Eric

I awoke the next morning with Sookie's back to my chest, her sweet scent making my mouth water as she intoxicated me. I could tell that she had been awake during the day as she had on a pale blue satin nightdress, but I was pleased that she had chosen to come back to me before sunset.

The night before had gone much better than I had anticipated. I had expected some resistance from her, but she seemed to accept what Niall had told her and she fully understood that us bonding was important. Although I had my own doubts initially, the more time I spent with her the more I wanted her to be mine. I was not used to having this kind of addiction to a human, even if she wasn't completely human, but she seemed almost as addicted to me. I had never known a human have such vivid dreams without having ingested vampire blood, but then I had not given any of my blood to anyone since making Pam, and only twice before that.

It had always been considered strange that Niall and I had remained acquaintances over the years, as any friendship between vampires and fairies was abnormal, and particularly ones as old and powerful as Niall and I were. But his knowing that I was the mate of one of his family was an odd one. Fairies were not known for prophecies, and it almost seemed that Sookie shared the same knowledge in saying she felt safe with me from the start. That was not something I was used to.

I had deliberately tested Sookie upon rising the previous night. I had seen from the cameras that Sookie was looking exquisite in a red dress as she'd obviously noticed my reaction to her red night gown the night before. She looked stunningly beautiful and good enough to eat in the fitted red dress that hugged her every curve. I was anxious to get to her and as soon as the sun set behind the horizon I was up and into the living room, my shirt in my hand. Her eyes were devouring me in much the same way that I was devouring her, a look of hunger in her eyes. And I was not disappointed later when I finally got her on her own. I could tell her inexperience, but she was willing to learn and I looked forward to all that I could teach her.

She stirred in my arms, inadvertently rubbing her bottom against my stiffening cock and I let out a soft moan into her ear.

"Hey," she says in a breathy voice

"How are you this evening my love? How was your day?"

"Good, I didn't do much. What time is it?"

"A little before seven. The sun will be setting in around half an hour."

She turned to face me looking a little shocked. "You're awake though?"

"Older vampires can wake before the sun sets, we do not need as much sleep as a younger vampire."

"Good to know," she smiled and kissed me softly on the cheek and I pulled her closer to me. She hooked her knee over my hip and I could not help but rip the nightdress off her she was wearing. I would replace that, and I had a feeling I would be bad news for her clothes. The feel of her breasts against my chest was exquisite and I kissed her softly, allowing her to deepen the kiss as she started to grind into my hardness.

"Sookie," I warned. I was approaching the point of no return and I was desperate to be inside her.

"I want this, I want you." She was echoing her words of the night before.

I rolled over so that she was beneath me and started kissing her softly, placing gently kisses over her face and neck, nibbling slightly on her shoulder but not leaving any lasting mark. "Sookie, you understand what this will mean, if we bond?"

"Yes. I will be yours as you will be mine."

"You will be considered to be my wife. You want that?" I studied her face closely as she considered her response.

"It's an unusual way of you asking me to marry you, but yes, I do want that."

I looked deep into her eyes and felt emotions within me that had laid hidden for a millennium. I was falling for this human. I was beginning to love her and I knew I would love her for the rest of my time on this plane. She leaned up and nibbled at my neck, running her teeth along my neck and eliciting a growl from deep within my chest. I pulled her face to mine and kissed her softly, my tongue exploring her lips and mouth as she did the same to me, familiarising ourselves with each other.

Her hands were gripping tightly in my hair as I left her mouth and slowly began my descent downwards. I was nibbling at her neck and pulse point, allowing my fangs to softly graze her skin causing moans of pleasure from the beautiful blonde beneath me. She was already writhing and panting beneath me, moaning my name as my kisses and nips went further south. Her hands were desperately touching any part of me that she could and her touch felt like fire on my cool skin. This woman was truly warming and igniting my soul.

My own hands were roaming over her body as my mouth found her breasts and I began to lick and suck, taking each nipple into my mouth in turn and allowing the faintest trickle of blood to seep from each nipple as she moaned and gasped with pleasure beneath me. Allowing my hands to carry on teasing her breasts my mouth moved lower, kissing her flat tan belly and licking her until my mouth reached her curls.

Knowing what was coming she looked up at me as she opened her legs for me. Keeping eye contact all the time I gently licked, kissed, sucked and nibbled at her nub as she writhed beneath me. She was holding tightly onto my hair, pulling me closer to her centre and I relished the slight pain she caused. As I continued to massage her clit with my tongue I slowly entered a finger into her, dipping into her moisture and alternating fingers so my fingers were wet. I pushed in further then before, stretching her entrance but all the time checking I was not causing her too much pain.

