Note: this is shorter chapter and kind of lemon-y. I wanted to show Eric's slightly softer side and to assure those who doubt that beneath his hard exterior and harsh actions, he has legitimate feelings for Sookie in this story! Enjoy.

Sookie heard Eric close the bedroom door and she sighed with relief. Slumping down on the floor, she collapsed into tears, sobbing hysterically. She wanted nothing more than to be back at home, in her own comfy bed. The longer she was here the less likely she felt it would be that she would get to go home at all.

"What does he want from me? I can't take much more of this…."

Sookie felt sharp hunger pains rip through her stomach, realizing it had been almost a full day since she had last eaten, her stomach grumbling mercilessly.

Hoisting herself on to the vanity, she gulped down water straight from the tap. She was so incredibly thirsty and her body ached immensely. Looking in the mirror, she gasped in shock: her left cheek was purple and swollen from Eric's slap and her arms and torso were covered in various little bruises. She reached her hand around to her ass, touching it gingerly… it was incredibly sore and bruised from the spanking she had received.

Sookie didn't know how long she had till Eric would be back. Looking at the door, she thought briefly of making a run for it.

"Oh what's the fucking use. He'll just catch me."

Sookie laid some towels in the large bathtub and climbed in, lying down and closing her eyes. She felt like she was going to lapse into a coma at any second…

….

Meanwhile, having ending his call with Pam, Eric went back into the kitchen. He was determined to get off on a better footing with Sookie, and he hoped some food would do the trick. He knew she must have been famished and he also knew that she loved to eat, something he admired in a woman.

Having assembled a plate with a sandwich and some fruit, Eric headed back to the bedroom. He placed the plate on the bed and walked over to the bathroom door.

"Sookie? I have something for you to eat. Open the door," Eric spoke softly.

No answer.

Eric felt the anger tug within his body, but he attempted to rein it in. "We talked about this, Sookie… I will not hurt you. So please, open the door."

Eric waited, and then tested the door handle again. "Unlock the door Sookie, or I will break it down."

He counted to three, and growling a little, ripped the handle from the door, breaking the lock. Fully expecting Sookie to launch herself at him like some Amazon warrior, he was taken aback by what he saw.

Curled in the tub, Sookie was sound asleep. Eric approached her, crouching down.

Eric stroke her face with his hand, brushing the stray hairs out of her face.

"You are so beautiful, Sookie. An angel…. My angel."

Eric brought his face closer to hers, letting his eyes take in her beauty so that he could commit it eternally to his memory. Letting his lips touch her cheek delicately, he kissed her as he had not kissed a woman in centuries. He let all the desire and all the affection he felt for her flow through his body, channeling it into the sweetest and most tender caress he could ever give.

He lifted his head up and glanced down at her body, frowning—her body and underwear were both dirty. Using his quick vampire dexterity, he gently removed the towels from the tub without waking Sookie. He then proceeded to cut her bra and panties off using a pair of small scissors from the vanity cupboard.

He groaned audibly as he took her natural and glorious form—her breasts fell softly, sloping into the perfect curve against her torso. Her nipples were like tiny rosebuds, and inhaling her heavenly and musky scent, Eric was reminded of a summer garden in bloom. His eyes trailed southward, coming to a stop as he eyes feasted on the golden tendrils resting between her legs. Turning on the water, Eric allowed it to run warm and then put the stopper in the drain. Reaching around to the other side of the tub, he grabbed the soap and a small washcloth and began to slowly clean Sookie's body.

He dipped his arm into the water until it was almost elbow deep, savouring the silky feeling of the warm water and Sookie's skin. He noticed her twitch a few times, but not wake. He knew he had tired her out, but not this much…

"Let her sleep. I will worship her body."

Eric lifted both of her arms, running the cloth up and down till they were completely clean. He then proceeded to wash her shoulders, getting increasingly harder as he moved his hands downward. Cupping her breast in his hand as gently as he could, he ran the washcloth over them, pleased to see her body responding to his touch. Her nipples had perked up and Eric, ever the opportunist, leaned in and gave each one a caress with his tongue. Soaping the cloth as much as he could, he let his hand slip between her legs. Tracing light circles with the cloth, he rubbed and caressed her delicate mound over and over. Remembering his previous treatment of her the night before, he grimaced.

"This is how you should always be touched Sookie. This is how you will always be touched."

He groaned as he felt his cock hit his zipper painfully—reaching down with his free hand, he undid his pants, his manhood springing out urgently. As Eric continued to massage Sookie's pussy, he began to thrust his hand back and forth.

As he felt himself reaching nearer and nearer to climax, he dropped the cloth from his hand and slipped two fingers inside of her. Her own natural wetness could be felt against the water's and Eric imagined what it would be like to be inside of her at that very moment, feeling her incredible wetness and tightness against his cock.

Eric shuddered powerfully at that moment, coming into his hand. Removing his fingers from her core, Eric glanced up at Sookie's face, blissfully contented.

Sookie's eyes met his own, staring back in surprise….

And excitement.