some mean looking were in the corner was ranting about how he needed more V, about how the vamp's blood the night before was starting to wear off. I realized I had to get closer to see if it was really Bill, knew that if I wanted a clear reading, I'd have to touch him in some way. I saw Alcide at the corner of my eye staring me down, so I gave him a reassuring smile before striding over to the were in the corner. He eyed me like a piece of meat, and I felt my skin start to crawl in reaction.
"Hey there hun," I said seductively as I reached him.
"Hello yourself doll face," he sneered. "Now I know you don't belong here," he said to my breasts, "A girl like you could get herself into trouble in a place like this."
I smiled coyly, as I placed my hand on his chest.
"Well maybe I like a little trouble now and then." I licked my lips for good measure, but not before visions of Bill being sucked dry flashed before my eyes. I felt my heart stop beating, felt my blood run cold. He knew where Bill was. I saw him take Bill and toss him on the doorstep of a house I'd never seen. I tried to zone in on the numbers planted by the door, but all I could make out was a six. I watched him drive off, but not before I saw a blur of the street name that read something-gold. I figured this was a good place to start. I removed my hand from his chest, and he gave me a questioning look.
"You know," I started. "I'd love to keep this going, but I have to be up early so…" I started to turn around before he grabbed me by the arm and yanked me back.
"Oh don't worry sugar, it'll be over quick." He put his head to my neck, and I had the urge to gag as he took in my scent.
"No really," I struggled. "I have to go." But this fucker wouldn't give up. He had a death grip on my arm, and I felt it starting to bruise. I looked around for Alcide, but found he was nowhere in sight. The man pulled me flush against him. I held my breath once I realized he smelled like sweat and liquor.
"I said no," I screamed, and hit him over the head with my purse. It was unnecessary though, as in the next second, I was pulled back from the slime ball, and got to watch as Alcide punched him square in the face. The man dropped like a ton of bricks, and before I could see if he'd get back up, Alcide had thrown me over his shoulder, and rocketed out of the club.
APOV
I threw her into the truck and slammed the door. I knew I shouldn't be so riled up, but she'd gotten herself into a shitload of trouble back there, and I knew at some point it would come back to bite us in the ass. I got into the drivers seat and slammed the door behind me. Sookie was looking at me oddly, probably trying to decide what had gotten me so angry, and to be honest, I was still trying to figure that out myself. One thing I knew for sure though, was that the sight of another man's hands on her had driven me to the brink of insanity.
"What the fuck did you think you were gaining from that shit?" I growled. I saw her roll her eyes from the corner of mine.
"It was the best way to get a reading from him." As if I knew what the fuck that meant. At my confusion, she gave me a look.
"Eric really didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?" I huffed. She sighed tiredly.
"Typical," she bit out.
"What exactly am I supposed to know?"
"It's gonna sound crazy Alcide."
"Just shut up and tell me Sook. I need to know what I'm dealing with." She turned to look out of the window, refusing to look me in the eye as she spoke.
"I'm a telepath."
I couldn't help it, I laughed.
"You're trying to tell me that you can read minds?" I asked disbelievingly.
"Yes," she answered sadly, as if she dealt with this kind of judgment every day.
"What am I thinking right now then?" I decided to make it a trick question, and started humming the tune of the first song that came to mind in my head. She looked at me closely for a moment, and then smiled.
"You're not thinking anything," she laughed. "You're humming ACDC."
Apparently by the sound of her laughter, she found this amusing, but I didn't. I was shocked. This little lady was way more than meets the eye. I pulled into my parking garage, and shut off the engine.
This is nuts, I thought.
"It is nuts isn't it?" She said, and I sent her a glare, only to be met by the sounds of more laughter.
SPOV
He'd been forcing me to play mind games on him for hours. Constantly asking me what he was thinking now. It was cute really, his enthusiasm, but I was starting to get tired.
"How bout now?" He asked. I huffed.
"Alcide no more," I pleaded. "You're a were, so it's harder for me to read your mind than regular humans. I'm starting to get a headache." At first he looked abashed, but then puffed up in pride when he took in my words. I smiled at him then, and decided it was my turn to start asking the questions.
"So why were you so mad earlier, when we left the club?" I knew it wasn't just the fight that got him so angry. He sighed, as if he didn't want to answer. I nudged him in the thigh with my knee, and he gave me a serious look.
"I didn't like what he was doing," he paused, took a breath. "He had his filthy hands all over you," I felt the anger radiate off of him. "Even if he had let you go, I still would have punched him the mouth." he growled.
I put my palm on his cheek, turning his face to mine, and smiled. He stared at me deeply, and I found myself getting lost in the green of his eyes. I didn't realize he was leaning in until it was too late. His lips met mine as he ran his hands along my sides to bring my body up to his. I knew I should have fought it, but I didn't have the will to say no to his warm, full lips, or to refuse the entrance of his tongue into my mouth as it swept its way across my lips. I kissed him deeper, taking his bottom lip into my mouth and sucking on it softly, before nipping at it's edge. I reveled in the growl that rumbled in his chest. His hips ground into mine as he pushed me down onto the couch, and I let out a low moan. God knows how far it would have gone if we weren't so rudely interrupted by a knock at the door. At least, I thought it was at the door, until I looked up at the window, to see Eric glaring from outside.
"I asked for your protection Alcide," Eric hissed, his rage emanating from every word. "Not to ravish what is mine!" I looked from the angry Were to the even more angry Vamp before my eyes.
"Well shit," I sighed. This should be fun.
