AN: Enjoy this chapter! Happy Reading! :)

Chapter 6

SPOV

I make my way from the hotel salon and even the skilled ministrations of the talented masseuses were unable to loosen the tenseness of my muscles as thoughts of Godric and Eric are still whirling through my restless mind. Am I wrong in pursuing another? Would it hurt Goddy to see me with another man? The very last thing I want to do is to hurt him any more than I already have.

But then, isn't that exactly why I'm pulling away? To give him a chance at finding another, someone who could return the unconditional love my dear friend is capable of? He deserves to find someone worthy of that kind of love, more worthy than myself, the woman who turned her back on him for the better part of five years. God, when did this all become so damn convoluted?

I walk to the elevator, a deep frown cast over my face as I press the button and lean against the wall to wait for the cart's arrival.

"Penny for your thoughts?" sounds a very familiar, masculine voice right at my ear, making me jump in surprise.

"Shit!" I cry out, turning to meet the smirking face of Eric as he reaches towards me to place his large hands upon my arms.

"Please, don't fall again," he answers back bemusedly to elicit a small smirk from me. "Man, I really need to stop sneaking up on you."

"That would be nice," I answer back lightheartedly as I meet his twinkling cobalt gaze. Lord, those eyes of his, beautiful. "Wait, weren't you golfing this morning? Where's Godric?" I question, gazing around to see no other members of the wedding party around.

"We just got back and your friend's in your room already," he tells me. I'm suddenly left frowning once more at the mention of Godric as my 'friend' and a defeated sigh escapes me, realizing I'm far from sure how to deal with the current predicament in which I've managed to find myself. "I thought a trip to the spa was supposed to relax you, but you, Lover, look tense, visibly so," he remarks, as I tilt my head in question.

"Did you just refer to me as Lover, Eric?" I question teasingly, seeing a devious grin spread over his handsome face.

"Wishful thinking on my part, I suppose," he answers back unabashedly and I can't help but laugh at his somehow refreshing boldness.

"Jumping the gun a bit, aren't we? We barely know one another," I tease back watching those stunning eyes of his alight with interest.

"I'd certainly like to remedy that, Lover," he answers back lowly and upon noting the sensual promise of his words, I feel a longing shiver running along my spine. "Perhaps you'd be agreeable to joining me for dinner tonight, just the two of us," he suggests and my heart is racing at the thought as I find myself nodding absently in return.

"Yeah, okay," I answer back softly, managing to bring a triumphant grin to his face that leaves his eyes sparkling beautifully before my enamored gaze.

"Good. I'll meet you right here, say eight o'clock?" he suggests as I'm only able to nod in response, suddenly finding myself speechless before this gorgeous man who for whatever reason, seems to be interested in me. He wraps his much larger hand around my own then, proceeding to lift my fingers to his lips and I'm left blushing profusely as he presses the lightest of kisses upon my fingertips. "Until tonight, Lover," he whispers to leave me gulping audibly as I nod my agreement.

The elevator dings behind me then, causing me to jolt back to reality as well as leaving jumping in surprise once more. Eric chuckles lowly before leading me towards the sliding doors and proceeds to press the button to my floor, which is a good thing really, since I don't think I've quite mastered function over my limbs, at least not in this beautiful man's presence. As the doors slowly start sliding closed, he sends me a smile full of dark promise, of such sensual potential that I find I'm unable to contain an anticipatory shudder once the doors finally slide firmly closed before me.

"Holy hot damn," I whisper, running my hands over my arms that are suddenly overwrought with goose bumps. How the hell is this man able to affect me like this? It's rather remarkable, as if he has some sort of supernatural gift of seduction or something. I find myself chuckling lightly at the thought as the elevator doors slide open and I make the short trek to my hotel room door.

I slide my card through the key slot and upon seeing the green, blinking light, slip inside. I stop dead in my tracks at the sight before me. Godric. How could I have forgotten about him even for a single second? I suppose my growing attraction for a certain blonde is to blame, but I feel guilty all the same as I note my old friend sitting alone in the dark, a far off look upon his face as he gazes out over the sun washed ocean view and I can't help wondering what it is he's thinking as I draw closer.

"Goddy?" I call softly, managing to startle him as he turns his surprised gaze towards me.

"Oh, Sook, hey," he answers back, granting me a small smile as I drop down to the couch beside him. "How was the spa?" he questions to leave me frowning once more as I recall the conflicting emotions this morning's conversation at said spa prompted within me.

"It was okay," I answer back, forcing a small smile to my face as I'm left wondering once more the best way to traverse our evolving relationship. "How was golfing?" I question mostly for politeness' sake only to note a crimson blush crawling up his cheeks.

"Um, good, it was good," he answers back, clearing his throat loudly as I'm left looking to him in question.

"Okay…," I answer back, unsure of just how to address his sudden change in demeanor. "I hope you don't mind, but I kind of made dinner plans for tonight," I admit, suddenly feeling a bit unsure of my acceptance of said dinner date.

GPOV

"Oh?" I question, trying my best to gain control of my thrumming embarrassment as my mind is still replaying the shared kiss between Eric and myself. Damn, get it together, Goddy!

