Chapter 4

Sookie parked her car behind Merlotte's, turned the ignition off and sat there. Her shift started at four, so she had a few minutes before she needed to go inside. She had so many things she needed to think about, but every time she tried, her head began throbbing with such ferocity that she just gave up. Maybe seven hours of trying to keep the thoughts of others at bay would help keep her own thoughts from choking her brain.

She got out and started walking the thirty feet to the back door of the bar. Just as she reached for the door, Sam came out carrying two big trash bags.

"Hey, you!" Sam said with a smile. "Glad to see you made it back to us." and he continued to the dumpster at the side of the building and flung in the heavy bags.

Sam was almost as adorable in his human form as he was as a collie. He wasn't a big man, only about five foot nine, but he knew how to make faded jeans and a plaid shirt look good. They may not be all human, but Sookie had to admit she had a lot of eye candy in her little world.

"Thanks Sam," she said as she passed him to go inside. Good, she thought. He doesn't sound mad about me leaving early on Thursday. She grabbed an apron and went into Sam's office to stow her purse.

When she looked in the mirror to check her ponytail, she was almost shocked to see that she was smiling. It had been a while since she had started a shift with a genuine smile on her face. She took it as a good omen. Nothing dreadful would happen tonight. She happily left Sam's office and made her way into the bar.

Terry called out a greeting as she walked past the kitchen. He said something about a new girl too, but Sookie didn't catch it all over the other noise. She started to go back to ask him what he said, but then she saw the new waitress and decided to just introduce herself.

The new girl was approaching the bar, carrying a tray of empty glasses when Sookie walked up to her cheerfully. "Hi! I'm …"

"You've got to be Sookie Stackhouse," the girl said enthusiastically, with a big smile. She was very pretty. A few years younger and maybe two or two and a half inches taller than Sookie, with short, dark brown hair and a dark tan to match. "I've heard so much about you," she said. She was almost bouncing. "You have a vampire boyfriend. That must be very exciting. I've never met a vampire before. Or at least I don't think I have." She put out her hand to Sookie. "I'm Jessie Leigh Rath and I'm just tickled to pieces to meet you."

"Well, I'm glad to meet you too Jessie Leigh," Sookie said as she grabbed Jessie Leigh's hand before it flew off like a broken propeller. "Aren't you energetic," and they both laughed. Jessie Leigh had a much higher pitched laugh than Sookie, really giggly, but very pleasant to the ear.

"Have you worked as a waitress before, Jessie Leigh?" Sookie asked.

"Oh yes!" Jessie Leigh answered. "My grampa used to have a bar in Baton Rouge and I used to work for him sometimes, mostly filling in when people didn't show up. But then grampa died," she added in a lower voice. "Momma's brothers sold the bar and we moved to Bon Temps. Momma used to live here when she was in grade school."

She was lying. Actually, she was mostly telling the truth, but she was lying about the most important part. She had never worked in her grampa's bar. But she had watched the waitresses work and she had known where everything was. She felt like she could have worked there if she had been allowed to, and she was confident she would be able to do a good job here. She was determined to impress Sam and now Sookie. Well, she wanted to do a good job, that put her a step up from most of the worker pool around here.

"That's great, Jessie Leigh. I'm sure you'll learn your way around Merlotte's in no time. The easiest section is the area around the pool table. On Saturday nights most people back there only order drinks, so for the most part you don't have to worry about food orders. And the tips are usually pretty good, especially as the night goes on. Why don't you take that and Holly and I will divide up the rest of the place?"

"Sounds great, Sookie. Thanks. Oh, and you can just call me Jessie. Only Momma calls me Jessie Leigh. I don't know why I always introduce myself like that," she laughed and went to empty the glasses from her tray.

She's a chatterbox, Sookie thought. But she seems nice enough and there was nothing malicious in her head when Sookie had peeked. Hopefully she'll do well. And with that, Sookie took a deep breath and grabbed an empty tray from under the bar. She could see that Holly was serving the front tables, so Sookie started a round of the back tables to establish how everyone was doing.

