Despite the thrill of her erotic encounter with Eric Northman, Susanna has determined that she will not give into to the temptation that he represents. Will she be able to hold to her resolution?

It was Sunday before the fine weather returned, allowing us to venture out to attend church. Whilst it was a relief to be able to leave the house, I was sorry to say that the prospect of a sermon from our parson did not fill me with pleasure. I consider myself as devout a Christian as any other lady of the parish, and I am certainly not ill-educated. Mr. Collins, however, appeared to have a gift for transforming even the most inspiring story from the tale of our Lord into dull platitudes.

As was their usual custom, the respectable ladies of the parish gathered in the churchyard after the service to exchange the week's news. Truthfully, very little of interest happened in our small market town, but they were most practiced in drawing out every detail of a story and spinning it over several weeks or even months.

The gossip was interrupted by a most unexpected event. The sound of a horse coming down the lane seemed unremarkable, but as the identity of the rider became clear, silence fell over the assembled company, and every head turned as one to stare.

At first I was sure my mind was playing tricks, but no, the horseman riding past the church gate on his unmistakable black stallion was undoubtedly Eric Northman. Despite my resolution to have nothing more to do with him, it was all I could do to stop myself from running down the path after him.

I turned away reluctantly, only to find William Compton standing by my side.

"An interesting sermon, I thought, did you not think, Miss Susanna?"

"Our parson always has some useful points of guidance for us," I said with as much conviction as I could manage.

"I do hope the bad weather of the last few days has not inconvenienced you too much." It seemed that his face took on a darker countenance, but I could not be sure that I had not imagined it. He smiled as he continued. "Perhaps you will allow me to walk you home."

Naturally that was the last thing I wanted, but I could see no polite way to refuse him. As he offered me his arm, an imperious voice sounded behind him.

"William, will you please take me home? The company is quite dull, and I find my legs ache."

I don't think I had ever been quite so glad for the intervention of Lorena Compton.

Bill muttered something under his breath, then bowed low to me and turned to leave. I could see my grandmother was deep in conversation with the Misses Fortenbury. They were the finest purveyors of gossip in the Parish, and I could see that she would be engaged for some time. Catching her eye, I waved and hurried off down the path before she could call me back.

There was no sign of Eric as I started down the lane. I felt tears of disappointment pricking at my eyes. I had spent barely a few hours with him, but already I knew that his company made me feel more alive than anyone I had ever known.

Perhaps he was in our little town on business, although that idea was so unlikely that I dismissed it. Surely he would not come all this was just to tease me; that would be too cruel. I was considering these and many other possibilities as I rounded the corner which led to our cottage.

I saw the black stallion first, tethered up at the drinking trough on the town green. The object of my musings was stretched out on the grass, leaning up on one elbow. His face broke into that familiar wicked grin as he saw me approach.

"Mr. Northman," I greeted him with all the formality I could muster. "What brings you to our fair little town?"

"I think you know that, Miss Stackhouse." He had pushed himself to his feet, and was raising my hand to his lips for a lingering kiss.

I didn't trust myself to speak, and eventually he continued, leaning in to whisper in a low voice, even though there was no-one around to observe us. "Do you know the old drovers shelter up by the Black Tor?"

I acknowledged that I did. The Black Tor was the most prominent landmark for miles around. Its high rocks provided guidance for the traveller in all but the thickest of fog. A simple stone shelter had been erected in its lea to provide a resting place for the herdsmen who would drive their cattle and sheep to market in the autumn and spring.

"Meet me there, on Wednesday at noon."

He uttered his instruction hurriedly as we both heard voices approaching. Then with a swift movement he had untethered his horse and mounted to ride away. He turned to give me one last smile as he cantered off down the lane.

"Who was that my dear?" grandmother asked as she reached the spot where I was standing.

"Oh, no-one of any significance; it was just a stranger asking for directions."

She gave me the strangest look before linking her arm through mine to cross the green to our home.

The next two days passed with agonising slowness. I forced myself to attend to my household duties, careful to ensure that I did not so much as glance out of the window in the direction of the high moorland. If I did weaken, it was only when I was sure that Grandmama would not catch me.

I could not deny that her warning about the men of the Northman family had shaken me. Many times I decided I would not go to him, only to change my mind at the memory of the pleasure I felt from being in his company.

I was careful not to demonstrate excessive enthusiasm for my chores as that would be equally suspicious. I had never had a love of darning and the pile of blankets I had been given did not alter my opinion. I was tempted to call on the assistance of Molly, our maid of all work, but we paid her little enough and she would threaten to walk out on us and find a more lucrative profession.

My diligence was rewarded in the most surprising manner. As we took our breakfast on Wednesday morning grandmother observed: "You are looking pale, my dear Anna, perhaps you should take the air this morning."

"You are right, Grandmama. The weather is much improved. I would like to ride up on the moor. Would you object if I took some cold chicken, and perhaps a ham pie for sustenance?"

As she had made the suggestion she had little choice but to agree.

