Author's Note: Two chapters out in the same day? MERRY CHRISTMAS! Ha-ha. Even though we still have oh…22 days until Christmas? So what? Enjoy it and review! Ha-ha.
I own nothing!
XOXO-SharaMoon
Standing in the shower seemed to help my muscles relax a bit. I was wound tighter than I thought. I tried to relax my whole body but it didn't seem to help. I sighed; still heartbroken. What was I going to do? Eric literally tried to make a pass at me right after I broke up with Bill. This is a hard situation because honestly I couldn't find it in myself to be mad at Eric. What made me more scared was the fact that it was nice to have him around. I felt rather like jell-o when he was near me. It's like a drug; it takes away the pain.
I cut the water off and hopped out, realizing I didn't grab any clothes from my room. Shit. I cursed at myself. As silently as I could, I tiptoed down my hall and got to my door before I realized Eric was standing there in the hallway with me. I yipped.
"Hmm." He said cautiously. "You look even better in a towel. Though I wouldn't mind to see it hit the floor right now."
"Shut up." Was all I could say because my face turned chagrin. I heard him chuckled and my blush turned at least two shades darker.
I slipped into my room, managing to do so without him following. I went to my closet and grabbed a white long sleeved nightie. I threw it on quicker than anything and stepped back out into the hall and into the living room. Of course Eric was still there.
He looked up at me and his face turned to distaste. "That is ugly."
"Thanks for the compliment, Eric!" I rolled my eyes.
I watched him shrug. I knew something was bothering him, I might not be able to read vampire minds but I saw his expression.
"You ok?" I asked slowly. "Need more blood?"
His seriousness faded into an eye crinkling grin. "I could definitely drink some more of your blood, if you're offering."
"No I'm not," I said stiffly. "But I got some more True Blood in the fridge, I could get it."
Turning to leave, I got about two steps before his hand closed around my own.
"No, I'll get it. You just take it easy." He guided me toward the couch.
"Why should I take it easy?" I was confused.
"Because you are tired; I know." Eric said with a roll of the eyes.
I groaned. This thing between us was so annoying.
Eric was in the kitchen and I heard the microwave. It didn't take more than thirty seconds before he was back and sitting next to me on the couch.
"So what did you talk to Pam about earlier?" I asked, thinking about his phone call.
"Business." He said shortly.
"So that's all you're going to tell me?" I was annoyed now. "You know for someone that wants to get into my bed, sure doesn't trust me very much.
"It's not like you trust me." He laughed and I scowled. But it was the truth; I was not in the trusting mood right now. I said nothing to that but just stared.
"I don't trust humans." He said looking down at the bottle. Eric didn't say it harshly. More like matter-of-factly.
"I'm no ordinary human." I said and I was sort of hurt but I couldn't understand why.
Eric was quiet for a moment. "No, you're not an ordinary human," He agreed. "Your more."
"What's that suppose to mean? You trying to hurt my feelings, by saying I'm a nut job or something?" My voice jumped at least two octaves.
"No, actually I'm not. Your gift is special, to me and to my business but that's not what I meant either. What I meant was that you are something more to me than just a human."
"I don't understand you sometimes, Eric." I said shaking my head. Maybe this was all a bad dream?
"I don't understand myself half the time when it comes to you." He nearly whispered; as if he was talking to himself.
I didn't have anything else to say. What could I say to that? I didn't even know what it meant and quite obviously he had no clue either.
"Pam called to tell me that witches want to have a sit down with me." He said after taking a giant gulp of the blood.
Seriously, witches?
"What do they want?" I asked shocked.
"What do people always want?" He looked at me, seeing that he didn't see the answer in my eyes he went on. "They want money. So they want my bar and they want my blood and…" He stopped in his tracks.
"Go on." I urged cautiously.
"They want me. Well, the head witch wants me, I should say." He smiled at that. Oh, Eric; so full of himself.
"And you're going to let them have it? You?" I asked slowly.
He looked as if I went crazy, his blue eyes were wide. "No, I do not intend to let them have it but they are threatening me." He laughed as if they couldn't do it.
"Threatening you how?" I asked beyond my own self control I was angry.
"Who knows? A curse on my business? I have no idea." Eric's broad shoulders shrugged he didn't seem incredibly fazed by this.
"So what do you have to do now?" I whispered.
"Have a meeting with them and tell them I do not take kindly to threats." His voice was a growl. "I am over a thousand years old; I do not take shit from anyone." He smiled slightly at me.
"So why have you decided to tell me?" I asked. I couldn't help myself.
"That is a question I should ask myself more often." He looked at me directly. After a few seconds I couldn't look at him. I was weak. My eyes flickered to the hall.
"You are tired." He said again.
"Yes, I am very, very tired." I suppressed a yawn.
The next thing I knew I was up in his arms as he carried to my room. I tried to protest but he gave me a stern look. I couldn't find it in myself to argue after that, I was too sleepy.
I felt the bed at last and I sighed in relief. It felt so nice. My legs were then lifted and the blanket was dragged over my body. Eric covered me up, that was thoughtful.
Before I could say anything he was in the bed next to me.
"Eric, I never told you that you could lay in bed with me." I said annoyed.
"Fine, then I shall go." I felt him get up and something went through me.
"No!" I nearly shouted. He wasn't even expecting me to say it. His back froze.
"I mean please, just stay here tonight. You are suppose to protect me after all." I added.