"Yeah, I ran into Eric in the lobby," Sookie informs me to leave my eyes widening in surprise. Another warm flush finds its way across my cheeks to leave my friend looking to me in question once more. Ugh, this is impossible! How am I supposed to play it cool when I can't seem to gain control over my body's instinctual reactions upon hearing said man's name?

"And what did he have to say?" I ask of her, trying my best to keep my voice level as I note the light pink suddenly staining her golden cheeks in turn. I tense for a moment, wondering if he may have mentioned what happened between the two of us before a small smile forms over Sookie's face.

"He's the one I made dinner plans with tonight," she informs me to leave my gut wrenching painfully.

"He is?" I question softly, a frown forming upon my face as I'm suddenly unsure what hurts more; knowing Sookie, the woman I've loved for years is going out with another man, or that said man, the very one who has managed to instill these rather surprising, yet not entirely unwelcome feelings inside me seems to be moving on with another.

"I really like this guy, Goddy," she says then, leaving me having to force a small smile to my face. "There's just something about him," she adds to leave me sighing in defeat as I fall back upon the couch, knowing all too well just what she means.

"Tell me about it," I sigh out, seeing her send me yet another inquisitive look.

"Did something happen today?" she asks of me then, leaving me tensing beside her as images of Eric's twinkling cobalt gaze plays enticingly through the forefront of my mind. "You're not acting like yourself," she remarks, leaving me sighing once more as I nod my agreement, knowing I can certainly agree with that at least.

"Yeah, I'm just tired I guess," I outright lie, unable to bring myself to tell her what transpired between Eric and myself for more reasons than I can even begin to count.

"Alright," she answers back, granting me an indulgent smile. "Here," she says then, reaching over to take hold of a laminated brochure beside the phone. "Why don't you order in tonight and try and get some rest. We've still got a long week ahead of us."

"That we do," I sigh out, taking the offered menu as I realize this coming week is apt to be wrought with countless, unforeseen obstacles, especially in light of certain, recent developments. Sookie leans closer to press a soft kiss upon my forehead and I grant her a warm smile before watching her trail away to ready herself for the evening.

I glance down at the menu in my hands, but find I am unable to read the words as my mind is spinning with an array of contradicting thoughts that succeed in leaving my gut wrenching painfully once more. I toss the menu aside carelessly, knowing I'll be unable to stomach anything until I can finally make some sense out of my current predicament. So much has happened in such a short amount of time and I'm unsure where to even start if I'm to process it all.

Sookie. This all started with her, so this, naturally, is where I must logically begin. I love her, my best friend, yet in an attempt to grant her broken heart some time to mend, held back in revealing the extent of my feelings for her. Then Eric entered the picture. My heart races at the very thought of said man, as I'm suddenly replaying his teasing kiss over in my mind and it's with much difficulty that I'm finally able to push such thoughts aside, at least for now.

Sookie has developed feelings for the golden haired, muscle bound man named Eric and just last night, I encouraged her to pursue him, telling myself I would not stand in the way of her happiness, even if it led her into the arms of another. But, what I did not foresee in encouraging her in her chase was my own surprising attraction to the very same man; an attraction I'm nowhere near coming to terms with.

Am I going completely insane? I had thought Eric's kissing me was proof of his attraction for me, an attraction I apparently return for this man who, come to find out, I surprisingly share many common interests with as well as enjoying his easy company. So what gives?

Does he actually hold feelings for me, or did that kiss mean nothing at all to him? Why would he go and invite my best friend out to dinner only minutes after sending my heart racing with his endearing smiles and promising kiss? Is this all just some kind of sick game he's playing with the two of us? Or could his teasing flirtations serve a much more diabolical purpose?

Could it be he's only manipulating me in an attempt to win Sookie for himself? Would he do that? Is he even capable of such appalling behavior? I suppose I don't really know him well enough to be entirely certain. What I do know is I need answers and soon. I won't see Sookie's heart broken, not again. I also need to ensure I don't fall victim to a similar fate at the hands of this man who I apparently don't know nearly enough about.

"Well?" Sookie's voice sounds before me, abruptly bringing me from my troubled thoughts to leave me glancing up to meet her elated gaze as she twirls before me in her pretty, floral sundress.

"You look beautiful, Sook," I answer back earnestly, rising to my feet before her. A glowing smile stretches over her face to leave my heart pinching painfully, realizing her current ecstatic mood is due to another's attentions.

"Thanks, Goddy," she answers back softly before her arms wrap around me tightly. I return the gesture, folding her into my embrace as a small frown forms over my face.

"Please, just be careful, Sookie," I ask of her, gaining her attention as she pulls away to grant me an inquisitive gaze. "I just don't want to see you hurt again," I expand, earning a light nod in response.

"Alright," she answers back, her eyes shining with sudden uncertainty. I press a soft kiss upon her forehead in an attempt to console her once more and upon noting her soft smile, am left returning the gesture. "Will you be here when I get back?"

"Of course," I answer back, knowing full well I'll be left anxiously pacing until her inevitable return. She presses a soft kiss upon my cheek before making her exit and my heart lurches painfully as I watch her go. I have absolutely no idea what Eric's intentions are and can only hope he doesn't manage to leave Sookie feeling as utterly defeated by nights end as I currently find myself.