Here is chapter 4 for you.

Again, thank you so much for for your lovely Reviews. They really Keep me going.

Enjoy!

Chapter 4:

I quietly sipped my water – a gin and tonic would have been more to my liking but I still needed to drive home - as I watched Eric pace around the room like a caged lion. He seemed deep in thought.

Eric wasn't the only one with something to think about. Everything I'd heard so far was hard to accept but I went there for answers and I got them. Just because those answers were hard to accept or not to my liking didn't diminish the fact I had done what I went there to do or the magnitude of the information I had been given. And we hadn't even finished, yet.

I had a feeling my head was going to be on overload sooner or later.

I was still baffled by the amount of information he had so willingly given me. There had to be some kind of catch…

I groaned inwardly and could have smacked myself. He's a vampire, Sookie! Of course there's going to be some kind of compensation for the volume of super-secret vampire information he told you. There always is!

Sneaky bastard!

I could already envision the amusement I would see on his face if I were to ask him what the catch was. I could also see, just a moment later, the deviousness cross his features as he figures out just what the payment will be. Ha, that would never happen!

Perhaps if I could just leave fast enough he'd forget about the debt? Yeah, snort, highly unlikely. I know: Wishful thinking on my part. Well, it was already water under the bridge. I would have to suffer the consequences as they came.

I drove away that thought and instead reviewed what we had discussed over the previous hour. I frowned as I remembered something I'd overlooked before. What had he said about the side effects of a vampire's blood? It increases the libido and the human will have sexual dreams about the vampire? I told him the night before that I was still waiting for that to happen. Why?

"If Bill had started a blood bond with me why do I not have any of the so called side effects," I asked, truly puzzled.

Eric stopped for a moment, "I think it has something to do with your telepathy. Our glamour doesn't work on you either." He gave me a meaningful look; I just gave him a cheesy smile back. "I think that's only part of the explanation though.

"Glamour is direct mind control whereas the heightened sexuality is more or less controlled through our blood."

I scoffed, "What do you mean 'controlled through our blood'? You can control what we dream about you?" Just imagining this offended me to no end.

"No, we cannot control such things. It's more like the vampire's blood encourages the human's mind to dream the fantasies he already had about the vampire," Eric explained, which soothed my insulted self immensely.

I wanted to make sure we were both on the same page though so just to clarify I asked, "So you think he can't control me at all."

"Correct, you don't seem affected by it one little bit, at least not yet. I don't know what would happen if the bond had been completed though."

Hoo boy, judging by the face he made he didn't seem to like not knowing something at all. Him even admitting that he didn't know something seemed to be some kind of miracle. "You are a curiosity, Miss Stackhouse."

I grimaced. Great! I was even more an oddity than before. Maybe I should go to 'Ripley's Believe It or Not!' That way people could finally stare at me openly.

Eric had probably meant it as a compliment. Hell, he was a thousand year old vampire; he had most likely seen it all therefore something like that coming from him would have to be some form of praise. To me it was like a slap in the face. All my life my biggest wish had been to blend in, to be normal and little things like that made me realize that it would never, ever be.

But I was not there to complain. I knew I had people who loved me – even if they were few and far between – and I still had a great life thanks to my gran. I'm sure a lot of people had it far worse than me. So no, complain and whine I would not.

Anyway, we went off track. Thinking back over Bill's machinations I realized that I was maybe still in denial about him and his ways; just a little bit. I didn't know why. Maybe it was for the sake of my gran. She had welcomed him into her home and he had even agreed to speak at one of her DGD meetings.

I snorted and rolled my eyes at myself. God, that sounded so naïve. Hadn't I promised myself to stop being that kind of girl? Had I not learned anything? I needed to take Eric's warning to heart and rip the wool from my eyes. Hadn't Bill shown me just the night before that he wasn't the Southern Gentleman he wanted me to believe?

So, if what Eric suspects about him is right and he did all that to get his blood into me then there were only two questions left: why and how? Why did he do that? Bill hadn't known me before that night; at least not to my knowledge. Or he had been secretly stalking my every move before he introduced himself to me. I wouldn't put it past him anymore. And if he did, how did he find out about me beforehand?

