Chapter 4

Some of Eric's mood had lightened as he slept. He was taking the night off from Fangtasia tonight to look for Frankie. His lips curled into a smile as he thought of her. Tonight, there would be no escaping him. She would tell him everything. Everything she dreamt, everything she thought about him, everything she wanted from him. Then, he would relish taking her. He growled at the thought. He wondered what he could wear that would make her senses reel. He smiled as it occurred to him. He walked into his closet and pulled out a pair of faded jeans and a black silk button up shirt which he left open at the throat. He put on some cologne and finished with his boots. He looked at himself in his full length mirror and smiled. He was going hunting tonight, and he hoped the chase would make it all the sweeter.

Dark had finally set and Frankie was still in her room. It was safe here. But she wasn't going to hatch her plan by cooling her heels. She had waited too long. He was no doubt awake by now and just ready for her. She dug in her bag and found her favorite pair of jeans. She put on a black lacy tank top and put her long hair up in a pony tail. Her converse hi tops followed. She didn't need her purse for tonight, if she needed to run, it would just hamper her. She slid her room key in her back pocket. She took a deep breath and left her room.

The warm night air hit her as she stepped outside. It was comforting. Her insides her a mess of nervousness and fear. She needed to keep moving. She knew he would enjoy the chase. Also, she knew he would eventually catch up with her. When that happened, she hoped she was ready for it.

Frankie got into her car and started it she pulled her ipod out of the center consol and scrolled through it until she found the song she wanted. She smiled and turned it up…loudly.

Eric stopped in mid air and smelled the air like he'd been doing for hours. He was getting frustrated. He narrowed his blue eyes as he heard a song…He couldn't help but smile at her defiance. "U and UR hand" By Pink. He just knew it was her. He was also grinning because she was close. The next song surprised him. "Scream" by Avenged Sevenfold…This time she was sending him a message. Was she willing to come to him? Impossible he thought with a shake of his head. He closed his eyes and smelled the air again. There! He swooped down and landed beside her car. There was a note attached.

Miss me did you?

He chuckled darkly. She was playing with fire. If he didn't know any better he'd think the little minx was enjoying herself. He peered into the drivers seat of the car and grinned broadly. She had left him her panties…black and see through. He smashed his fist through the drivers side window and unlocked the car. He snatched her panties from the seat and held them to his nose. Her scent nearly brought him to his knees. It was so intoxicating.

Eric had no idea how long he stood there inhaling her scent on the piece of cloth he clutched in his hand. The very thought of her running around with no panties on made him hard. With a low growl he stuffed them into his pants pocket and took off more eager to find her.

Frankie felt she'd been running for hours. She'd expected him sooner. She'd agonized over leaving her panties in the car for him to find. It was outside her realm of understanding why she did it. It was done and he'd no doubt found them by now. It would be any second now, he would swoop down and get her. Any second now… suddenly she heard a roar. It was him. But she wasn't certain it was a roar of triumph or frustration. She stood very still not moving. She tried not to breathe. She closed her eyes for just a second. When she opened them, a pair of glittering blue eyes stared back at her. Those eyes dropped briefly to her heaving chest, and even lower.

"I told you" he whispered. "By fair means or foul." his lips were hovering over hers. "It was you who played unfairly." he reached into his pocket and pulled her panties out. "I got your…gift as well." He slid them back into his pocket. She allowed her eyes to narrow. He actually had the gall to think he was going to keep her panties. She backed up ready to unleash her outrage onto him. She took a deep breath and lost it when he grasped her around the waist and pulled her to him. "I don't have all night. I'd rather have this battle somewhere private."

"If you think I'm going anywhere with you, you've got another thing coming." She gaped at him when he laughed.

"You are a poor liar." He grinned wickedly at her and took off into the air.

Eric held her tightly as they flew through the air. He enjoyed the fact that she was holding onto him for dear life. He could feel the bite of her nails as they dug into his back. Honestly, he wanted to feel her nails dig into him in ecstasy not fear.

It didn't take them long to get to his house. He set her on her feet. He grinned down into her face. Her hair was wind swept and her cheeks were flushed.

"See, that wasn't so bad."

"Easy for you to say." she grumbled under her breath. He took her hand and led her to the front door.

