The Continuation of Hold Back The Dawn
Chapter 8
I could not help myself.
He looked so beautiful just lying there on his back. My vampire. His eyes were closed in slumber. His exquisite mouth, his lips, parted just a bit and completely relaxed. And the line of his strong jaw had no tension in it whatsoever. With my eyes hungry for more, I followed the line of his sculptured cheekbones. Every inch of his face, I had committed to memory long ago. We were alone again at last. And he peacefully slept on. It was all I could do, not to lean in and kiss the tip of his nose. The dark hair on his head was tousled, fanned out slightly across his forehead and brushed every which way across the pillow… his eyebrows were just a shade lighter than the deep, dark rich color of his hair. Those amazing blue eyes were hidden from me for the moment, behind his closed lids. His long dark lashes were delicate as the individual sateen lines of a spider's web.
I could gaze at Bill while he slept, for a very long time. As I looked at him, I randomly thought of all the resting places he might have had as the years of his vampire life had passed by. He was not always in a house. Surely, not always in a bed. Or a coffin. Bill had told me once, that around the world, he had rested in some pretty interesting places in the past. A barn. A rail yard car. A closet. Of course, the earth itself. His little hidden cubbie under the stairs in his house in Bon Temps had really surprised me. I guess I had never thought about it before. Until Bill showed me the tiny space between the floor boards and the foundation of his house. He had shown it to me after we made love for the very first time. I had no doubt that showing me where he retired for the morning was the ultimate expression of trust for a vampire. At the time, I had not fully appreciated what he had done. My head was still reeling from just being intimate with him. I had never been with any one before Bill. There were so many emotions I was feeling that night.
As I studied him on our very first morning together in New York, the smooth, cool sheet was pulled half-way up his bare chest. The dark curling hairs were peeking out from beneath the satin rim, teasing for my touch. His left arm rested outward and down along his side on the mattress. His right arm was positioned across the upper part of his chest and the long, perfect fingers on his right hand were spread out for my inspection.
Bill has beautiful hands. There isn't anything about him, physically, that is not beautiful.
I was leaning up on my left arm next to him. I watched him closely for several minutes. Just enjoying the view. We were into the daylight hours in the dimly lit cocoon of his hotel master bedroom. I knew it was daytime all around us. But it did not matter in a vampire hotel. I had no idea what time it was. But that did not matter either. In there, it was peaceful and serene. And safe. And utterly quiet. It was perfect for a vampire. But for me, a telepath who finds it difficult most of the time to switch off the outside noises of people's thoughts…this silence was a kind of heaven for me. Me and Bill were sharing it, together. And I felt so good. I could not get enough of it. Or Bill Compton.
I leaned into Bill a little more. My body still feeling like Bill's hands were all over me. Only an hour before, he had loved me so thoroughly. I felt so welcome in his life and in his bed. It was a type of contentment that we just kept giving back and forth to each other. It is really hard to describe. I just know ... when I'm with Bill, I am home. And I know he feels the same.
But in spite of how comfortable we are together, it could be very distracting whenever Bill and I were able to sleep together. When I awoke first with him next to me, I was always fighting this urge to just lie there and look at him, knowing I should go back to sleep and try to get my rest or I would be exhausted later. My mind was on overload. I was so full and happy just to be next to him. Of course, some of that time when we woke up together in his house or mine, I had to think about going into work later. That was a true bummer. I wanted to lie there with him all day long.
But while on vacation in New York [just like at the Hotel Carmilla in Dallas] that was not a worry for either of us.
In Bon Temps, when Bill awakened at sunset, and I managed to be there beside him in his bed, he would always pull me close and we would make love again. And again. I could not wait to have him reach out and touch me. And nothing had changed that feeling.
Bill had opened up a world of sensuality for me. A world I could never have imagined existed until I met him. And now I craved it from him. I craved everything he had taught me, sexually speaking. Sometimes when we are together, I have no idea where I stop and where he begins. We completely belonged to each other.
Once I did catch him staring down at me, watching me while I slept. I had opened my eyes and Bill was smiling at me. It startled me, at first. But I could see all of the love and wonderment in his face, his eyes. And I felt the very same joy he did, just our being together.
