Although I wanted to be alone, I felt undeniably lonesome. I had no one else to blame but myself. I let Bill into my heart. I let the Vampire of Bon Temp manipulate me. I felt the anger bubbling up inside of me and I let out a scream; tears streaming down my face as I swung my arm out hard and fast, feeling it strike the counter, knocking the Trueblood bottle onto the floor and shattering. I brought both of my fists down onto the counter, snatching up a dish towel and dropped down hard on my knees. I sobbed my soul out as I scrubbed at the bloody floor and cabinets. Snot running down my face blending with the saltiness of my tears and I couldn't have cared less. After about an hour of making the mess worse and crying, I was exhausted. I stood on shaky legs, dropping the towel and walking towards my room in a zombie-like state. Mechanically I went through my nightly routine and flopped onto my bed, face down, on-top of the blankets. Tonight, I didn't care. Tomorrow, I wouldn't care. I was just thankful that I had the next two days off and I wouldn't have to face Sam and the people of Merlotte's.
I felt the bed shift but everything was muffled and my body felt like it was made of lead. I groaned in protest as I felt myself lift off of the bed and then a falling sensation. My eyes snapped open and I gasped. It was beginning to get dark in my room. I could see the sun was well on it's way to being fully set. I glanced around the room and heard a soft chuckle. I clenched my hands into fists as the light on my bedside table flicked on. The soft, pale light shone across Eric's strong face and illuminated his playful smile. He set a tray of food onto my bedspread and .heavenly! My stomach grumbled and I felt my cheeks grow hotter. He smiled gently and reached out, I remained statue-like still, as he traced a finger down my cheek and along my jawline.
"You are so pale... and your eyes are so swollen. I'm... I feel..." He was struggling for words. So sensitive and attentive, yet I burst into laughter and doubled over on my bed, gasping for air. I laugh so hard I began to cry, my body curling in on itself with every painful sob. Eric removed the tray and placed a lid overtop and then slid down next to me, turning me to face away from him as he spooned me, his arms wrapped protectively around me. I was instantly comforted and if it were anybody else I would have protested.
After a while I calmed down and I felt lighter, as if a huge weight had been removed from inside of me. One that I hadn't the slightest idea I had had. I sighed and snuggled back into him, for a moment, I just wanted to be carefree and content. His arms didn't tighten around me and his breathing was even. I rolled gently over, turning to face him. His eyes were closed. His thick blonde lashes lay splayed across his cheeks in a caress. I ran my hand up his arm gently, barely touching. The air around his skin was cool, it's easy to forget for a moment that they are dead if you can get past that tid-bit and the fact they shed blood tears.
I made my way further up, over his shoulder... past his neck, my hand cupping his cheek gently when his eyes shot open and they found mine instantly. Neither of us said anything as I tilted my face towards his and he mimicked me, bringing his lips a hairsbreath away from mine. I was panting like a fool, but I didn't care, I just wanted to feel something other than loss. Eric kissed my forehead again and pulled me closer, tucking my head under his chin.
"Ahh, Sookie... While you are delectable, I don't want to take advantage. You're using me and I... I..." Eric cleared his throat and kissed the top of my head and sighed, shaking his head. I sighed and felt my body deflate. I felt rejected but I was glad. I wasn't in my right mind. "It's okay," I kissed his chest, "I completely understand, and Eric?" I glanced up at him, smiling faintly, "Thank you... For everything." I said, pulling away and grabbing the tray as I sat back against Gram's headboard. I pulled the lid off of the tray and slowly dug into the Chicken Parmesan. Everything was so fresh and delicious. I moaned softly as I devoured the entire plate, not once caring that I was being rude.
"Enjoying the meal?" Eric joked, cocking one of his perfect brows. I scowled at him and forked another mouthful into my awaiting mouth and slammed my mouth closed, chewing slow and exaggerated like a scolded child. He simply shook his head and chuckled as he stretched out across the foot of my bed. Placing the tray on the bedside table once more, i sighed and gulped down the water along with some Tylenol that was sitting there. I felt a hundred times better than I should.
"That was fantastic, thank you," I beamed down at him as I curled up under my blankets, "I didn't know that you could cook" I said, studying his face as he lay with his eyes closed.
"There are a lot of things that you don't know about me, Sookie. I'm a man.. Excuse me, Vampire [insert heavy accent here], of many talents." He said, chuckling at me. I kicked my foot out and slammed it into his shoulder.
Of course it only hurt me but at that moment I couldn't have cared less because he got the gist of it. I scowled inwardly as I tucked my legs beneath me and he tucked his arms beneath his head.
"Sookie, do you regret letting Vampires into your life?" he asked solemnly. I was taken aback by his question because honestly, I had been asking myself that for the past few months. With Bill, The Queen of Louisianna, Russell Edginton, the list goes on, all Vampires did was bring chaos and destruction, but I knew without them, I wouldn't have known I was a Fairy and I would still be 'plain Jane Sookie', so I shook my head and sighed.
"Eric, I want to say yes. Oh my word, do I want to say yes, but I cannot bring myself to. All you guys have done is get my family killed, get innocent folks killed all around town. Cause territory wars and almost get me killed too many times to count. But If I'm being honest with myself, I like the action. I could do without the death though, but I used to be boring and plain and no one liked me because I was the weirdo who could hear people's deepest, darkest secrets without them revealing them. But with Vampires, it's like I'm almost normal. I can't hear anything, well not like I can with actual humans, and for once, you don't look at me as weird... Maybe as a meal from time to time, but I'm not judged. And so because of that, and God am I so pathetic, I don't regret letting vampires into my life." I finished with a heavy sigh, knocking my head back agains the bed frame.
