SVM belongs to Charlaine Harris

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I am so, so sorry about the long wait- I will make it up to you, I promise. I was faced with a deadly combination of work, writers block, and bad luck, so please forgive me.

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I am using the dream thing from TrueBlood, because I really liked the idea. The words are the same, so, just in case: TrueBlood belongs to Alan Ball (I think) or whoever else owns it- not me.

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one last thing- This chapter may be a little less well-written, because when I was writing it, i was still under a lot of pressure. I will probably go back this week and edit it some more, but until then--here you go.

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The ride home was awkward, to say the least. Sharply self-conscious and incredulous at my behavior, I stared sullenly out the window of the corvette as Eric sped down the road, breaking all speed limits, and probably a world record or two, as well. He seemed lost in thought, though a normal man would have required all his concentration to drive so recklessly.

Then again, Eric wasn't normal, or a human man for that matter. I briefly wondered if vampires could get an erection, and right away vividly recalled Eric's hard length pressed against me during my lust-hazed attack. Oh, they most definitely could. If all vampires were as well-endowed as Eric, I could understand why there were so many fangbangers.

But then, Eric was one of a kind. He had to be. No one else could reach his level of physical appeal and perfection. If they could, all he females in the world would one day spontaneously combust, as I was close to doing.

I reflected on the events of the night. For all that Eric was angry at me for ignoring his summons, although I could not fathom the reason why-- clearly, vampires expected subservient behavior from humans-- , he did help me today. He rescued me from the Were on drugs, although his methods of disposing of the body were not much to my liking. He was entitled to the meal, though, so I decided to forget that. It was either the Were or me.

Eric also healed me—admittedly, he didn't explain the effects his blood would have on me fully, but I probably didn't ask right. I should have learned by now that vampire politics were very different from human ones, and that I should stay on my toes around them.

I should have questioned more persistently, and besides, the blood did heal me very nicely. I would have had scars otherwise, and, truthfully, that would have been very bad for me, as I pride myself on smooth and tan skin. Besides, the effects of the blood weren't so bad after all. Already, I could barely feel the scratches on my back, and I was sure they would be completely gone by morning.

I also felt sharper, somehow—I could see many things in the night I hadn't before, and my ears picked up the sounds of crickets and night birds even over the hum of the Corvette.

I had been very pleasantly surprised about Eric's proposal. $1K was a lot of money, and only for one night!

Of course, I had to keep my head about this whole deal—I didn't trust Eric farther than I could throw him, which wasn't very far, despite my overall well being after drinking his blood. Speaking of which—how did one become a vampire?

"Eric?" If this would turn me all of a sudden, I would be very pissed off.

"Yes, Sookie?" Eric shook out of his reverie and looked straight at me, despite the fact that we were hurtling down the road at over a hundred miles an hour. I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing my fear.

Instead, I asked him my question as calmly as I could, suddenly panicked at what the answer would be.

"The blood you gave me…will it turn me into a vampire?"

He looked surprised at the question, then laughed, and it was as if a humongous weight had lifted off my shoulders.

"No, no, my lover, of course not. I forget how little you know of our world. In order to turn you, I would have to drain you to the point of death, then feed you my own blood, and sleep underground with you for three days. If I were to turn you, I would be your master, your Maker, and you my Child. We would share an unbreakable bond, and walk together under the moon and stars for hundreds of years until you decide to leave me for a while, like Pam did. I can call her back any time I need her, though."

I was surprised. "Pam is your child?"

"Yes, and she loves it. Why this sudden interest? Are you offering yourself?" He looked both incredibly smug and…a little hopeful. I knew without a doubt that if I said yes then, he would not hesitate to turn me that same night.

I shuddered at the thought. To never see the bright sun again, be confined to the coldness and darkness of the vampire world…

Shuddering again, I replied, trying to keep the distaste out of my voice lest I offend him, "No, thanks."

He shrugged and turned to the road again, as if to say that he didn't care either way, but not before I saw confusion and skepticism on his face. He must have heard my true feelings, then. Or maybe he used the bond—I would have to always mind that, then. Keep not only my mind shut, but my emotions blocked off, too. What wonderful things vampires brought to me already!

Meanwhile, we had arrived at the driveway. The whole ride took less than twenty minutes. I was glad, too. All the excitement of last night left me tired to the bone, and I was fighting to stay awake by the time Eric's car ambled through my rocky driveway to the front porch. He commented lightly, "You need a new driveway."