As I slowly worked two fingers into her and she reached her first orgasm of the night my fingers met with the barrier of her hymen. I removed my fingers and punctured my fingertip to rub my blood on her as I breached her barrier. Sookie did not seem to notice I had done this, and I allowed myself to taste the blood that seeped from her wound before I healed her. She tasted truly heavenly and I allowed myself to momentarily lose myself in her intoxicating blood.

I resumed slowly pushing my fingers further into her as she writhed around and bucked into my hand, intent on taking more of my fingers as I added a third. She was moaning louder as I increased the pace and depth that my fingers were working at, all the time softly licking, sucking and nibbling at her mound, my free hand softly stroking her warm body.

"Eric, please," she moaned after I'd given her her second orgasm, "I want you."

"My love, I am only preparing you, I do not want you to hurt."

"I need this, I need you."

I was desperate to be within her and from her moans and her words it was evident that she also wanted it. I bit my fingers once more and rubbed my blood on the inside of her walls to numb what was coming and I crawled up her body, kissing her softly as I made my way to her lips which greeted me eagerly.

"Sookie, my love, I need you to relax. This is still likely to be a little painful."

"I know, but I want you."

I could contain myself no longer, so after positioning myself at her entrance I slowly pushed into her, kissing and stroking her the whole time, whispering words of love and encouragement as I slowly entered into her millimetre at a time. I paused for her to adjust to my size and only once I felt her relax did I continue. It was a long process before I was fully encased inside her, and a few tears had escaped her eyes which I wiped away and popped into my mouth, but I was patient and I needed her to enjoy the experience.

She felt incredible, warm, wet and tight around me with the scent of her arousal and blood filling the room. It was taking all of my self control to not ravish her or drain her dry, but I simply stayed still to allow her to stretch around my length. When I felt her move beneath me and she opened her eyes I kissed her softly and began to make slow shallow movements which had her moaning instantaneously. She wrapped her legs around me pulling me in deeper and she let out a loud guttural moan from deep in her throat and I picked up the pace, drawing further and further out of her only to push all of the way back in.

I could tell that she was close to release, and not being to far off myself I increased my pace further as I slid in and out of her as she threw back her head and moaned my name and a string of expletives as her walls clamped around me.

"Sookie, look at me." Her head snapped back up and her eyes were locked on mine as I continued to move softly within her. "I'm going to bite you now, and I want you to bite me hard to draw blood."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"You will not, I promise."

I smiled and kissed her softly on the lips, trailing soft, wet kisses down her neck until I reached her sweet spot. I licked the place I intended to bite, my thrusts picking up pace again, and I bit her smooth skin as she moaned loudly. Her blood was sweet and rich as it consumed my being. I became aware of her hot breath on my own neck and felt her blunt teeth bite hard into my skin, which broke under her bite. I could feel her sucking at the wound and my blood seeping into her mouth for the first time.

I was instantly filled with her emotions – lust, satisfaction, warmth, maybe a little fear and pain but also something else, something deeper. I felt it when another orgasm exploded through her which triggered my own. I had never had a more intense orgasm as I shared Sookie's emotions with her and we both rode out our orgasms as we drank from each other.

I had to pull away from Sookie slightly as it looked like she would re-bite my healed skin and I lazily licked the wounds on her neck to heal them. I'd rolled onto my back and she moved onto her side and wrapped her body around mine. I laid there slowly breathing in her scent as her own breathing and heart rate returned to normal.

She turned her head up to me. "I feel … different. I can feel you, sense you. I can tell that you're happy."

"I am."

"What will this mean for us? This is permanent right? I'll always be able to feel you like this? What happens if we're further away from each other?"

"We'll have a strong connection over miles, though after that I believe that we'll be able to sense each other, know where the other is. However Niall said that our bond will be strong so in truth I do not know everything until we test it. You are mine now, Miss Stackhouse." I kissed her softly on the nose.

"Is it similar to what you have with Pam as her maker?"

"Yes in some ways, though I feel a much stronger connection to you. Hers I can switch on and off and I have more power and control over her. I would not be able to influence you as I can her. Except maybe to make you enjoy yourself!" I pushed strong feelings of lust through the bond and watched as her cheeks reddened and she squirmed on the bed next to me.

"Thank you."

"For what, giving you great orgasms?"

"Well yes, you certainly have a gracious plenty down there, but thank you for being so gentle. I guess I always had hang ups around sex having only seen it in the minds of others, including women that had been hurt and abused. Promise me that you will never be rough with me."