I more or less felt him relax beside me and nod. I peeked out the corner of my eyes and caught his satisfied smirk before it vanished and his eyes caught mine. Before I knew it was dazzled, his smile like a billion-watt lightbulb. I swallowed hard as my blood began to sing in veins. I saw him swallow and his pupils were dilated. I wanted to look away but I was drawn to him, on some odd level I wanted him. I wanted to press my lips to his cool, smooth skin and kiss my way up to the slight stubble along his jawline. But by the grace of God I refrained. I saw the emotions flitting across his face as he leaned in ever so slightly, closing the distance between us and I felt my body mimick each of his moves. My eyes fluttered clothes but all I felt was a gust of cool air and heard my bedroom door knock against the stopper behind it.
I climbed out of bed and followed him, my body freakishly attuned to his mere presence. He was on my front porch, sitting on the swing where Gran always used to relax after church on Sunday. The comparison was comical. I stood in the door frame, wrapping my arms around my torso, protecting against the cool breeze.
My voice was barely a whisper, "I'm sorry, Eric... Are you... Are you okay?" I asked, studying his postion carefully. His head hung between his shoulders as his elbows rested carelessly on his knees. His body rose and fell in a deep, even rhythm, almost as if he had just run a 5k race in record time. I placed my hand over my mouth and padded my way over to him, sitting on the porch railing across from him.
"Sookie... What..." he glanced up at me and shook his head, exasperated.
"Eric... I felt it too... I don't know... Could it just be the Fairy blood?" I asked cautiously, studying his face.
He shook his head, "I have no fucking clue, honestly. This is so infuriating!" he growled, picking up a rock and tossing it out into the darkness. A thundering sound errupted from the woods and I jumped, looking over my shoulder as I watched a tree fall to rest on the dirt floor.
"It's not your blood. I don't know, but I've never... you're Human.." he spat out, as if it were poison on his tonge. I flinched at his tone and within moments he was at my side, tilting my face up with his fingers, his touche as gentle as hummingbird wings on the wind.
"Eric... We shouldn't... two close calls for one night is more than enough excitement for me..." I whispered softly. It would have been a mumble to a human, but he heard me just as clearly as if I would have shouted it at him with a megahorn placed at his ear.
He shook his head, staring off over the top of my head into the night. I shivered and he wrapped his arms around me. Although he was cold, I didn't complain because it was a simple human gesture, it proved that not all Vampire were stupid, asshat, insensitive liars. I placed my palms on his chest and glanced over my shoulder, hoping to catch a glimpse of what he was thinking.
"Sookie, I... I can't stay away from you. But you deserve so much better. I see what Bill put you through and I am the same. Bill and I are from the same world. We lie and we hurt those around us for personal gain. I don't want that for you..." He whispered into my ear as his head dropped to my shoulder, his hands slowly caressing my back in soothing circles. The motion of his hands with the bite of the truth he spoke counteracted each other.
I felt his lips barely brush across my neck and my skin immediately goose pimpled and I gripped his shirt. He lifted his head with a smirk on his lips and I pulled him closer, wrapping my legs around him as he gripped my wrists, gently prying them from his crisp linen shirt. He raised each wrist seperately to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss on each. I gasped softly, feeling my breath come in short little puffs as he sighed heavily and claimed my lips with his.
I swear, when our lips met it was like butter in a hot skillet, all sizzle and melt. I felt my bones turn to jelly as his strong arms wrapped around me, cradling me to him as our lips worked perfectly together, coaxing soft little moans out of one another. I pulled my hands free of his one and ran them up his chest as he let out an animalistic growl and ignoring it, I ran my hands through his luscious, bedhead hair. It was silky to my touch and I tugged gently, pulling him closer as his hands ran up my night shirt and and skimmed down my cool back, leaving a trail of fire with every nerve ending he touched down my spine. I gasped, arching my back and pressing the front of my body into him as he stepped further inbetween my legs.
**Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz Bzz**
He slid his hands down my back once more, following down the tops of my thighs as he made his way to his pocket, pulling out his cell and whipping it up to his ear before he finally broke our kiss, giving me one last peck before rattling off in his native tongue into his phone. I wrapped my arms around my body and leaned my head against his chest as he stroked the back of my head, running his fingers through my hair. I sighed and then giggled, covering my mouth before any sound escaped. I don't know why but I didn't want anyone knowing I was with Eric. I was such a slut. I had only broken up with Bill less than 72 hours ago and here I am, knee-deep in a full blown make-out session with Eric-fucking-Northman. I punished myself mentally as I waited for his call to end.
I felt him staring at him before I realized he must have said something. I was so lost in my own mind that I was completely oblivious to him and his stupid-yet life saving cell phone.
"Everything... uh.. okay?" I asked nervously. Why the hell was I nervous? He'd only just examined my tonsils with his tongue. Ah hell.
"I have to run to Fangtasia. Something has come up... I am terribly sorry." He said, and to be honest, he actually looked a little pissed off. I'm surprised he had such a cool temper at the moment. Or maybe I just wasn't that great and he was truly glad for the interruption. Kicks self in the face.
"Don't worry about it. It's probably for the best..." I said, plastering a cheery smile onto my face before he could delve deeper into my pitty party.
"Another time. Although I wish we could pick back up where we left off, but I will definitely pick up this raincheck, should you so kindly offer one?" He asked, unsure, as he stared into my eyes. I blinked for several moments before nodding, chewing on my bottom lip nervously. Was he serious about this or just being kind because ofwhat he saw the other day?
He lowered his lips to mine, kissing me as fiercely as he had just before his phone interrupted us. Pulling away while sucking on my bottom lip, I damn near drowned within the sea of pleasure and humility. My cheeks were hot as he stared deep into my eyes, I grew self conscious and tried to hide but he took hold of my hands in one of his and caressed my cheek with the other.
"Until next time, lover..."