I found the drovers' hut with little difficulty using the stones of the Tor as my guide. Eric's horse was already tied up outside as I approached, but there was no sign of him. Then, to my immense surprise, he emerged from the hut carrying a besom broom. I laughed out loud at the sight.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"I should have thought that was obvious. The place is filthy, full of animal droppings. I am cleaning. Perhaps you would care to help," he responded in a voice heavy with sarcasm.

"I have an idea. Do you have a knife?"

He gave me a puzzled look but extracted a large hunting knife from his saddle bag. I set about gathering bundles of heather. They would provide some comfort on the hard stone floor, and their scent would help to disguise the odour of the previous occupants. Eric had brought some sheepskins and deerskins, and between us we managed to make the little hut quite habitable.

"We have built ourselves quite a little nest," I observed as we sat back to admire our handiwork.

"Yes, a veritable love nest," Eric laughed, pulling me closer against him.

"My grandmother has tried to warn me against seeing you." It was not a comfortable subject, but it was one I needed to have out with him. He said nothing, so I continued. "She says you will use me and discard me, that I should not trust you."

His face took on a stern appearance. "More to the point, my dear, can I trust you? I too have been warned, warned about the wiles which women will employ to trick and trap a man."

He continued to regard me with the utmost seriousness for several moments. I tried hard not to show how his words had upset me. Then a smile began to play across his face, transforming rapidly into a gentle laugh.

"I am sorry, my dear; I should not tease you, but sometimes you are so very serious."

He bent his head down to nuzzle the sensitive spot behind my ear. I could not help but soften into his embrace as he did so.

"The truth is, my Suki, there are no words I can use to make you trust me. You will have to judge me by my deeds. I cannot deny that my behaviour in the past has been wild. Indeed, I will own to being quite reprehensible. I shall have to throw myself on your mercy and beg for forgiveness. What I can assure you is that I will never force unwanted attention upon you."

I made no response, casting my eyes down and turning my attention instead to a stray lock of hair which had tumbled down over my forehead. Eric regarded me intently, reaching out to brush my hair back behind my ear.

"Perhaps the truth is that my attentions are not unwelcome to you. Is that true, my Suki?" He left the question hanging in the air, as I was quite unable to answer. He looked into my eyes, and I found that I could not look away. I knew he wanted to kiss me, and I knew with equal certainty that I would kiss him back. He moved his hand to run his fingers through my hair, slowly pulling my head up towards his.

Any hope I might have had of resistance melted at that moment. His kiss was hot but tender; passionate but gentle. It was the most wonderful sensation I had ever experienced, and I never wanted it to end.

"Let us make ourselves comfortable," he said, when he finally pulled away. He moved to sit against the wall, pulling me to sit across his lap, with his arms around me. The thick stone walls of the little drovers' hut were cool to the touch, but the warmth of his embrace gave me protection against the chill. He laced his fingers with mine, occasionally raising one of my hands to his mouth for a gentle kiss.

We talked for several hours. I told him tales of our little town and the characters who made up my little world. He talked of his childhood on the Moor and told me about his mother and his brothers. He said nothing about his day to day activities, and I was reluctant to question him unless he chose to broach the subject. There was, however, one issue which I very much wanted to discuss.

"I have never thanked you for returning our belongings. It was most remiss of me to forget. Was it very difficult to track them down?" It was a question I had been meaning to ask for some time, being intrigued as to how he had managed the task.

"Not at all. I recognised your description of the robber easily. Franklin is well known in Plymouth. He will work for anyone who pays him sufficiently and is generally willing to undertake all manner of unsavoury tasks. He had been given your linens as part of his reward for the enterprise."

"Did you find out who he was working for?"

"Unfortunately not. Strangely, Franklin was not open to persuasion of any kind. The man responsible must have some kind of hold over him."

"Eric, you did not kill him did you? I could not bear it if someone were to die on my account. "

"You are far too tender-hearted, my dear. Do you think for one moment he had the same regard for your welfare? But no, I let him live ... although he will not hold a pistol for some time." Eric gave a nasty laugh. I had a glimpse then of how his family had come by their reputation.

Naturally, time passed at two or three times the normal speed. It seemed that barely had we arrived before the sun began to drop down to the tops of the trees. I struggled to my feet, pulling Eric up behind me. This time it was I who initiated our embrace. I had to stretch up to reach his mouth with mine.

His strong arms held me in place effortlessly. As we kissed, every sensible thought was driven from my mind. My only care was to know when I could see him again.

"Can you see the Black Tor from your cottage?" he asked. I averred that I could.

"I will mark it. Each number represents a day of the week, one for Monday, for example. I will indicate the day on which we can next meet."

As I rode back into town, I was certain that whatever the appointed day was it could not come soon enough.

Well did you doubt it – who could resist after all?

Thanks as every to Charlaine Harris for creating the characters and to VampLover1 for her support and excellent beta skills.

I know lots of readers want to know what Gran's history is with the Northman family – all will be revealed but not for a few chapters yet so you will have to be patient. In the meantime some ESN coming up next (I'll be changing the rating to M just to cover my back, although it will be tasteful!)