Everything was going along very well for a Saturday evening. Jessie was doing a really good job considering that she had no real experience (a fact she had decided not to share with Sam). Sam was in a good mood. Jane Bodehouse wasn't too drunk for this time of night and so far it didn't look like anyone was in danger of starting a fight. Yep, an easy, no stress night in Merlotte's.

Sookie was at the kitchen pick-up window when Oliver Mayer walked into Merlotte's. When she turned around, her tray was heavily loaded with food orders for two tables. Oliver was at her side instantly.

"Allow me, Lady Northman," Oliver said with a nod of his head as he tried to lift the tray away from her.

"Mr. Mayer, no!" Sookie whispered to him, and looked around to see how much attention he had gathered. Not much, thankfully. Terry Bellefluer looked confused, but of course that was pretty much his natural state. Sam had kind of a 'what the hell' expression on his face, but he wouldn't cause a scene. It appeared the only customer who noticed was Jane Bodehouse and she probably wouldn't remember it for long. "You stay right here out of the way and I'll be back in just a minute," she ordered him.

"Yes Mistress," he responded.

"And don't call me that," she hissed at him as she carried the tray out to her customers.

Sookie served her tables and told Holly and Sam that she would be taking a fifteen minute break. Sam had made a ridiculous gesture with his arm and said, "Whatever you say, Lady Northman." Sookie had rolled her eyes at him and told him it was a long story. He laughed and said, "Yeah. I bet it is."

"Come with me," she flatly said to Oliver and headed out the back with him following.

Sookie walked to her car and turned to face Oliver. He stopped a few feet from her and bowed from the waist.

"Mr. Mayer," she began, but he held up a hand to stop her.

"Lady Northman, I beg you do not address me in so formal a fashion. I have proven myself unworthy of such attentions."

"What would you like me to call you?" she asked.

"What I like is no longer a concern. But you may call me Oliver, if it pleases you."

"Fine. Oliver it is then. And you must call me Sookie," she smiled, hoping this would seal the deal, but the scandalized look on his face told her that wasn't very likely to happen.

"That would be highly inappropriate, Lady Northman. The Sheriff would never tolerate it," Oliver stated formally. Then he added, "Nor should he."

Sookie closed her eyes and sighed heavily. "Oliver … I'm sorry if I appear ignorant, but I'm not at all familiar with vampire customs. I really had no idea what was happening last night. Eric asked me to sit in a chair and let people kiss my hand. I did it to please him, because it seemed important to him. I understood your objection. I'm sure it was galling to most of the vampires in the room, to be forced to kiss a humans hand."

"I am truly shamed, Mistress."

"Well, don't be," she said to him. "No one should be threatened with death just for telling someone their opinion. But Oliver … no one should be forced into slavery for giving an opinion either."

Oliver smiled and Sookie could see that he had once been quite attractive. Had he been turned when he was a younger man, no doubt he would have a legion of fangbangers eager to offer themselves to him.

"It's easy to see why the Sheriff loves you. Your beauty is matched by your generosity and kindness of spirit. But even that cannot deflect centuries of tradition. I am not a slave. I knowingly committed a crime. You interceded with the Sheriff on my behalf and because he loves you, he spared my life. I was so moved by that love that I offered myself to your service, so I could be near it. Love is a rare thing in the world of vampires. I am in awe of the lady who could inspire such feelings in one such as your husband."

Well, that was a speech that could knock you on your ass, if you weren't careful, Sookie thought. But it also gave her an idea.

"Yes, about the marriage," she said. "You do realize that it isn't recognized under human law, right? So, legally I can't really call myself Lady Northman or Mistress or any of that. So it would be helpful to me if you would please just call me Sookie in public. If you think Eric would be upset, I'll explain to him that I insisted."

That seemed to do the trick. "Very well," he agreed.

"Good," she said and gave him a smile. "I don't suppose there is any way for me to release you from your promise, is there?"

"To violate a pledge of personal fealty would be impossible. I am bound to your protection and safety. Only your natural death can release me from that bond."

That was disturbing. "Sorry, but I'm not that generous," she said grimly. She sighed and added, "I guess we need ground rules then. This place is where I work. It is my job, not yours, so you can't help me do it. … Oh, and sometimes people touch me in there, so you can't jump up and kill anyone or beat them or anything if they touch me. If you're gonna insist on being here with me, then you'll have to be inconspicuous. Sit at the bar or something and I'll introduce you as my friend. If I need your help, I'll tell you. You must agree to these things or you cannot come into Merlotte's at all."