"I promise you that. Unless of course you ask for it!" I winked at her and she slapped me on the chest. I had not thought about some of the horrors that Sookie must have seen in the minds of others concerning sex and violence, and I made a mental note to protect her from that as much as I possibly could. "Sookie, I'm sorry that I did not consider this. I understand now why you would consider what a vampire does to be tantamount to rape."

"Eric, no. I understand as well. I get that glamouring was the only way that you guys have stayed under the radar for so long, and I certainly now see that blood and sex to come hand in hand with you. I guess I've just seen some pretty horrible things. I just need you to be gentle with me, at least at first."

"That, I will be. Though seriously, gracious plenty? I prefer enormous."

She rolled her eyes. "Well I don't want to expand your ego too much."

We laid together for a while longer just enjoying each other's company as we explored the bond that we now shared. We were interrupted however by the sound of Sookie's belly rumbling.

"Have you eaten today, lover?"

She looked a little sheepish. "I had a bowl of cereal earlier, but I haven't had much. I guess I am a little hungry."

"Well lets feed you being that you've been good enough to feed me." I took her hand and pulled her out of bed as we got dressed. I think she was a little surprised that I had clothes for her in my room as well, but she didn't make any comments as we walked back up to the kitchen. She pulled some things out of the fridge and cupboards and started cooking for herself as I watched on. Once her food was cooked I grabbed a bottle of the new blood substitute, heated it for the specified time and sat and watched her eat.

She looked at the bottle I was drinking intently. "You said that in a few weeks the vampires will be public?"

"That is correct. In two weeks time the whole world will know that vampires do in fact exist."

"And then what, how will things change?"

"It will mean we can all be more open, feeding will be easier as there will be those who will freely give their blood to a vampire. We will eventually be recognised as citizens and we will not have to hide in the shadows. We know there will be opposition from the church groups – there always has been – but we will be able to be more open."

"Does that mean I can go out with you?"

I realised that she must have a lonely existence, and I would not be able to be with her the whole time. She'd not been used to the world outside and would need a guide. "Sookie, please tell me, do you feel lonely during your days, do you wish you had someone else?"

"As in other than you? No, I only want you."

"I meant more as a friend. I'm happy for you to be out and about, but I would not want you alone and you do not know the ways of the world. I would assign you a guard, probably a Were, but do you wish for more, did you have any friends in the institution?"

"Not really. The only one I did get on with was Amelia but I only knew her for a week or so before you sprung me. She is a witch, and from her thoughts and memories she seems a powerful one. She was the only one who ever truly believed me." I could tell that she did indeed feel a little lonely and remembered that the Were Herveaux had told me Tray Dawson wanted to spring the witch from her the institution.

"Alcide Herveaux approached me previously about getting her out, and I will do that if it pleases you. As long as I could trust her I would have her brought here. She will also be good protection for you if she is as good as you say she is."

Her face brightened and I could tell that she liked the idea. "I guess it would be nice to have some company, though I don't want to compromise your safety."

My dead heart swelled at her concern for me. "I will be fine if you can confirm she is trustworthy. I will speak to the Were and we'll get her out. Tell me, are there places you wish to go?"

"I haven't really thought. Your home here is beautiful, I feel comfortable here, but I guess I'd like to do normal things. Shopping, eating out and stuff. I know we can't do that at the moment, but I'd like to do those things with you."

It was understandable that she wished to have as normal a life as possible as she'd spent the previous ten years stuck in that institution. The only problem right now was Sophie-Anne. I didn't want to risk her being seen and someone trying to take her. I knew that I needed to speak to the queen soon. She would have no right to take Sookie now that we were blood bonded and would have to petition to me to use her abilities. If only Sophie-Anne was that honourable.

"We will, I promise." I kissed her softly on the forehead and led her into the garden once she'd finished her meal. I sat her down on a sun lounger by the pool as she leaned against me, her hand softly playing with my hair.

We'd sat for some time enjoying the closeness of each other when she turned in my arms and faced me. "What of my family? I'd always wondered about them." Her eyes searched mine as I took an unnecessary breath.

"When Niall first approached me about you I instantly recognised your name. I understand that you were given a false name to distance you from them?" She nodded. "Your father has been a businessman in Shreveport for as long as I've been here, which has been around three years."

"You've met him?"

"On occasion. Obviously my business dealings have always been either through my day people or at night, and more often than not your father has sent one of his own people. Would you want to see him again?"

"I honestly don't know. At first I was always very bitter towards my family for putting me in there, but over the years I have become indifferent towards them. I'm not sure what I would feel if I saw any of them."