That's what I was feeling as I watched him sleeping, that very first morning I was in New York, lying beside him. I just felt grateful that we were together. That Bill was safe and lying there next to me. I was thinking of part of a poem I had read in one of the hundreds of books Bill has at home.
I remember, we had been sitting up in his bed one evening. Bill had brought several books to read upstairs while I was sleeping and he had placed the books on the lamp table on his side of the bed.
I had started thumbing through a book of poetry one night.
I can no longer remember who wrote it, but the part I could remember was:
I have gazed upon you too long... too long,
My Love.
And with so much love, strangers can see
Your image in my face.
Like the sun and brilliant colors leave an
Afterglow in the eyes...
So beautiful. No, I could not help myself. Because I love Bill so much.
I gently pulled the satin sheet down away from his torso. I slowly lifted his right hand and gently placed it back on his chest. He did not move. He was still motionless, undisturbed, sleeping during the daylight hours like a good vampire should!
My eyes followed the line, the pattern of his masculine, curling dark chest hairs beginning at the top of his chest and swirling across his nipples, trailing down across his six~pack and abs to his navel. Then lower still, the soft hairs going around and down under his navel. I bent my head and brought my lips around his left nipple, first in a tiny kiss, then tenderly I nipped my teeth around it, until his cold nipple peaked, growing hard under my warm tongue. I gazed down at his mesmerizing manhood, resting, nestled in the dark hair. The powerful weapon that was capable of giving me so much pleasure, now lie before me curled and docile and not quite so intimidating. I stifled a giggle at the thought of it. All of Bill was still a wonder to behold. I reached out and gently gathered him into my right hand, freeing his manhood from its nest of soft, black curls. No surprise to me, as I touched him, his member slowly graduated to a stiffening vertical position. Immediately turning and swelling and growing in size in my hand. The velvety, cool ruby head becoming more and more prominent. I watched the sheer length of Bill and the veins grew more well-defined with every passing moment. His shaft hardened, straightened in my touch. I looked up. Bill's eyes were still closed. I smiled to myself again, that even now while sleeping, Bill was still getting ready to go!
I moved down into a kneeling position next to him and placed my hand more firmly around him as he grew stiffer. My passion was growing, too, by the seconds. My whole body began feeling warm and sensual, my mood was playful. I bent my head down to his skin, my mouth by-passing his member and paying closer attention to his sac. I was tingling with anticipation, I had never done this with Bill before.
Pure instinct took me over as my arousal and my curiosity began to pique. I stuck my tongue out and gingerly licked his delicate sac from the bottom up, then closed my lips over him entirely. I concentrated on giving him full attention there. The hairs were short and tickled my nose as I explored him. I kissed him there. I licked him with long strokes.
I used the tips of the fingers to hold the tender sac up for better assess to him.
My heart pounded. I was so excited while doing this to Bill. It was really turning me on.
Bill move his leg and I heard the grunt low in his throat. His eyes flew open. Without a word, I looked up into his rather startled blue eyes. I did not break eye contact with him, placing the tip of his manhood at my lips. I kissed the ruby head as he watched me. The blue eyes narrowed slightly, as if he could not truly believe what he was seeing… and feeling. Then Bill brought his hand up, gently holding the back of my neck.
"Sookie," he grinned; "… do not let me interrupt you, my darling…"
I smiled at him, continuing my quest. I kissed the tip of him again, as he was growing harder as the seconds went by. I opened my mouth wide, taking all of him deep into my mouth. As far back into the slipperiness of my throat as comfortably possible. His flesh filled my mouth, completely. My lips clamped to hold him. All parts of Bill's anatomy were no longer tame, but a dangerous weapon yet again. As I gave him more attention, Bill involuntarily shifted his hips, groaning, moving his legs open to me. I crossed over his thigh and knelt directly in front of him, between his legs, with him still deep inside mouth.