"The queen," Eric said, startling me out of my inner musing. I was still a little jumpy – thanks to snarly-face over there – so I couldn't help but flinch. I needed a second to connect his answer to my – probably not so – silent questions.

Surprised I asked, "Who's the telepath now? How did you know what I was thinking?"

He arched an eyebrow, amused, "You were murmuring to yourself and I have vampire hearing."

"Oh," Yeah, I tended to do that sometimes when I was deep in thought. Clearing my throat I asked, "What about the queen?"

Eric smiled humorlessly; it didn't suit him at all. "Bill has been part of Sophie-Anne's court for the last 50 years with all its advantages and conveniences. He is her procurer so why would he leave all that luxury and move to the shithole he calls his ancestral home?"

My blood chilled at the word 'procurer'. Someone, who procures or obtains something, I thought to myself. You didn't need to be a rocket scientist to connect the dots; just know how to use those kiddie puzzle books. It all made sense now: Him living just across the cemetery from me – coincidence much? - Him always seeking me out and trying to get his blood into me. My stomach dropped into my feet, "Because he is procuring something for her," I whispered.

He looked at me like I was a science project, "Or someone. Someone with a rare talent and someone who lives in Bon Temps. Do you know anybody who fits that description Ms. Stackhouse?"

I gave him a sour look, "Me," I said despondently.

Eric just inclined his head. We stared at each other for a long while until another thought occurred to me. I furrowed my brows, "How did they find out about me? I don't even know anyone with connections to New Orleans, least of all a vampire queen."

Why was he giving me this sly smile? Did he know something I didn't? Pff, of course he did! He was probably just waiting for me to ask so he could lecture me like a child. Oh, wait, wrong vampire! Didn't matter. He was on my shit list as well at the moment. "I can see that you know something little ole me doesn't. You're almost bursting with it. Care to share with the rest of the class?" Can you tell I was still a little miffed at him for scaring me?

Eric touched his chest in mock hurt and smiled a slightly lopsided smile, "Why do you have to ruin my fun?"

I just arched an eyebrow in answer.

He laughed and took a step to his desk and grabbed a folder. He leaned against the desk, stretched out his long legs and flicked through the pages.

Hmm, yummy, Cookie purred.

"Let's see… Sookie Stackhouse, age 25, born July 1st; parents deceased; living relatives: Brother Jason Stackhouse, grandmother Adele Hale Stackhouse, cousin Hadley Delahoussaye, great-uncle Bartlett Hale…"

That last name sucked the air out of my lungs and I could do nothing but tense up. I was as tight as a bow string. Of course Eric's hawk-like gaze saw that and his eyes narrowed.

I returned his gaze stubbornly and tried not to relive the memories he unconsciously evoked. Memories of a childhood long gone that were filled with nightmares of man who had questionable sexual tendencies. That's why I couldn't keep quiet any longer, "You have a file on me," I said through clenched teeth and tried to divert him from the obvious question I desperately didn't want to answer.

"Of course! I haven't survived for a thousand years by not knowing who I'm dealing with to the best of my abilities. I do background checks on everyone I meet. It has saved my existence more times than I can count."

His explanation soothed me a little. I could understand his precautions and like he said earlier: Information leads to knowledge and knowledge is power which would mean more power over my own life.

I was a little annoyed though, could he not have just asked me? He knew everything about me now and the mystery and suspense of getting to know someone was gone. Where was the fun in that? Hmpf. I knew I was sulking and behaving like a petulant child but thank god it was all only in my head. Still, not one of my finer moments.

That gave me an idea though. Maybe I should do a little investigating of my own. He's a business man and if I guessed right, a damn good one at that. There has to be articles about him from newspapers or magazines online. Who said I should use my internet access at home only for my studies?

Unfortunately, the distraction on my part didn't work so well. Why couldn't he fucking leave it alone? "Don't think I don't know what you were trying to do. What's with this B…"

My eyes widened.