"I could kill them for you?" I asked with an element of humour to let her know I wasn't completely serious.

"I'm sure you would!" she laughed. "I guess I'd like to be a fly on the wall, see what they're all up to."

"I could take you on a fly by one night if you want.

"I'd like that."

"You have a brother, Jason?"

"Yeah, he's three years older than me."

"I have met him a few times, he seems very business driven though maybe not the sharpest tool in the box."

She laughed. "He never was! Were you able to glamour him?"

"What makes you think I would glamour your brother?" I ask, raising my eyebrows.

"Just a hunch!" she laughed.

"Yes, I have. I guess he doesn't have the same blood that you have."

"You haven't drank from him then?"

I laughed. "No, I generally don't drink from business associates, its too risky. And anyway I've always preferred to drink from females – they taste better." I suddenly sensed sadness from her, but I could also see a pained expression on her face. I pulled her closer to me and lifted her chin with my thumb so her eyes were on mine. "Sookie, I will not drink from anyone else, I promise you that. I am yours as you are mine. And quite simply, your blood has spoiled me for anyone else, you taste divine."

She smiled again, but I could still feel her anxiety. "But will I be able to feed enough to you, I mean, you're very big and I …"

"My love, I am very old and I do not need much blood to feed on. Your blood will happily sustain me and anyway, now the blood substitutes are around I will be able to drink those."

"But I can tell you hate them!"

"Maybe, but I have no intention of feeding of any others."

"Thank you."

She leaned in and kissed me, softly at first but as she pulled her body flush to mine she deepened the kiss. I allowed her to take control as she moaned and panted into my mouth, our tongues dancing together. She pushed me back onto the sun lounger and crawled her small frame on top of mine as I could feel the heat from her as she ground onto me.

She withdrew her mouth, her stared deep into my eyes. "I never want to leave you, Eric. I could happily live here until the end of my days."

"Would you want to become vampire?"

"I haven't really thought about it to be honest. But to be with you, maybe."

I could not keep the smile off my face and was certain that Sookie could sense my pleasure as she began to nibble down my neck. "I want you, Eric."

I could hardly refuse her and we began to kiss each other and quickly remove our clothes to get as close to each other as possible. She was still sat straddled across my lap when all clothing had been disposed of and I flipped her over, my mouth reaching her mound as she held her breath in anticipation. I began to suck and nibble at her as I inserted two fingers into her already wet entrance. I could tell from her slight gasping that she was a little tender, so I withdrew my fingers and punctured them to apply my healing blood to her insides as I rubbed her.

Once she'd reached her peak I positioned myself at her entrance and pushed my emotions through the bond to this small creature beneath me. I had never known love in my life or undeath, but I was fairly certain I was feeling the beginnings of it. I could not even think of being away from her, I needed her like oxygen I used to breathe. I pushed in slowly to allow her to adjust again, but it didn't take long for her to start moving beneath me and soon I had picked up the pace and we were both moaning in pleasure. I lifted her up in my arms and held her as I continued to thrust into her tight entrance, my fangs grazing her shoulder as her first orgasm hit and she clenched around me.

Her moaning was increasing the whole time and she soon spurred me on to own orgasm as I felt her bite down on the nipple she'd been softly sucking. I let out a string of expletives in various languages as I came and she again orgasmed with a scream of my name.

I held her in my arms as she came back down to earth and she started giggling in my arms.

"What?"

"I was just hoping that you don't have any neighbours!"

"None within a good few hundred metres." I chose not to mention the Were guards who without doubt would have heard us. "Come, lets go back inside, I need to speak to Pam concerning the witch."

Once dressed I picked her up and carried her back inside where she went to watch a further episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, much to my amusement. I went back downstairs to my office and first called Pam. She answered on the second ring.

"You have bonded with her?" she asked immediately to my surprise.

"Yes. You can tell?"

"Our bond felt different. She is good then, your telepath."

I chose not to answer that question. "I need you to speak to the Were Tray Dawson. He helped get Sookie out of the hospital, but it seems there is also a witch in there who became a friend of Sookie's and she may be useful. Speak the Dawson about him being a daytime guard to Sookie, and if he agrees get the witch out of the hospital and bring her here tomorrow night. Dawson can guard the pair of them, but I also expect the witch to look out for my bonded. I will speak to them myself tomorrow night."

"Of course. Do we need to be stealthy?"

"As much as you can, but its more likely that the witch will be missed than Sookie since she was in solitary confinement and has been replaced. Just get her out and try not to be seen."