"Where shall I stay?" I heard the smile in his voice.
"Right here." I leaned over and patted the floor next to the bed where I was laying.
"You want me to sit on your floor?" His voice was annoyed. "Are you serious?"
"Please?" I really didn't think he would do it. Eric was never one to do anyone's bidding. I wasn't going to be bent out of shape if he didn't but to my utter surprise he crossed the room.
I watched him fold himself to the floor. He lean his head back on my knee that was folded up to my chest. Something rushed to my heart but I shot it away.
"Thank you." I whispered.
Eric didn't answer back, but just sat there. I felt really bad in that moment. He must be humiliated. I didn't like that. Before I could stop myself; I reached down and grabbed his hand. Our faces were brushing against each other. I couldn't move; I froze in the act and I noted in that second of silence that his hand did not grab mine back. I didn't know where the urge came from to comfort him and he didn't either. We were both shocked. Color us puzzled.
Eric turned his head to the side and I felt his nose graze my temple as he breathed in. His hand then grasped a hold of mine and interlaced our fingers. To my utter astonishment, I let a breath out I didn't know I was holding. Also shocked at the fact that I was glad he complied, holding my hand. Then finally he leaned in and pressed is lips to where his nose grazed just a few seconds ago.
"Good night, Sookie." He whispered roughly.
I had to swallow hard and squeeze my legs together on that one. Let me just tell you, something so simple has never turned me on like that in my life before. This was a first.
"Good night, Eric." I said as I slowly leaned back against my pillows. Eric had to turn sideways and face me to keep a hold of my hand, but I let him do it. It was nice and quite honestly I was too far gone to care if I should wonder if it should bother me.
I didn't know what time it was. I didn't want to open my eyes. I felt the hand I have been holding onto while I slept slipping away from mine. I forgot who's hand it was. I gripped at it, trying to keep hold.
Then I heard him chuckle and my eyes flew open.
"Oh, I'm sorry." I whispered, dragging my hand up to my chest.
"I didn't mean to wake you but I have to go." Eric said to me. "The sun will be rising soon and I rather not sleep in your cubby hole." He was referring to the space Bill made incase if there was any emergencies and needed to stay here.
I nodded. I began to worry that I would break down again over Bill if Eric wasn't here to keep my mind on other places. Wow, that sounded so wrong. But it was true. With him here I felt like a wave of calm was forced into my system.
"You will be fine." He said as if he could read my mind. No, he couldn't do that, but he could read my feelings.
"I'm sure I will." I nodded again.
I felt the bed indent and then my eyes were meeting Eric's.
"Come to Shreveport tonight." He said suddenly. "After you get off work."
"How do you know I had to work?" I was sidetracked. "I haven't even called Sam to tell him I'm back.
"I also called your boss, to tell him you made it home." Eric said casually. "I thought you would want to work."
That was really sweet of him. I couldn't help but smile a little bit.
"Thank you, Eric." I said quickly. Maybe he wouldn't have caught it. Oh, who am I kidding! He is a vampire of course he caught it.
He didn't say anything in return. I knew he didn't like to talk feelings.
"Why do you want me to come to Shreveport?" I asked.
"So I can make sure you are ok. I don't know if I would be able to come back when the bar opens. I want to make sure you are safe. If you could get someone to stay with you for the night…" He said, but I cut him off.
"Eric, I really don't need protection. I will keep a few things. Some sort of silver, lemon juice and a big old bat, in case anyone human tries anything." I counted it off on my fingers and he laughed.
"Just check in with me." Eric said.
"How about a phone call?" I asked hopeful.
"No. What if someone was holding you captive and made you call me? They might make you say all is well." He smiled and I almost bought that.
"But you can feel my emotions, so you would know if I was in trouble or not." I said folding my arms feeling a vindictive pleasure.
"I want to make sure I see that for myself." He laughed. "Just come down, have a drink."
"Eric Northman, asking me to come to his bar to have a drink?" I said in mock horror. I laughed.
His smile faded. "You can't possibly want to be stuck in the house all the time."
"No you're absolutely right, I wouldn't but then again I might want to spend time with my friends too." I pointed out.
"Your friends do not know what you are going through. They have no idea but I do, I know everything and if you decided you wanted to talk I might be of service." He said looking me at me directly.
"I don't want to talk about it, not now. But if it will make you happy; God forbid how I feel; I will come." I sighed defeated.
Eric was right though. No one knew what I was going through, no one would understand. If I happened to want to talk about it at some point, I don't think my friends would really understand everything. Maybe Sam would, but he has his own problems. I don't want him to be pulled into mine as well. Eric knew everything that happened and my great-grandfather trusts him. Should I? I couldn't say I should because I have been burnt badly by my own vampire before. But at least I could annoy the hell out of Eric if I wanted to talk. Yes! That's the way I would look at it. Maybe I would get some fun out of making him go crazy right along with me. But then I thought about earlier about how bad I felt that Eric had to suffer with me and that plan was washed away.
Just then Eric looked out the window. It was still dark but I am sure the sun would be rising maybe in an hour or two. "I have to go." He whispered.
"Alright. I'll see you after work." I groaned. I didn't want to do it.
Eric's eyes met mine and his expression was unreadable. "One day, you will not always be so scornful towards me."
Then he was gone and I was sitting there with my jaw hanging open. Was I acting scornful to him?