"No peeking Miss Francis." Eric said playfully. He punched in the code that allowed him to enter his house. He looked over his shoulder at her. She looked away suddenly. Had the wench been ogling his backside? He grinned wider. He certainly hoped so. The front door unlocked with a series of bolts sliding. "Enter if you dare." he said wickedly. He watched her hesitate if only for a second. She chanced a look up at his face. His smug smile told her all he needed to know. This was the point of no return for her. It was either enter or risk a life with him always there, always lurking just behind her. She did the smart thing. She twisted her face into scowl just for his pleasure, and walked into his house.

Making a deal with the devil, but she needed do to do this. She NEEDED him out of her mind. He was driving her crazy. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Ironically both said rock and said hard place were Eric Northman.

His house was very…masculine. All done in dark wood and cool colors, his home was neat and clean. Eric was amused as he watched Frankie look about his house. He'd spared no expense for his personal comfort. A frown creased his brow. He really didn't know why he'd brought her here. The only other person that had been to his house was Pam. He was extremely private about where he rested during the day. He had enemies who would just love to find out where he slept. He could have taken her anywhere. However, she wasn't just another female. She was a female who he would burn himself into. Just one night wouldn't be enough. As he watched her move across the room, he wondered if he could convince her to stay with him. Again, something he would have never done. Something was wrong with him. Had to be. His thoughts were strange to him. A scowl deepened his handsome features. It had to be her. He pushed away from the wall and charged towards her.

Frankie was in awe of his house. It was beautiful. Suddenly 200 pounds of 6'5'' angry vampire lunged at her. She had no time to react. He pinned her to the floor, narrowly missing his ornate coffee table. She was about to unleash her fury at him until she saw the look in his eyes. It was rage. White hot rage.

"Woman." he said carefully and slowly. Frankie took a gulp of air. She was terrified. "Cease your strange power at once. I find it…irritating." That did it.

"I've no idea what you're talking about. I haven't said two words to you since we entered the house. You are acting like I personally attacked you." She glared up at him

"You might as well have. What is your game? Get into the vampire's head find out where he sleeps during the day and stake him? Nice try."

"If I had wanted to kill you I would have done it already you asshole. I would have done it at your bar in front of everyone so everyone would know a mere human killed the mighty sheriff of area 5." Anger right now was safer than fear.

Eric contemplated her words. Would the wench have killed him? He lifted himself off her body and stared down at her. She didn't look like she could. He growled audibly. If it wasn't her, who was putting those thoughts in his head? He held out his hand to her. To her credit, she scowled at him and pushed herself to her feet. She brushed herself off and crossed her arms over her chest.

"If you are quite finished now." Eric slid his hands into his pockets, no bother in looking contrite because he wasn't feeling so. The blood lust he'd been feeling a second ago turned him on badly. He fisted his hand around the pair of panties in his pocket. He looked back up at her. Her anger was still flashing in her eyes. He grinned and yanked her into his arms. She was a maddening creature, and yet he still wanted her. He lowered his lips to hers.

Frankie averted her face from his kiss, but that seemed not to deter him in the least. He trailed his lips down her neck and stopped at the hollow where her collar bone was. She felt him flick his tongue on her skin and she shivered involuntarily.

"If you think I am having sex with you after that episode, you've got another thing coming." she whispered in his ear. She felt him chuckle against her skin.

"No where you can hide, my dear. May as well accept my attentions." She turned her face to say something scathing to him when he caught her lips instead. She'd only experienced kissing him in her dreams. This time, she was awake and every nerve ending she possessed was on fire. He kissed like he'd been doing it for centuries. It made a girl's bones turn to jell-o. In spite of her anger, her arms crept around his neck and pulled him closer. She heard him growl against her lips. He picked her up then, swinging her up into his arms, and what arms they were. He walked effortlessly through his house until they got to what appeared to be a massive oak door. He set her on her feet briefly as he punched in a series of numbers into a panel by the door. The door swung open to reveal the most opulent bedroom she'd ever seen. The bed was massive. It was a four poster bed covered with black silk sheets. Eric swung her in his arms again. She thought she caught a wicked smile as the door shut, locking her in with him.