Sookie's POV

I was surprised when I looked up from delivering Bill his True Blood to see Eric walking in the front door of Merlotte's. I hadn't really expected to see him again unless I went back to Fangtasia's. I have to admit that he has been the subject of a few fantasies since our encounter last night. There is something about this man that is both intriguing and dangerous all at the same time and he was definitely easy on the eyes.

Now there were two vampires sitting in my section. Bill had entered the bar just before Eric and had introduced himself to me telling me that we were now neighbors. He had definitely not been happy to see Eric come in.

When I returned to the bar Sam and Arlene were waiting for me.

"Is that tall, blonde hunk of a man the vampire from last night? Sookie he's gorgeous." Arlene teased me. I had filled them both in on my adventures of the previous night.

"Isn't he though, it's too bad he scares the hell out of me." I answered her.

"Oh Sookie, sometimes you just have to live dangerously." She answered as she walked towards one of her tables with a fresh pitcher of beer.

"Sookie you need to be careful. You don't want to get mixed up with vampires. They'll use you and throw you away when their done with you if they don't drain you first." Sam warned me.

"Oh Sam, you worry too much. I'm not getting involved with them. Bill moved into the old Compton house. He came to introduce himself since we are now neighbors. Eric owns the vampire bar in Shreveport that Tara and I went to last night."

"Then why is he here and not in his own bar?"

"He's here to thank me because I read a policeman's mind last night and warned him of a raid on his bar last night. Why are you so against vampires, Sam?" I questioned him. Sam and I had become very good friends in the last couple of years and I have never known him to take such a dislike to anyone.

"I just don't trust them and I'm worried about you getting involved with them, that's all."

Sam answered me.

"Sam, do you know what the best part of being with the vampire's is? I can't 'hear' them. You have no idea how peaceful that is."

"You can't hear them at all?"

"Not a bit. It's pure silence."

"That's really interesting. I wonder why. Have you ever tried to hear me Sookie?"

"No, you're my boss and my friend Sam. I try not to intrude on my friends thoughts. Sometimes I hear stuff I really wish I didn't know. That can be hard on a friendship."

"Try sometime Sookie. I think you'll be surprised at what you 'hear'."

Just then a group of young men at one of my tables called me over to order a refill on their pitcher of beer. I was still shaking my head at the strange conversation with Sam as I returned with their pitcher. The next hour went by quickly. The bar was busy tonight and I was relieved when my replacement arrived.

After getting Nicole up to speed on all the tables in our section I headed over to where Bill and Eric were still sitting. They did not look to happy with each other.

Eric rose from his seat when I approached their table. I could hear the people's thoughts around me. The men were wondering what crazy sookie was doing with a vampire. They were wondering if I was a fang banger. The women were to busy admiring the package that Eric came in.

"Are you ready?" Eric asked me.

"Sure" I answered him.

Leaning around Eric I said goodbye to Bill and told him that I would see him later. I thought I heard Eric growl.

I followed Eric out the front door and stopped when he did just at the edge of the parking lot.

"What's the matter did you lose your car?" I asked him.

"No, I didn't drive."

"If you didn't drive then how did you get here from Shreveport? That's an awful long walk."

"I didn't walk. I flew."

"Okay you'll have to explain that one to me but lucky for us I did drive. Let's go."

I led my way to the rear of the building and the employee parking lot. My old car was parked there and we got in. I turned to face Eric after I started the car.

"So where are we going? Anywhere in particular or should I just head to my house?" I asked him.

"Your house is fine."

It was a short drive to my house and we rode in reflective silence. Each of us lost in our own thoughts. I was enjoying the fact that I only had my own thoughts to contend with. I drove around the back of the house and unlocked the back door. I walked in and left the door open for Eric to follow. When I didn't hear him coming in behind I turned around to find him still standing on the back porch.

"I can not enter until you invite me in." He told me.

"You mean you really can't enter anybody's house without an invitation." He just nodded.

"Eric, you are most welcome to enter my humble home." I invited him in giving him a full theatrical bow. He started laughing as he entered the kitchen. He looked around him and took a seat at my kitchen table.

"I don't have any True Blood to offer you. I've never had a vampire guest before." I asked him as I poured myself a tall glass of Iced Tea.

"That is not a problem. Come over here and sit with me for a few minutes. I have a few things I'd like to talk to you about."

I walked over and sat on the chair opposite him. Now that I had time to think about things I realized I was alone with a vampire that I hardly knew. What was I thinking? I wonder if I took back his invitation into my home if he would have to leave. I sat wringing my hands nervously in my lap.

Eric stood and turned the chair beside me so that he could face me. He reached over and lifted my chin so that I was looking at his face.

"Do not fear me Sookie. You have nothing to fear from me. In fact I would like for us to become better acquainted. There is something special about you and you intrigue me. I have never been so interested in a human before. One day you will be mine and we will be lovers."

"Well, that's straight forward enough. I don't know if I like the sound of being yours because I don't know what that means exactly. I am also intrigued by you and would like to know you better as well. Why don't we start with a date and go from there."

"A date? I haven't been on a date in hundreds of years. Where should we go on this date?"

"Why don't you surprise me?"

"I'll pick you up at 9pm tomorrow night. Dress up."

"Alright, I'll be ready."

"I haven't thanked you for last night yet. But I will do that tomorrow night. I suspect that you are a telepath and that was how you knew but again we can discuss that tomorrow night. I do need to talk to you tonight regarding your new neighbor."

"Bill, What about him?"

"Do not trust him. He was sent here to do a job that nobody knows anything about. When I came here tonight to find you his scent is all around your house. He has been spying on you. I will be sending someone to keep an eye on him and to keep you safe if necessary until I discover what he is up to."

"All right I'll go with you on this. You know more about dealing with vampires than I do."

Eric stood then and reached out for my hand. I placed my small hand in his and he pulled me to my feet and into his broad chest. I heard him inhale and smell my hair as he caught me in an intimate embrace. I could feel just how well he wanted to get to know me.

I led him through the house and to the front door. Before I could open the door he had me pinned against it. He leaned down and kissed me passionately, igniting fires deep down in me. I was kissing him back with just as much passion as he was. Eric groaned and pulled back from me keeping his arms on either side of the door.

"We will leave it at that until tomorrow night. It is near dawn and when I have you I would like the whole night to enjoy all your sweet delicacies. Good night my sweet Sookie."

And with that he was gone.