His hand moved up to the very top of my head and with his thumbs and index fingers, he spread his fingers down into my scalp, massaging my head. I started a sucking motion on his glorious hardened shaft. I wanted to make him feel good. Feel wonderful as Bill had always made me feel. I had never done this before. I closed my eyes. With my right hand firmly around him, I moved my head up and down, up and down, taking him even deeper into my mouth. I glided my tongue along the sides of him. I felt the many nerve endings, the veins all along the wet, sensitive surface of my tongue. In time, the saliva escaped my mouth, running down his shaft and into the dark curls around the base. My lips closed over him like a huge lollipop. Circling and winding and dipping around, up and down, as I moved, sheer instinct guiding me. Making love to Bill in this way was so gratifying for me. Bill was moving his lower body as I went on. His hips, his bottom, both straining upward to meet my downward strokes. His manhood ballooned. Again, I took my tongue up to the tip of the soft head. Bill moaned. I kissed him there, then slowly slid him back into the warmth, lingering all along the circumference, my tongue exploring every inch of him. The length of him was back filling my mouth. I sucked faster and faster up, applying slightly more pressure, more suction. I pulled at him, letting the flat edge of my teeth tease him, biting him. Bill was completely into my movements. He was completely mine at that moment. His fingers grasped the back of my neck. And I was as about as turned on as I had ever been with him. I was aware of the tenderness of my breasts. I felt the tingling sensation and the heaviness in my sheath. I was swollen and ready for him. But this wasn't about me.
This was about Bill.
For Bill.
And to Bill.
I took him fully, until I elicited from him moan after moan of full carnal need. And the more Bill cried out, the more I wanted to make him cry out.
"Sookie….uhh, Sookie…"Bill was murmuring, fighting to say my name and I loved it. I loved being in control. Through half~opened eyes, I watched as his hips slowly, involuntarily gyrated into the mattress. His head strained back into the pillow, his biceps taut, his eyes closed and his beautiful mouth slightly open…chin up. Bill was lost in the ecstasy that I was providing for him. I was encouraged that he did not want me to stop.
Both his legs came up on either side of me. Bill was reaching his peak. I realized Bill's hands tried to slow me, or pull me up, I don't know which. But I would not be moved from my work. Not until I had brought him to the end in my mouth. We'd never done that before. But today I wanted it.
I wanted everything from Bill.
With my free hand, I reached up and smoothed my fingers through the curly hairs on his chest, rubbing him reassuringly, letting him know that this is what I wanted. My heart was pounding in my ears. I felt my blood pumping wildly. And I know Bill felt it, too. At the last second, Bill firmly grasped and squeezed my shoulders, caught up in his own passion.
"Oh, shit!" he cried out as he came hard. I felt the powerful involuntary movement in his body. Then his juices in spastic spurts in my mouth. I held onto his manhood firmly, straight up, until Bill was completely spent And I could feel the tension leave his hips.
I swallowed his thick, musky liquid and released him. I quickly move up next to Bill, lying back down against him into the crook of his arm. That special place that belonged just to me.
Bill pulled the sheet up over us both. He hugged me to him.
"Well, you did not miss a drop," he whispered, his blue eyes teasing me, of course.
"Hey, I didn't come all this way for nothin,'" I said, steadying his chin with my index finger.
"Obviously not," he chuckled, leaning in and rubbing his chin along side my forehead.
"Are you surprised?" I asked.
"Absolutely." Then Bill lifted my chin and kissed me deeply. I kept my fingers steady on his jaw, making our kiss more exacting at that angle. Bill looked curiously down into my eyes.
"Quite the wake up call, Miss Stackhouse," he said. I knew it was not possible, but I swear I almost heard Bill sigh. I think I had really made him take pause.
"I aim to please, Mr. Compton," I said with a little knowing wink.
"That you certainly did. It was wonderful, Sookie...thank you."
"You are very welcome, Mr. Compton...anytime," I smiled; "Although, I feel kinda guilty 'cause you really shouldn't be awake at this hour."
"What time is it?" Bill looked around towards the night stand for his watch.
"Don't know, but it seems like the middle of the day. Bill? Maybe I shouldn't feel so guilty after all."
"I hope not. No way do I want to go back to sleep now," Bill smiled, but he looked a little tired. I sat up.
"Why don't you try anyway, sweetheart," I said. "I am a little hungry. Do you think McBee has lunch out there somewhere?"