I gave her Tray Dawson's number and sat down to answer some emails I had been neglecting until I was interrupted by the phone. I recognised it as the Queen's number.

"Northman, the Queen wishes to speak with you." It was her child, Andre's voice.

"Certainly." I could hear the phone being passed to Sophie-Anne. "Your Majesty, what do I owe the honour of your call?" I hated the sucking up, but sometimes it was necessary.

"Northman, what do you know of Sookie Stackhouse?"

Fuck. "Why, your Majesty?"

"I ask the questions. Tell me."

"I am aware that she is a telepath."

"And how do you know that?" I could hear the venom in her voice and took great enjoyment in having one over her.

"Because she is my bonded."

"WHAT?" I could hear that she'd thrown something and I removed the handset from my ear. "You were responsible from removing her from the hospital?"

"She was in my area, it was my right to." Sophie-Anne knew that.

"How did you know about her."

"I glamoured one of the staff and found out," I lied with ease.

"I want her brought to me and she will remain resident at my palace. Her cousin Hadley is my newsest child. I will not have you stand in my way." She sounded murderous, but I fully expected this.

"With all due respect, your Majesty, she is going nowhere without my saying so. And I do not wish for her to be leaving Shreveport."

"That is not respect, Viking. You will bring her here."

I was getting pissed off now, but all the while mindful to keep my emotions hidden from Sookie as she would not be used to this kind of anger. "I will not. And I don't think I need to remind you that you are only in your position as I have not wanted to be King of Louisiana. I have been a king before and I can easily do it again. My area already makes a lot of money for Louisiana and that will increase once vampires are in the open. You need me, Sophie-Anne, more than I need you."

The line was silent for a few moments and I imagined she was talking to Andre. "Fine, Sheriff, you can keep her for now. But I want access to her when I want it."

"That can be arranged for a price and certain terms and conditions."

"Northman...," she said in a warning tone that I fully intended to ignore.

I interrupted her. "I will speak to you further if and when any such situation arises, and we can negotiate price on an ad hoc basis depending on what you wish her to do. Good night, your Majesty."

I hung up on her and immediately dialled Niall's number and informed him of my conversation with the Queen.

"It's probably better now that she does know. Have you completed your bond?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now that she is bonded it is likely to propel her Fae abilities. She will need help and training with that. I have assigned her cousin Claudine to help her with that. She is a full blooded fairy, but I can provide her with a dampening down spray that will hide her scent. However I suggest you take extra care with your bonded and find them a space to train that you do no enter."

"I can do that. I will also assign her Were guards and I am in consideration of allowing her witch friend from the institution to stay with her for company."

"I am aware of the witch, she will be of use to you." I was certain that Niall was not going to explain how he knew of the witch so I let it go.

"Fine. Ask the fairy to call me before she enters my home. It is for her own safety. I have outbuildings that I do not use that would be of use to them."

"That is good."

We both hung up and I sent a few emails regarding the conversations I'd had and then went upstairs to find Sookie where I left her. I went to sit next to her and watched with her until the end of the Buffy episode, finding it really quite hilarious. I led her out of the media room and into the living room.

"I need to tell yo about the phone conversations I've just had." She nodded and I carried on. "Pam will speak to the Were about busting your witch friend out of the hospital and she will be brought here. I will also speak to Tray along with a few others about increasing the guards for you should you wish to leave during the day." She was apprehensive about leaving me, which pleased me in some ways, but I did want her to have some independence.

"I also have spoken to the Queen and she is now aware that you are mine." A jolt of fear ran through her and I pulled her to me. "She was not happy, but she knows the law and she also knows that I could easily kill her. I have many allies both within this state and elsewhere. If she tries anything I will have the right to send her to her final death, and she knows that. I have contacted the Majister regarding this and if she steps out of line, there will be repercussions.

"I have told Niall and he mentioned that now we are bonded your Fae abilities are more likely to come into force. He will be sending your cousin Claudine, who is a full blooded fairy, to assist you."

"Is that safe? Can she mask her scent like Niall can?"

"She has a spray, but I will provide you with a space in one of the out buildings that I do not use, and it would also be worthwhile if you showered before seeing me. Unless of course you want me to ravish you!" I smirked at her and she rolled her eyes.

"We'll have to see, won't we?"

I let out a growl as I moved in to kiss her. "Come, let me bathe you."

I led her downstairs and into the bathroom, washing her hair and relishing the closeness. I could tell that she was tired, so I led her back into the bedroom and laid with her until she fell asleep. After calling Pam and finishing off my work I joined her, wrapping my body around her as I drifted off into sleep for the day.