Oliver didn't look pleased, but he nodded his agreement. "I'm surprised the Sheriff approves you working."

"He doesn't," she stated. "If he had his way, I'd probably barely move at all. But he doesn't always get his way."

Oliver laughed out loud, a jovial happy laugh. "He usually did before he met you."

"Well he doesn't any more," she huffed. "Now I have to go back inside. You can or not. It's up to you."

Sookie went back inside to resume her shift and Oliver dutifully tagged along. He took up residence on a barstool at the end of the bar nearest the front door for the remainder of the evening.

When closing time came and Sookie went into the office to retrieve her purse, Sam met her with a huge, amused grin.

"Not a word!" she warned him. "I'm much too tired to fight with you."

Sam just chuckled and said, "Oh no. I've given up trying to get you to show any sense. You're hell bent on destruction. All I can do is watch. I'm just wonderin' why I didn't get an invite to the wedding. Is that where you tore off to Thursday? Late to the chapel?"

Sookie exhaled loudly and stared at Sam. He was clearly enjoying this. "It was a few weeks ago. The king of Nevada wanted to take me there to live with him. So Eric arranged for me to give him a box with a knife in it. He took the knife out, kissed it in front of vampire witnesses and then by vampire rules we were married. It was the only way Eric could think of for me to stay here. I didn't even know what was happening. And when I found out, I was furious at first, but I certainly don't want to go to Nevada to live."

"And I bet Eric was just all kinds of torn up to make the sacrifice, huh?" Sam said, his voice dripping sarcasm. He leaned back in his chair and propped his feet on his desk.

"I think he was pretty pleased with himself actually," Sookie spat back at him. "I'm sure that doesn't surprise you, but this might … after I calmed down and thought about it, I was pretty pleased with it too. I could give you details, but I'm tired and I'm going home." She snatched her purse from the drawer and stalked to the door.

"Don't forget to take your new pet with you," Sam called after her.

Sookie slumped into her car and stared at the steering wheel. She slammed the door shut and almost caught Oliver's arm. She looked up at him and said, "Why must vampires just appear out of thin air and make people jump?"

"Did I make you jump? My apologies, I didn't see it."

"If I wasn't so tired I would have jumped. Please try to not just materialize beside me. Unless someone is trying to kill me, slowing down is a good thing."

"In future I will make an effort to make sure my movements are visible to you, Lady Northman."

"Thank you," she said without bothering to comment on the Lady Northman. Apparently it was a hopeless cause. She was just going to have to learn to ignore it. "Do you have a car?" she asked. She hadn't noticed any unfamiliar cars in the lot.

"No. I am pledged to your person. To be of service to you, where you are. Therefore, all but my personal property, clothing and such, are forfeit since it is no longer of use to me."

"Forfeit?" she asked. "To whom?"

"To your husband, the Sheriff, of course." He sounded surprised she didn't know this.

"Of course," she repeated and rolled her eyes. "Well, get in then," she said as she started her car.

On the way home, Sookie got a report on Bill's health. He was healing, but very slowly. They could maybe use some more True Blood. Stock up, in case Bill felt up to consuming more. Of course, an occasional live donor would be better. Sookie said she would talk to Eric about arranging to have one sent. She would have offered to donate herself, but she was certain Oliver's sense of propriety would never tolerate it.

Bill probably wouldn't accept it anyway, under the current circumstances. And Eric might just come unhinged if he caught wind of any such thing. She didn't need that particular aggravation. He was much easier to manage when all his hinges were neatly in place and undisturbed.

She needed a shower and some sleep before her brain exploded. They finally reached her house and she sent Oliver back to Bill's place. Though he refused to go until she was safely inside and he had checked the house. Amelia insisting she was alone, had no impact whatsoever.

Once Oliver was satisfied the two women were, indeed alone in the house and that all the windows and doors were locked up tight, he finally left. Then Amelia told Sookie that her shower would have to wait and half dragged her into the kitchen.