"Don't," I shouted and held up my hand in a stopping gesture. My heart was racing and the air coming out through my lips actually sounded like a growl. "Just don't," I repeated forcefully.

Eric watched me closely while he had his head turned to one side. Finally he relented, "Alright, but I will find out about it, one way or another."

I bet, I thought. But definitely not from me!

I took a shuddering breath and forced us back on track because I'd had enough with that line of the conversation, "So you think one of my relatives sold me out. I can guarantee my gran and my brother would never do that." Even if Jason was as dumb as a rock sometimes. "They would rather sell their souls to the devil than betray me, so they are out of the picture. The last name you've mentioned," I spat, "Has been sitting in a wheelchair for years now with barely any contact with the outside world, so he's not eligible either." But believe me, I wish he was! "The only unknown party is Hadley though I haven't seen her for nearly six years; not since she took off after stealing the money my gran had given her for the rehab clinic she said she wanted to go to for her drug addiction." I will never ever forgive her for that! "Honestly, I think she's a 'Jane Doe' in an anonymous grave somewhere."

I knew I sounded harsh but that's the way I felt about her. Nobody steals money from Gran and gets away with it; definitely not after taking off while her own mother was dying of cancer. Yeah, I know, my family was seriously messed up. Poor Gran. I couldn't comprehend what she had been going through for the last 20 years.

Apparently Eric wanted to enlighten me about my cousin, "I don't think so. Does this Hadley have some similarities to you by any chance?"

I swallowed hard because I had a bad, bad feeling about where this was going. "Yes. In High-School we looked very much alike. We could have been sisters, though she was slightly taller and thinner than me. She had blond hair and blue eyes as well. But I have no idea what she would look like now." I took a deep breath, "Why?" My voice sounded shaky and a little bit too high.

"There is a human by the name of Hadley at Sophie-Anne's court. She fits your description perfectly and has a lot of similarities with you as well. This Hadley is the queen's favorite pet at the moment."

I closed my eyes and dropped my head in defeat. I didn't need to question him because I just knew it to be true. A member of my own family had sold me out.

Hadley and I had never been close. She was too selfish and desperate for attention to be friends with me. I was the black sheep and she wanted to be popular, a part of the 'in' crowed. Naturally, we clashed. I don't think I need to describe what that entailed.

I wasn't really surprised that she was the one to snitch but it still hurt. It hurt like a bitch. And right then and there I swore to myself that Hadley would pay. One way or another I would make her suffer for all the things she had put me through in my life. If that was not very Christian of me I didn't care. Selling me and my disability out was the straw that broke the camel's back and she would not get away with it. She had wronged me one time too many and I was not going to let it go yet again.

I lifted my head and locked my eyes with Eric's in a steely gaze. He could probably see the fire behind mine. No one said a word out loud but that was not needed: We still had a conversation going on and after just a moment we came to a tacit understanding. Eric inclined his head in agreement and that was the end of it.

I'd had enough of the somber mood so I tried to drive away my melancholy by shaking my head. "So Mr. Know-it-all, what else does that file say about me? Just remember, you shouldn't believe everything you read."

Eric smirked at me and the mischievous twinkle was back in his eyes, just what I had intended. He flipped through the pages in mock concentration until he found something he thought was interesting. I was curious to know what that could be because honestly I found my life boring as hell. "A little goblin whispered in my ear that you take online classes at LSU in history." He regarded me with obvious appreciation.

I patted myself on the back for making the right choice. A few years back, I was confronted by my gran whether I wanted to get a higher education or work at Merlotte's as a waitress for the rest of my life. There was no thinking on it on my part. Of course I wanted to get a better education; even if it was just to someday get out of the shithole I called my hometown. But how to accomplish that? School has been a nightmare for me because of my telepathy and as a result I'd never had good grades. Then my High-School friend Tara pointed out to me that I could do online classes: I wouldn't even have to be in a room full of students to get a degree. Let me tell you I've never driven to the Bon Temps library to do research that fast in my life.

"The goblin also told me that you will soon have your Master's Degree. What is your specialty?"