Actually, I was a lot hungry. And ready to explore Bill's suite… a little
Bill laughed. "I am sure that he does. I informed McBee of all your favorite foods, Sookie. And if there is anything you do not see on the sideboard, McBee will get anything you fancy. Hmmm… I suppose you are right. I should try and get a few more hours of rest before tonight. Sookie. We are going out into the city this evening."
I grabbed Bill's arm, sitting up quickly. "Ekkk! What? Bill! Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise," Bill said. His voice was calm, but I could see the twinkle in his eyes.
"OH my goodness! Oh, Bill…do I need to get all dressed up?!"
"Well...no."
"What time are we going?"
"Sunset."
I could not have been more ecstatic! I got up on my knees in bed and bounced up and down like a little kid. I had managed to amaze Bill again. He was laughing at me.
"OH Bill! I can't believe it! I can't wait for sunset! This city is sooo exciting!"
"It can be, yes." He just looked at me and smiled.
"O.k..." I said, trying to calm myself back down to the mattress; "Ok…I'm goin' to let you get your rest now, Bill. I'll just put on a robe and..." I stopped in mid sentence, looking at his handsome face. I leaned down over Bill, cradling his jaws with both my palms and I kissed his mouth again. I kissed him very hard.
"I love you, Bill Compton! And I truly don't care where we go. I just want us to be together," I said; "You know that's all I really want, right?"
"I know you do. I feel the same. But we are in New York City, after all," he said, gently touching my cheek. His eyes searched my face.
"I love you, Sookie," he said. "God knows…. I am so happy that you are here with me."
Outside of Bill's master bedroom, the foyer, the huge living room, the dining room, the study, the hall ...everything was bathed in sunlight.
It was a little after 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Bill had said he wanted me to get back into bed with him when I had finished eating. I was really curious about his apartment. Just really curious about Bill's 'suite of rooms' and The Sanctuary Hotel.
"I want to return the favor," Bill had said, in his sexiest tone. He can be very persuasive when he puts his mind to it. I had winked at him, dropping the terry robe off one of my shoulders as I walked towards the bedroom door.
"Sweet dreams, my love…" I said, as seductively and as teasingly as I could.
Everything was new. Fresh. The mediocrity of my life and Bon Temps had vanished for a time. And I wanted to soak up my new environment and the new surroundings. Bill made me promise not to leave the suite and go wandering around the hotel, like I had done in Dallas. I promised him I would not do that.
He said he would take me around the hotel that night. That we would do this together. I was looking forward to every moment of my evening and Bill's surprise.
McBee had sent downstairs for breakfast and for lunch. He said he did not know what I wanted , so he summoned everything. As Bill had said, there was a huge sideboard/ serving table located between the main parlor and the dining room.
The table seemed to stretch for at least twelve feet. Dazed at all the food, I picked up a plate at the end of the table and walked slowly down the side, trying to take it all in.
There was every imaginable breakfast item on it, sitting over hot-plates: bacon, eggs, pancakes, waffles, hash browns, sausages-links and patties. Bowls of dry cereal, with raisins, cranberries or shredded and frosted wheat. On the other end of the table were lunch items: sandwiches of every variety, hoagies, pitas, roast beef, ham, chicken and baked potatoes. Garden salads in chilled bowls sitting in a tray of ice cubes with tomato, mushrooms, arugula, romaine and red leaf lettuces, avocado, cucumber, red or green onions. And fresh vinegar or creamy vinegrettes. There was fresh coffee in a huge brewing station, with cream and sugar standing by. Or I could have sweet iced tea that was frosted to perfection in a glass pitcher, lemon wedges right next to it. There were smaller samplings of orange juice, apple juice, grapefruit juice. And a tall glass containers of cold milk.
Also, for any sweet tooth that I might have, there were doughnuts galore and danishes of different kinds. Lemon pound cake. Bagels. Whole grain bread. And an assortment of fruits. Dried nuts and granola. So much to choose from! All for me.
There was more on the sideboard that morning than the kitchen at Merlotte's could produce in a day. Poor Lafayette would have had to work day and night to make all of this food!
"Are you finding everything to your liking, Miss?" McBee said from the nearby doorway. He was quiet as a mouse. And I never knew when he would suddenly appear.