The middle of the kitchen table was taken up by a very large plant and flower arrangement. The vase was very unusual. The center was a tall fluted glass vase covered with etchings of leaves. This was filled with pale purple stock flowers, which filled the room with a wonderful sweet fragrance and a good deal of baby's breath. The bottom part of the vase encircled the middle part, and it was filled with a thick, dark green ivy. It was so elegant an arrangement it looked really awkward in the middle of Sookie's modest kitchen, even though it had been recently remodeled.

"Guess where it came from!" Amelia squealed. "Look at the card. I'm sorry. I looked already. I couldn't resist."

Sookie didn't need to guess or look at the card. Something this over the top could only have come from one person she knew. But to satisfy Amelia, she plucked the card from the center of the arrangement. Suspicion confirmed … E.

Sookie tossed the card on the table and said, "I have got to take a shower and go to bed before I die. I'll have to ooo and ahh over the flowers tomorrow." And with that, she turned and went to her room.

That night, her sleep was filled with dreams of Eric. When she woke up she felt rested, renewed and ready to take on a new day. She brushed her teeth and went into the kitchen for some coffee.

Amelia had coffee brewed and was taking a tray of muffins out of the oven when Sookie entered. The flowers from Eric were even more beautiful bathed in sunlight than they had been last night. And their fragrance, mingled with fresh coffee and muffins was wonderful.

"mmm", Sookie hummed as she breathed in the scents of the room. "Those smell yummy!" she said to Amelia.

"Blueberry", Amelia said happily. She removed one from the tin, put it on a small plate and handed it to Sookie, who was pouring herself a mug of coffee.

"Sookie," Amelia began as she got herself a muffin and sat down in the chair closest to where her half empty mug sat on the table. "Do you know much about plants and flowers?"

"Not really," Sookie answered and sat down to Amelia's right. "Gran had the green thumb. She loved all kinds of plants and she could grow anything. I can usually manage to keep things alive and do some basic gardening and pruning, but nothing like she did."

"I meant more like, do you know what they mean?" Amelia countered. "For example, did you get the message from these flowers?

"The only message I got was a big "E" on the card," Sookie said with a chuckle.

"That's what I suspected," Amelia said with just a hint of *aha!* in her voice. Sookie could feel another botany lesson coming. Her life had unexpectedly become overrun with flora and fauna experts.

"Well?" Sookie encouraged.

"Well, a big part of witchcraft is the study of various plants, herbs and flowers, mostly for use as ingredients in spells and healing compounds and such. And of course the more you can learn, the better.

Anyway, a long time ago, most people didn't know how to read or write, so there were very few love letters. But there were flowers. So people developed a kind of lovers message system with flowers. Different flowers had different meanings." Amelia looked at Sookie to see if further explanation was required.

That message came through clear enough. Sookie had done too good a job of convincing most of the people around her that she wasn't as bright as she usually was. She thought *usually*, because she had to admit that sometimes she was impossibly thick.

"So you think Eric was sending me a message with these flowers?" Sookie asked.

"I'm almost certain of it. His choices are too perfect."

Sookie was intrigued, "So interpret for me."

Amelia smiled and sat up straight. She enjoyed being needed, and the opportunity to show off a little. "OK … The stock flowers say that he'll always think you're beautiful. The baby's breath signifies general happiness. And with the ivy, he promises fidelity and says he is happy in his marriage." She clasped her hands together and sighed heavily. "So much more romantic than a note."

Sookie stared at the arrangement. "And he said my messages were too subtle," she muttered. "Do you suppose he actually expected me to get that message?"

"That's hard to say," Amelia said as she pondered the question. "Of course he should know that people don't use that as a way of communicating anymore. But then, he's been around for a very long time. Many vampires tend to live with one foot in the past, but Eric strikes me as pretty forward thinking. What do you think? You know him better than I do."

Sookie got up and walked slowly around the table, sipping her coffee and staring at the flowers as she went. After her second pass she sat back down and looked at Amelia. "Maybe he's testing me."

"Why would he do that?" Amelia asked. "And testing you for what?"

"Well … he's never directly said so to me, but according to you and Oliver, Eric is in love with me."

"Without a doubt," Amelia chimed.

