Chapter 7

"So does that make me some kind of Princess?" Sookie asked in shock. "I don't want to be a princess, I just want to be Sookie Stackhouse, barmaid. I can't be anything else." Sookie declared firmly and began to grow even more agitated when she continued to think about this.

"Eric leaned over closer to Sookie and took her face in his hands. Holding her still and very close to him he said "Sookie, you can be whoever you want to be. It is your choice. But know that I will not see you as a Fairy Princess, because I only see you as my Queen. You have far more power over me than any Fairy Princess could ever dream of." And with that comment he leaned in closer and kissed Sookie with such passion it took her breath away. After several moments, Eric pulled back only a fraction of an inch to allow Sookie to catch her breath and then he leaned back in to continue the kiss. Sookie felt the kiss all the way to her toes. God, could he kiss.

It was several minutes later before Sookie realized that she had laid back down and Eric was hovering over her in only a towel as he placed kisses up and down her jaw and moved down to her neck. In all her teenage years, Sookie use to imagine what it would be like to make out with a boy. She had dreamed up hundreds of fairy tale moments but not in a single one of those did she ever picture herself laying in a strange bed with a nearly naked Vampire Viking gently sucking on the veins running down her neck.

As Eric continued his exploration down her neck Sookie couldn't hold back a moan. Sookie moved her hands up the side of his waist and allowed her fingers to spread out over his amazing abs. Sookie had heard many women's thoughts on the human male body and they often drooled over what they called a six pack. But Eric…. Eric had what Sookie could only call a twelve pack. Sookie had never seen any man have a body as close to perfection as Eric Northman. He made Michelangelo's David look like a farm boy. There was no one to compare to Eric that Sookie could think of. And here Eric was with her. Why he wanted Sookie so much she could not understand. Sookie was nothing special. Just your average barmaid….with a telepathic skill….and a bit of Fae blood. Nothing special….right!

Sookie felt Eric's hand move to her knees and began to slide up under her sleeping shirt. Sookie gasped as Eric found his goal and began to rub his thumb back and forth across the top of her panties over her mound. Sookie's entire body began to throb as Eric began to drag his tongue across the tops of her breast coming closer and closer to her nipple. Sookie tilted her head back to try to desperately get her breath when she felt one of Eric's long fingers slip under the elastic of her panties in between her thighs and venture up into the quickly dampening folds.

"Eric!" Sookie gasped as one long finger found its way into her wet channel. Eric began to slowly but thoroughly fuck her with his long digit.

"No. Stop Eric. I can't" Sookie gasped as the reality of what was about to happen sunk in. Sookie could not deny what Eric was doing felt wonderful but she was not sure if this was the right thing to be doing. It was only a few weeks ago she thought she was in love with Bill and they were meant to be together. Now she was in bed with Eric and she did not know what that meant. Was he serious about being with her or was this just a game.

Eric removed his finger and lifted his head up from sucking on one of her hard nipples. Eric looked into Sookie's flushed and confused face. Sookie realized that if Eric wanted to continue there was nothing that she could do to stop him. She was powerless to fight him off. What was she thinking to get in this position?

Eric just looked at her for a few moments then he did something totally unexpected. He moved up to her and very gently kissed her on the lips then moved to lie beside her in the bed. He grabbed her by the hip and turned her to her side, removed his towel to toss it across the room and pulled the blanket up to cover them both. He then leaned back and turned the bedside lamp off and then snuggled up behind her to spoon. Eric wrapped his strong arms around Sookie and nuzzled his mouth and nose into her neck. He took a deep breath and said "Sleep now Sookie. Tomorrow is another night."

As Sookie laid there in the strong Viking arms, she wondered why he so easily stopped. Could he really care about her? Eric was a walking sex god and he knew it. He could have any woman he wanted without even using his glamour. Why was he always trying to get her? And now that he had her right where he wanted, why did he stop?

Tears stung her eyes as she realized he must really care about her. Why else would he stop? Why else would he be so gentle with her. Sookie realized no one had ever cared about her the way that this man, this vampire did. Bill had only used her and even if he did grow to care about her in the end, he still continued to lie and manipulate her and use her for his own needs. Sookie knew Eric wanted her badly right now. She could feel how badly he wanted her by the pressure against her nearly bare backside.

Eric only continued to nuzzle her and gently run his fingers up and down her arm as he held her close. Eric could feel her slight trembling and knew that she was scared. He did not want her scared of him. He wanted her to want him as much as he wanted her. The look of fear to a vampire is usually a big turn on but Eric did not want that from Sookie. When Eric entered Sookie's warm folds for the first time he wanted to see the look of desire and need in her eyes as he gave her pleasure, not fear.

Eric could wait. It would be worth it. Their first time would be perfect, not something she may regret later. If Eric was ever going to convince her to bond with him permanently, then he had to make sure Sookie was with him ever step of the way by her own choice. He would not force her to do anything she did not want to do.

In that instant Eric realized that he truly loved Sookie. He was not sure when he fell in love with her but he knew that she mattered to him more than any other ever had and he would never let her go. She was his. She was his mate. She was his partner. She was his eternity.

Eric felt a wet tear drop to his arm and realize Sookie was crying. He pulled her even tighter to his chest and whispered in her ear, "My Sookie. It is okay. I will never do anything you don't want. I am here with you and I am not going anywhere. I will not force you into anything. I will wait. I want you to want me as much as I want you. When we finally come to join, it will be perfect. And you will not shed any tears of fear because you will want this as much as I want this. Sleep now Sookie. rest."

Lying in the arms of one of the most powerful frightening vampires of all of North America, Sookie fell asleep in peace.

TBC