"OH, my stars, McBee!" I was still holding my empty plate;" There's so much to chose from!"
McBee nodded. "Mr. Compton said that you like a full menu, Miss. I did not know what you would like this morning. There are several southern dishes to choose from, of course. I asked, Miss, but there are no grits in the hotel kitchen. Of course, if you wish for grits, Miss, I shall send out for some, at once."
I laughed nervously. "Oh no, McBee. Thanks, but I think I can do just fine without any grits for the next few days. Everything looks great. McBee? Where does all this food go? What I am not goin' to eat? Back to the hotel kitchen…?"
"Oh, not at all, Miss," McBee said, shaking his head. He seemed shocked that I would even suggest such a thing. "Probably shipped off to the local soup kitchen, Miss, I should think. Something of that nature, surely."
I looked back at the table and sighed. "Oh…right…"
McBee left me to make my food choices and to fill up my plates. I was very hungry after looking at all of the foods on the sideboard. I picked up a combo of breakfast and lunch. Bacon, a cheese omelet, a small salad, and some fruit. And a big mug of strong black coffee.
I placed all the plates on a tray that I found at the end of the table and walked into the sunny living room. There was a newspaper there and a radio. I spied a plasma screen t.v. as I walk past the study, but I didn't want to go in there. At first glance, the study appeared to be where Bill kept all his important AVL stuff. I saw a long mahogany desk, covered in
what looked like important papers and such. It looked like Bill's personal space, work things, and I did not want to go into there.
I was completely happy just sitting in the sunshine in the main parlor. And in eating my delicious brunch. After a few minutes, I absent~mindedly started thumbing through
The New York Times, glancing at the pages, flipping through it all, not really reading anything in particular. Momentarily, I was shocked to see a familiar face pop up in the newspaper. It was the face of that rude and crude 'military man' from the elevator the day before, staring up at me from the page! I folded the newspaper and took a closer look.
I started reading the article:
"First Annual American Vampire League Summit Attracts Diplomats From Around The World" - NYC. Colonel Roland Adibisi, the Diplomatic Ambassador to the Turkish foreign minister, will be in New York this week conducting international negotiations on behalf of those world leaders who have a vested interest in forming an alliance with the many 'mainstreaming' vampires who make up the AVL..."
I stopped reading and shook my head. So. This awful Colonel Adibisi fellow, is some big time player in negotiating the peace between vampires and humans? I stared down at his picture again. Well, he may have a lot of political smarts, I thought to myself, but I hoped he was not jumping to conclusions all over the place with the AVL! Like he certainly did when he saw me in the elevator yesterday!
I do not dress like a prostitute! The day before, I had been wearing a pair of black slacks, a yellow and white print blouse, my hair was curled and not looking too badly after my two airplane rides. I was only wearing a little blush, some mascara and lip gloss-so why Mr. Military Man think I was a call girl? Being escorted by the hotel concierge?
I have no freakin' idea what his problem is! Just the thought of it got me worked up all over again! I wondered if I should even mention this to Bill.
Then the door bell rang. It startled me.
I stood up, dropping the newspaper onto the floor. I picked it up and hastily placed it on the ottoman in front of me. McBee was there in an instant, moving quickly to the door in two seconds. I saw him rush past the parlor entrance and into the foyer. I could hear as he opened the door and then I heard a woman's voice. I walked slowly over to the parlor door and looked into the foyer.
There stood a beautiful woman with brunette hair. Her skin was tanned and olive~complexioned. Like from the Middle East . She looked Greek ...or something...
"Good afternoon, Miss Conti!" McBee greeted her with a smile. He already knew who she was.
"Good afternoon, McBee," the young woman smiled back. She stepped inside; "The Colonel asked me to drop by these charters for Bill to have a look at them, when he gets up later."
"Oh, very good, Miss," said McBee; "Shall I leave them here on the foyer table?"
"No, there's sensitive material inside," she said; "If you don't mind, I'll just put them in Bill's study-"
She finally looked past McBee and saw me standing there in the terry hotel robe. I was barefoot. We eye-balled each other. Without a word, McBee excused himself and disappeared. I guessed he sure did not want to be any part of this conversation.