"And even though he would have willingly had Oliver killed for saying it wasn't right for him to marry a human, I think that somewhere inside him, he believes it's wrong too. And maybe he's trying to justify it to himself." She paused to consider her next words. "I don't know. See if I'm smart enough, clever enough, worthy enough. Something. Friday night he told me I was too subtle, then he sends me this, with nothing but an E. Maybe he wants to see if I'll question the subtlety of his note … look closer to see if I can find any meaning? Does that make any sense at all?" She felt like a babbling idiot.

"There's one way to find out," Amelia said with a cheshire grin.

"How?"

"Call a florist and send him a message right back."

"Great idea! Now, we have to figure out the right message," Sookie said excitedly. A little game of floral cat and mouse might just be fun.

"OK" Amelia chirped. She was enjoying this as much as Sookie. "You said he comforted you. Marjoram is very pretty when it's blooming. It's an herb. Very leafy and it has bunches of tiny white flowers. And it means comfort and consolation."

"Perfect!" Sookie agreed. "Now something else. But, I don't want to get all mushy like ridiculous declarations of love or anything."

Amelia rolled her eyes and laughed. "No. We wouldn't want to get ridiculous."

"What about his eyes? Is there a pretty eyes flower?"

"Eyes, hmm … eyes," Amelia was about to give up when she snapped her fingers and her eyes lit up. She turned to Sookie and said, "Variegated tulips! They mean beautiful eyes. So your message would be, I find comfort and consolation in your beautiful eyes. Oh, Sookie! That's lovely"

"It is lovely," Sookie agreed softly. The thought made her think of Eric and smile. Then she panicked. "Amelia! It's Sunday!"

"Not a problem," she said nearly knocking her chair over as she fluttered from the room. Momentarily, she returned with her laptop. "God bless the world wide web," she said looking upward. "You can get almost anything you want, twenty-four seven."

In practically no time they were assured that an arrangement of marjoram and variegated tulips would be delivered to Fangtasia, for Eric Northman, sometime after 5pm, when someone would be there to receive it. And the card would be signed simply with a large "S".

The day flew by. Sookie and Amelia both worked the same shift that night, so they drove to work together. With Oliver, of course. Same as the night before, he sat at the far end of the bar, sipped a True Blood and played guard dog.

Around eight the cell phone in Sookie's pocket began vibrating. She opened it and peeked to see who it was. Fangtasia, it must be Pam. Eric would have called on his cell. She answered quickly, but only whispered, "Let me call you back in a few minutes. I'm working," Sookie said into the phone. She heard Pam say, "So am I," before she flipped the phone shut.

She took a quick walk through her section to make sure no one needed anything, then told Sam she was gonna take a ten minute break. She headed out back, with Oliver trailing after her.

"Fangtasia," came Pam's voice. She sounded bored out of her mind, as usual.

"Hey, Pam. It's Sookie."

"Sookie!" Pam half shouted. "What in the hell did you do to Eric? Were those tulips drugged?"

"Huh?"

"He's been grinning like a fool all night. Wandering around the bar posing for pictures with the tourists. It's positively nauseating. If I ate, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to hold anything down tonight. I keep half expecting him to announce he wants to buy a kitten."

Sookie began laughing and wasn't sure she would be able to stop.

"This isn't funny Sookie. I'm serious," Pam said into the phone, but Sookie could hear a slight laugh escape her. "What did you do? I've never seen him like this."

Pam waited for Sookie to recover from her peals of laughter. "I didn't do a thing, Pam. Honestly. I just sent him tulips. And no, they were not drugged. But that sounds like quite a sight. I wish I was there to see it."

"That's my other reason for calling. When is you're next day away from Merlotte's?"

"Tuesday," Sookie answered. "Why?"

"I thought we'd go shopping. Eric says you hardly bought anything last time you were here. I figured I could take you around to some of my favorite shops and help you spend some of Eric's money. His money always spends better than mine," and now Pam laughed.

'I don't want to go nuts just because I don't have to pay for it," Sookie said.

"This is Shreveport Sookie, not Rodeo Drive. We'd have to buy out the stores in order to spend enough to even get that idiot Bobby Burnham's attention, let alone Eric's. We'll dress you up in something frilly and he'll never notice the statements. Meet you in the Fangtasia parking lot at seven? It'll be fun."