I grinned a silly grin and bit my lower lip while batting my eyelashes and trying to sound as innocent as possible, "Vikings?" The Nordic and Celtic history has always been my favorite throughout my studies and I knew instantly it would be the topic I specialize in.

His answer was a booming laugh. He laughed long and hard so I was not surprised when his face was stained with red tears. I just leaned back and enjoyed the show. My stomach was dancing with butterflies. Damn, he was beautiful when he laughed.

He was beautiful. Period.

After Eric had himself back under control and had wiped away all evidence of any tears, he looked back at me with mirth in his eyes, "Oh Sookie, you surprise me to no end." I took that as a good thing. "Maybe I should keep you for entertainment value."

Cookie, who had been watching the show while lazing in the sun, pricked her ears immediately. Hmm, define entertainment, she purred and stretched herself.

Bad, bad Cookie, I admonished her silently.

Eric either must have seen my not so innocent look or he had smelled the moisture down there in my nether regions because his look became predatory and he began to stalk towards me.

Uh oh!

Either way, I didn't think while my fight or flight instincts took over. I don't know if it was the fright from earlier still affecting me or if it was my inner kitten wanting to come out and play by poking the predator.

It didn't matter anyway: I made a dash towards the door.

And well, that's as far as I got.

Eric had me pinned to the back of the door with his whole body before I could even register that I had gotten up from the couch.

I was already panting hard and my nerve endings were on overload where he was touching me. That was pretty much my whole front.

And his body was hard.

Everywhere.

Just recognizing that got my panties wet with arousal. Cookie had definitely woken up and was already prowling and growling for attention. She had found a new toy and wanted to come out and play with it. I had trouble keeping her in check while she rattled her cage. Well, let's just say I couldn't blame her.

Meanwhile Eric traced his nose along my cheek, over my chin and down to my neck where my pulse was beating erratically. Somehow I had a sense of déjà-vu, especially as I felt his fangs scraping over – but not penetrating – my artery.

I started to shake again.

From pleasure.

I had no idea that my neck was an erogenous zone and I was not prepared for the pleasure shooting through my body. My knees wobbled and I would have fallen to the floor if Eric hadn't been holding me up by pressing his lower half into mine.

And then he started moving.

Oh my… fuuuck! My eyes rolled into the back of my head while said head hit the door. I started moaning in surprise and pleasure.

Now I knew for sure why the fangbangers were so eager to get Eric's attention. If what I felt was real he would make them very happy.

Hell, I would be a very happy – and sated – woman in just a few moments if he didn't stop moving his pelvis.

And he didn't stop. Instead he pressed himself into me even harder and kept a frantic rocking rhythm while he licked and sucked on my pulse point at the same time.

To say I was in absolute bliss was an understatement. And Cookie was in absolute kitty heaven. I didn't even think about pushing him away from me - hah, I didn't even want to.

I wrapped my arms around Eric's neck and pulled him more tightly to me while I wrapped my legs around his hips. He put his paw-like hands on the bare skin of my thighs to steady me.

Huh? How did my skirt end up around my abdomen? I didn't care. I mimicked his movements and … oh … the results couldn't have been more exhilarating. The angle was just right and his hard length pressed directly into my oversensitive pearl.

"Oh," I gasped and began to moan and mewl in earnest. I could hear hissing and growling noises coming from Eric. He seemed to be enjoying himself as well, especially when he put his face in the valley between my breasts and started nibbling and licking the sweat that had gathered there.

I've always been sensitive there so I could feel my orgasm rolling up like a freight train. I didn't want the moment to ever end and tried to hold out a little longer: Though just a few rocking and licking motions more and I could feel myself exploding like a bottle rocket on the fourth of July. My body went rigid and I let out a sharp cry before I instinctively lunged forward and bit Eric's neck – though not hard enough to break skin.

I literally saw stars and could do nothing more than hold on for dear life.

In my blissed out brain I barely registered Eric's body becoming stiff as I bit him and his manhood swelling unbelievably thicker. He let out a loud growl and then shot his load into his jeans.