"Hey," I said; "is there somethin' I can take from you …for Bill?"
*My God! What's this? Bill has a girl in here with him today? Where did he meet her?*
Miss Conti's thoughts filled my head immediately. Thank God, she was mortal. I was so glad she was not a vampire. It was so easy to pick the thoughts right out of her head. She was wearing a very attractive, business~like brown pin-stripped suit. Black shiny pumps. Her dark hair was up. Obviously, she worked with Bill.
I walked over to where she was standing. I stopped, as she looked down at my bare feet, then her eyes moved up my terry robe. Very slowly. The woman did not speak.
"I'm sorry. I'm Sookie Stackhouse!" I smiled at her; "And you are?"
"Angelique Conti," she said quickly. She looked absolutely floored to see me there.
"I am …working with Bill… on the AVL project. I am a protégé to Colonel Adibisi. He is my patron in our country. I am here in New York to help him this week."
Angelique extended her hand. I briefly shook hands with her.
"Yes, wow, I was just readin' about him, your colonel, in the newspaper this morning," I said; "Me and the Colonel took an elevator ride together yesterday. What country is that?"
"Excuse me?" she said. Angelique wasn't even listening to me anymore.
*I cannot believe this! Really? I never thought Bill would bed a woman he didn't know. So unlike him. Blond. Cute enough. Obviously of low class. Well, I know all men have their needs. Especially vampires, but.. still so surprising. I thought…I thought…me and Bill were… making some progress. All the late nights we've had pouring over these complicated contracts together. The long conversations we've had… We have so much in common!
Now this...a girl? Where did Bill meet her? I've got to know…"*
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Angelique said to me out loud. I paused.
I just stared at her.
"I asked you, what country are you from?" I smiled. What country, bitch?
"Oh, I grew up right outside Istanbul...Turkey. Do you know where that is?" she asked.
I nodded. "I sure do. Bill and I grew up right outside Shreveport Louisiana. A little place called Bon Temps. I'm sure you never heard of it. And don't know where that is."
She gave me a weak smile. "No...no... you're right. I have no idea. So. You are an old friend of Bill's?"
*She's just a smart-ass little red-neck!* Angelique's thoughts were loud and clear To me.
"No, I'm not an old friend of Bill's," I kept right on smiling at her;" I'm Bill's girlfriend. All the way from Bon Temps. Bill has been up here in New York for almost a month now, hasn't he? We missed each other so much. Bill asked me to come join him. I'll be here for a little while, Angelique. Bill has promised to show me everything. So far ...he's been pretty good at keepin' his promise."
I forced a giggle.
I thought I saw Angelique's face drop. " I see. Bill never mentioned you."
"Oh, if you haven't noticed, Bill is a very private person," I looked down and adjusted my robe, just enough to show her I had nothing on underneath it; "So, Angelique, if there's somethin' you have for Bill, I'd be happy to see that he gets it."
Angelique stood there for a moment not moving an inch. *There is no way this little harpy is Bill's girlfriend! No way. I won't believe it until Bill tells me himself!*
"On second thought," Angelique said; "I just remembered some other documents that I need to combine with these. I will just put them together and give them all to Bill at a later time."
"Okay," I shrugged; "When Bill gets up I'll tell him that you stopped by, Angelique."
"Thank you. You've been very kind...Snookie, is it?"
I was still grinning from ear to ear at the bitch.
"Sookie, " I corrected her. "It rhymes with 'cookie.' I'm sure we'll be crossin' paths again, Angelique. So nice to meet you. Have a nice day now, ya hear?"
"Thank you. You do the same." Angelique showed herself out. Not a moment too soon.
All I could think about was plucking those dark eyes right out of her skull!
It was more than crystal clear. Angelique had been trying to seduce my Bill for… all the time he had been in New York, I guessed!
OH GOD! At that moment, I was so glad that I came to New York. And I was so glad that I have the gift of telepathy. There was definitely more going on here than just some vampire business!
I walked back into the parlor. I reached down into my plate and popped half a strip of bacon into my mouth. Then I plopped right down into the chair, that was still warm from the afternoon sunlight and crossed my legs.
End of Chapter 8.….To be continued…..