"I guess so," Sookie said hesitantly. "If you think it'll be alright."

"Great. See you Tuesday," and Pam hung up.

Sookie smiled to herself. Eric got her message, and was apparently very pleased with it. She wondered if he would keep the game going.

When they heard the florist's van amble up the driveway Monday morning, Sookie and Amelia both ran for the door. The vase matched the center part of the first one. It was tall, fluted and covered with etched leaves. It was filled with a brilliant display of long stems of forsythias (anticipation) and yellow-orange roses (passionate thoughts).

Sookie was having some pretty passionate thoughts of her own. She was surprised by how much she was looking forward to seeing Eric tomorrow night after shopping with Pam.

After much studying, Sookie and Amelia decided the red camellia (you're a flame in my heart) would be Sookie's next contribution to the game. But there would be no delivery. She would have two blooms surrounded by baby's breath (happiness) mounted on a hairclip which she would wear in her hair tomorrow night.

Time seemed to crawl by, but eventually Tuesday came. Sookie left Bon Temps at three o'clock. She wanted to allow herself plenty of time to find a florist to make her hairclip and she wanted to go by Eric's house and pick up the bracelet he had given her. She had left it there because she felt it would be safer there, since she didn't have a safe or anyplace she felt secure leaving it at home. She knew that if anyone was stupid enough to break into Eric's house and steal it that it would be tracked and recovered. Picking it up before sunset would serve a dual purpose. Firstly, she would have it so she could wear it tonight. And secondly, she was sure Eric would know she'd been there while he slept.

Shopping with Pam was fun. She had such wildly differing tastes. One minute she'd insist she couldn't live without trying on a full length slinky black dress with strategically arranged cut outs and the next she was saying a conservative milky gray knit dress was the cutest thing she'd ever seen. And Sookie never saw her, even once, glance in the direction of a price tag. It was a complete non-issue for her. Sookie couldn't allow herself to be that carefree about it, but she didn't let it worry her as much as it did the first time she took her new credit cards out for a stroll through the mall.

She rationalized that her objection to them was there was no knowing what he would expect in return for whatever she spent. What could he ask for now? Sex? Blood? That he marry her? He already had all that, so she might as well accommodate him by spending his money, since he so clearly wanted her too.

Their last stop was a shop called Wicked Wear. Pam was shocked Bobby had not set up an account there and she told Sookie to call him first thing tomorrow and tell him to correct his mistake at once.

"Frederick's has nothing on this place," Pam said excitedly, as Sookie parked on the street in front of the shop. "If you want to look like a fangbanger, a hooker, a sex goddess, a glamour queen or plain old sexy and gorgeous, this is where you need to be. One stop shopping."

As soon as they entered the store, all three of the employees on duty, all human, rushed to attend to Pam.

"Pam!" exclaimed a tall dark haired woman who was probably about thirty-five and the oldest of the three. "It's been too long since we've seen you. Who's your friend?" The woman gave Sookie a wide smile. Her name tag identified her as Sandra, the store manager.

"This is Eric's wife, Lady Northman," Pam said in an offhanded manner, to no one in particular.

The two younger women, one of whom was about eighteen and the other closer to Sookie's age, both got wide-eyed and gasped slightly. Sandra said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Northman. Were you shopping for anything in particular this evening?"

"Not especially," Sookie answered. "Something pretty."

Pam smirked and almost giggled. "Something Eric will like better on the floor," she said and headed to the rear part of the store. With Sandra, Sookie and the other two employees tagging along. Pam noticed the four or five other customers in the store and asked, "How long before you close."

Sandra quickly answered, "We close at nine. That's about ten minutes from now. Of course we will happily lock the door and extend our hours until you and Lady Northman have found everything you need."

Pam was no longer listening. She was pawing through a rack of cocktail dresses.

Sandra introduced the other two women. The younger was Anne and the one about Sookie's age was Karen. Then Sandra went over to see if her remaining customers wanted to buy anything before the store closed for the evening.

"What do you think of this?" Pam asked, holding up a barely there suede dress that looked like it probably had less fabric than a T-shirt.