Nobody moved for a long time and we were both panting heavily as we came back down from our high. After a few moments Eric gave the swelling of my breast a final lick and then let me back down onto my own two feet. My legs felt like rubber and he put his hands back on my hips to help steady me.

He then lifted his head to look me in the eyes with a dark gaze, "Lesson number two: Never, ever flee from a predator. It awakens our hunting instincts. Once we spot and smell our prey we'll never lose the trail and we hunt it down until we catch it. A vampire younger than me, and with less restraint, would likely have bitten, raped and then killed you."

I gulped. Okay, that speech immediately pulled my spirit back down to earth. Unconsciously I put my hand on my neck to feel for bite marks but felt nothing. I looked down to my cleavage but other than being red and moist from his aggressive nuzzling my skin was flawless.

Surprised and relieved I looked back up at him and nearly gasped at the fire I found in his eyes. Damn, his mood swings could rival a pregnant woman. His lips formed into a smirk while he said huskily, "That was just a taste of what is to come when I finally have you in my bed."

Just a taste? My eyes almost bugged out of my head. I just had an orgasm in 20 seconds flat. If that was the result of him dry humping me I didn't think I would survive it when he actually took his time.

And he said 'when' not 'if'. I arched an eyebrow, "Cocky much," I asked cheekily.

Eric just gave me a very toothy - and sharp - leer, "Very!"

I snorted. Yeah, I guessed as much. As if to give expression to his offer he took my right hand and put it on the front of his jeans. I could feel a wet spot and his very impressive and still hard erection. I almost whimpered at the feel of it.

"This will be yours when you let me have you," he breathed into my ear. Shivers went up and down my spine and Cookie purrrrrrrrred.

It was a very tempting offer. Believe me, I would think long and hard about it. Someone as experienced as him would certainly make my first time that much more enjoyable - and less painful – but on the other hand, I was not really the one-night stand kind of girl. I would not be able to hold onto him for long, of that I was certain. It would lead to heartbreak because I knew I would become attached to him and I didn't think I could go through that heartache.

So the only thing I could say, after I cleared my throat, was, "I'll think about it."

Eric inclined his head and smirked slyly, "You just do that."

I nodded and put myself back to rights as much as I could before I went to the couch to get my purse. I needed to get out of there. The sexual tension between us was suffocating me and the recent incident had done nothing to sate the hunger. On the contrary actually: our little interlude had made me hungrier for more of what he was dishing out. Besides, my brain was on overload from all the information I had received. I needed to put distance between us. "I think I should go. It's late. I don't want to worry my gran."

Eric had not moved when I turned around to go back to the door. He was standing in the same spot I had left him in, inconveniently blocking the exit.

"Not so fast," he said.

Damn!

He had a smirk on his lips, like he was the devil himself – he probably was. "Lesson number three: Information always comes with a price." Hah, I knew it! "We never do something out of the goodness of our hearts." I had to hold back a snort at that. It sounded very strange coming from him. "And especially not information of the magnitude I gave you," he explained in thuggish pleasure.

I crossed my arms over my chest and popped my left hip out to the side, "What do you want," I asked stonily, though I had a pretty good idea.

"I would like to do a blood exchange." His face was completely neutral.

I gulped and my heart began to race but I said nothing, yet.

"I need collateral so that I know you won't breach my trust or betray me in any way."

I scoffed, "I will not run and mouth off to the next person who will listen. I'm better than that. I won't go to Bill or the Queen of Louisiana either: I don't have a death wish."

"That much I know. I didn't figure you to be a gossip. But again, I didn't survive so many centuries by being careless. Take it as more like a precaution for my own protection and safety for you as well: I would know when you are in trouble by sensing your distress. Besides, a blood exchange between us would cancel out the one you have with Bill.

"Since I am older my blood is more powerful so it would override a younger vampire's blood. Other vampires would recognize my scent in you and would see you as mine. Of course, you would also need to tell them so."

"But wouldn't Bill feel it when your blood overrules his," I asked a little confused and cautious. I didn't want Bill to be alarmed and do something drastic.