"I think it might be alright for you, but I'd catch pneumonia if I wore it," Sookie laughed.

"Point taken," Pam said matter-of-factly. "I keep forgetting how susceptible to everything you humans are." She continued her search.

Once she and Sookie were the only customers and the door had been locked to anyone else, Pam told Sandra to turn up the music volume so she wouldn't be lulled to sleep. She began moving to the music as she shopped, dancing between racks and humming along.

When they had gathered about thirty items between them, Sookie and Pam went into the dressing area. There were six dressing rooms on either side of a large center area with floor to ceiling angled mirrors in a wide half-circle around a platform at one end.

As Pam tried things on and discarded them on the floor, the saleswomen picked them up. Sookie tried to be more considerate, but as soon as she took anything off a hanger, someone would take the hanger, so when she took a garment off, she was left to either hand it to someone to hang back up or drape it over a chair, if no one was available at that moment.

Sookie had made a few selections when she noticed something Pam had in her massive pile of things to try on. Pam had at least a dozen outfits in her keep pile already.

"Ooh, Pam, may I see that colored leopard print one?" Sookie said pointing to a long sleeved dress. Pam looked down and tossed the dress to Sookie, who in turn asked that someone see if they could find one in her size. Then she tossed the dress back to Pam, who simply let it fall.

The minute she put it on, Sookie fell in love with the dress. It was made of multi-colored fabric with several shades of blues and purples faded into each other under a sort of large leopard print.

It had long sleeves with the shoulders and elbows cut out. The neckline was just below the collarbone, but there was another dramatic cut out, about two inches tall and eight inches wide, which allowed for a little, but not too much cleavage display. It was tight to the waist then it flared. The main part of the asymmetrical hemline was about six inches shorter in the front, which was just above the knee, than it was in back and it had about six deep scallops.

It was the sexiest, wildest and most daring thing Sookie had ever bought for herself. She stepped up on the platform with the mirrors and examined herself from all angles. Not bad at all, she thought happily.

"Bingo!" Pam shouted. "That's the one, Sookie. Eric will die when he sees you in that. Or he would, if he wasn't already technically dead."

Number 1 Crush, by Garbage started playing over the sound system.

"I love this song!" Pam said with much enthusiasm, and she began dancing around the dressing area. After a minute of dancing alone, she dragged Sookie, still in the dress, to dance with her. They bumped and twirled and had a generally great time. "That dress has great movement, Sookie. You MUST get it."

It was just after ten when they got back to Fangtasia. Sookie was in her new favorite dress and Pam was wearing a slinky black mini with a high front and a deep plunging back that was open all the way to her butt. Sookie put her flowered clip in her hair and Pam helped her clasp her bracelet. They got out of Sookie's car, locked it up and strutted into Fangtasia confident they would have stopped traffic anywhere.

As soon as they entered Sookie felt that feeling of comfort and safety that meant Eric was near wash over her. He would know she was here now.

Sookie and Pam headed straight for the dance floor. Just as expected, every male and most of the female heads craned to get a look as they passed by and then followed them to their destination. There were quite a few couples dancing. Pam ignored them and went in a straight line to the DJ. "Number 1 Crush", she said without even looking up.

The song that was playing faded out and the sexy, moaning opening of Number 1 Crush oozed into the room. Several couples left the floor.

Then the rhythm started and Sookie began to move and after several seconds Pam joined her. Pam's movements mirrored Sookie's but were more exaggerated. Several other couples left the floor. Only two remained, but they were ignored. All eyes were on Sookie and Pam.

As they gyrated, strutted and slung their hair in all directions, Sookie heard the low clamor that meant Eric had entered. She closed her eyes and grabbed Pam's hand. They began bumping hips as they dropped lower and lower. All they needed to complete the act was a pole. When they had almost reached the floor, Pam jumped to a standing position and pulled Sookie with her. They continued whirling and writhing until the song was over.

They both took a deep bow as applause and whistles of appreciation broke out instantly. Sookie met Eric's gaze. His head was several inches above the crowd and he was staring eagerly at Sookie. His fangs were fully extended. He raised his hands and clapped three times. He smiled a lusty smile and nodded his head in their direction before walking onto the dance floor. He took Sookie's left hand in his, kissed it and reached up with his right hand to touch the red camellias in her hair.