"No, it doesn't happen from one second to the next. I can will it to slow down considerably. That way it's more like a subtle process over days. The same goes with the scent." My eyes widened in astonishment. He can do that? How powerful is he? "He will think your metabolism is faster than normal."

I contemplated this for a long moment. My heart was telling me yes, do it; and my head was being very cautious. It didn't want to be bound to someone without examining the repercussions. Well, I don't think I needed to tell what Cookie wanted.

On the other hand, I had a feeling his explanation was not the real reason he wanted to do this or at least not the only reason. Something told me there were other things going on I couldn't quite grasp yet.

I eyed him suspiciously, "You're not telling me everything."

He looked at me with something akin to respect in his eyes, "Again, you are very shrewd. I admit that this is just the tip of the iceberg, though even I was not entrusted with the details yet. I just know that it needs to happen but I'm not entitled to say more at this point. In the end it is your choice but think about it: can you allow yourself to not do it?"

I didn't know what to think about his ominous explanation but it would go to the list of questions we would need to discuss at a later time. Pensively, I thought about Bill's actions and its – more than possible – consequences and came to the realization that no, I didn't think I had a choice. He was just sweetening me up for the inevitable. Wasn't it a small price to pay if it kept me alive? "Just so we're clear on this: I'm not yours!" Yet, I completed silently. From what I could see on Eric's face he was thinking yet as well. Yeah, I know, it was just a matter of time before I would fall. But honestly, where would be the fun in giving in so easily? The chase often sweetened the catch.

Eric inclined his head, "Acknowledged," and smirked, "and challenge accepted."

I had to laugh about that. He wouldn't be the Eric Northman I was getting to know if he didn't have some sort of comeback.

Knowing the time had come I scraped up my last bit of courage and said, "Alright, how do we do this?" and took a few steps to stand in front of him.

Without saying a word he lifted his left hand and pricked his finger with a fang which he then held in front of me.

I blinked, stunned. "That's it?"

"For now," he said, smirking devilishly.

A sense of foreboding settled in my stomach again. I had this feeling a lot lately and I knew something fundamentally was about to change. Cautiously, I took his hand and started to suckle his finger.

I couldn't hold back the moan as his blood hit my tongue. My taste buds exploded like a rainbow in its brightest colors. His blood was thick and rich with flavors like the sweetest wine and darkest chocolate at the same time. I never wanted to stop and tightened my hold on his hand.

Within seconds my body started to absorb his blood and I could feel a change taking effect immediately: There was a humming inside my mind – nothing more than a slight murmur - and then something within me sighed with contentment and happiness.

I felt lightheaded and barely registered as he repeated his movements and pricked one of my fingers. We looked each other in the eyes as we drew blood from the other. It was a highly erotic moment.

Then a hot burn spread through my whole body before it concentrated on a tiny part in the back of my mind where I could feel a connection – like a star in the night sky - starting to develop. Was that the bond with Eric? Have I felt anything like that with Bill? I couldn't remember.

Like all good moments, it ended far too soon. Even after the tiny wound on his fingertip had closed I licked every inch of the skin around the slash so as not to miss a drop. Eric looked at me with a hooded and clearly lust filled gaze as he observed my movements. My panties felt uncomfortably wet again.

With a single step Eric closed the distance between us. Our eyes still locked; he took my finger, squeezed it and guided it from my throat down to my cleavage, leaving a bloody trail behind.

I gasped in surprise as he leaned into me and licked the blood slowly from my skin, beginning between my breasts and ending at my throat. I thought I would orgasm right then and there from the eroticism of it. Surprisingly I was not grossed out at all.

"Hmm, delicious," he whispered in my ear in a panty dropping tone. And when he looked back at me, I could see the stormy ocean in his eyes again. My breath hitched at that and a fluttering tormented my stomach. I didn't know that I had missed that image so much.

"Think about my offer," he said, once again smirking like the Cheshire Cat. He then took a step back again to give me room to leave.

I swayed a little, still dazed, before I could shake myself out of it. Swallowing hard I whispered, "I will." Oh yes, I definitely will, I thought and wobbled out the door.