"I see the flames are not confined to your heart tonight," Eric said in a hushed tone as he touched her cheek.

"No," Sookie whispered. "I missed you." Rather than slowing after her exertion ended, her breathing was becoming heavier.

"And I you, Dearest." Eric seemed to be hypnotized by the way her boobs peeked over the cut out in her dress, every time she took a breath. He watched their labored swell and fall, transfixed.

"What do you think about the dress?" Pam asked sarcastically.

"Sumptuous," he replied, finally looking at Pam. "Is my lady booked for the evening, or may I claim her?"

"As you will," Pam said with a nod.

And to Sookie, he asked, "Might I coax you away from your many admirers to accompany me home?"

"I insist," she breathed.

No alley foreplay tonight. Straight to the car and they were off. When Sookie tried to reach over and touch him, he caught her hand and held it. "Wait, my lover," were the only words he spoke during the drive, but he held onto her hand and kissed it often during the ride. At last, they reached his garage.

Eric's shirt and shoes were already off when he reached her side. The car shook as he threw her door open. She left her shoes in the floorboard and reached up to him. He lifted her out and pressed his lips to hers. She wanted him more than she ever had. She was drowning in a need more barbaric and extreme than anything she had ever experienced. Like a feral animal, long trapped deep within her was suddenly loosed. She needed him … inside her … now.

He slammed the car door shut and headed into the house with her dangling from him. Her legs swung as he made his way toward the bedroom. She couldn't wait. She lurched herself loose. As soon as her feet touched the soft living room carpet she went to work in earnest. Sookie yanked the clasp of Eric's belt loose and seized the button of his jeans.

"Remind me to thank Pam for her positive influence," he said as he gathered a handful of her dress in each hand.

"Screw Pam," Sookie panted. His zipper was open and she lunged forward and licked the deep crease between his abs as she pushed down on his jeans.

He stretched out his arms, effortlessly shredding her dress in half. "How about I screw you?" he purred into her ear as he flung the useless fabric to the floor and stepped out of his jeans.

"Shut up," she gulped and grabbed his hair to pull him down. He obliged her immediately. He dropped to his back on the floor, settled her on his stomach, took her face in both hands and wrenched her mouth to his. She could feel his fully extended fangs and for the first time she wished she had a set of her own. She wanted to penetrate him … tear him to pieces … consume him. The violence of her desire was driving her mad and she didn't care. She gave in to it utterly.

He moved his arms between her legs, curled one hand around each hip and lifted her. Her kiss lost its place. But before she had time to protest his arms opened, spreading her legs. He simultaneously thrust his hips up and slammed hers down. The shock sent decadent shudders of pleasure and surprise throughout her body. "Eric!" she screamed with what would surely be the last breath she would ever have strength to draw. And she heard him groan something in the language she now knew to be Swedish.

All she could do was hold on. He stroked her thighs and held her firmly in place as he tried to buck her off from beneath. Her gasps for breath fell into sync with the pounding. She was electrified. Her body absorbed every bit of him and begged for more even as it gorged on the rhythmic punishment he delivered.

Her fingers dug into his thighs as the pressure within her built to its boiling point, but just before she exploded he suddenly rocked upward. He kind of crossed his legs into a makeshift cradle and pushed her backward into it. Then he folded himself forward crushing their hips together to maintain their most crucial connection. He kissed her hungrily, once, then dropped to her breast and bit.

His fangs pierced just above the nipple of her left breast and as he sucked he began to rock gently. It was as if her body had been rigged with a thousand booby traps and he had hit the tripwire. One blast after another rumbled through her, each more thunderous than the last. When he finally reached his own release, he collapsed backward onto the carpet, pulling her with him.

She couldn't move on her own. The exquisite spasms in her muscles would not allow her any voluntary control. He rolled to his side and gathered her to him. When her breathing regulated, he asked, "Are you ready for sleep, Dearest?"

"No", she said and kissed his chest. "I want to feel you beside me until you have to leave."

"Or inside you?" he asked with a wicked smile.

"I'm yours," she said softly. He picked her up from the floor and carried her to the bedroom.