I was too tired to take offense and sighed, "Can't afford one."

He glanced at me from the corner of his eye, but said nothing, and I was too tired to wonder what he was thinking. I got out of the car, dead on my feet, and stumbled to the front door. Eric was there, like the gentleman he was not, and helped me up the porch. I gave him a tired smile of gratitude and said, "Thanks. And sorry about attacking you again. It won't happen again." I blushed again at the memory, which would probably haunt me forever.

He gave me that trademark smirk of his, and leered, "I don't mind. Feel free to…attack me like that any time. And I'll hope very hard that you will recant those last words before long."

He leaned down to give me a kiss on the cheek, and as his cool, tantalizing smell wafted over me, it was all I could do not to turn my head and give him a big smack on the mouth. But even in the tired state that I was in right now, I could tell that this would lead to other things, wonderful and pleasant things, to be sure, but ones I would probably regret in the morning.

I let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding as he stepped away from me, his eyes dark and penetrating even in the dim light. I forced myself to turn away, say goodbye, and close the door on him and all his decadent six feet four inches of sinful goodness.

I leaned against the door and sighed deeply, straightening when I heard his laugh floating away. Damn it, he must have heard me. I trudged to my bedroom, and fell asleep instantly, inhaling the delicious scent of Eric on the white shirt.

I awoke on what seemed like a huge, feather soft crimson bed, dark light casting everything else into comforting shadows. I was lying on my side, facing the edge of the bed, while a large, cold hand was slowly tracing invisible patterns on my shoulder. Still partly asleep and very comfortable where I was, I just sighed in pleasure as the hand began exploring, trailing down my arms, up my neck, leaving goose bumps in its wake.

It started caressing me down from my neck to my shoulder, my waist, and finally settled on my bare hip. One finger hooked around my hipbone, and pulled me over to face a beautiful and relaxed Eric, in all his wonderfully nude glory.

"Finish your sentence," he said abruptly, frowning at me slightly, as if I were a puzzle he couldn't quite solve.

I laughed in surprise, "What was I saying?"

"You were telling me how you would make a terrible vampire, and I was disagreeing," he answered, looking at me intensely with those ancient glacial eyes.

I considered the question, but just couldn't quite bring myself to be serious and grim, not when I was feeling lighter and happier than ever before.

"Well I don't feel right without at tan," I smiled at him sweetly. This was true. My tan was one of the few things I was proud of. Eric chuckled lightly at my answer, and continued to contemplate me, obviously waiting for me to continue.

All the while, his hand was making circles across my bare skin, making me shiver with delight and almost lose my train of thought.

I laughed with him, and insisted, "Well, it's true." Then I thought some more, trying not to be distracted by his beautiful, skilled hand, which was now caressing my neck. "I'd rather be alive than undead…and then y'all are always so cold and mean…" I trailed off, looking at him with tender reproach.

Now that I was here with him, I couldn't quite recall what truly made the idea so horrible.

He thought about what I said, and smiled at me, showing his gleaming fangs.

"You'd adapt, just like we all do…trade the sun for the moon and stars." And me, his eyes seemed to say silently, as his gaze darkened and his touch became more insistent and pleasing.

"Not me, I want it all," I teased, watching with interest as his hand threaded through my hair, almost the same color as his, and brought my head closer to his.

He leaned in and whispered across my neck, "oh, greedy." His full, sculpted lips began placing feather light kisses across my collarbone, neck, ear, then jaw, moving up to my chin, my cheeks, my eyelids…finally drifting to a centimeter from my parted mouth.

"I love it." His breath fanned my face, and as my breath hitched, his mouth descended on mine, and then he was kissing me.

Softly at first, then with increasing urgency, and I gave back as good as I got. Meanwhile, his hands, his smooth, large, skilled hands began exploring my skin, dipping in every hill and valley, finally settling on my breasts.

I moaned into his mouth, and moved closer to him. He lifted his mouth from mine, and I gasped at the loss—but he was trailing kisses down my jaw, my ear, my neck…I looked down at him.

He was staring up at me, his eyes a dark, molten ice, his nostrils flaring, and opened his mouth, revealing two sharp fangs. He turned his gaze towards the pulsing artery in my neck, and with a hungry growl, swooped down…--

I bolted up, in my own bed, my hand flying to my neck.

I stared around my room stupidly, the light filtering from my window, the familiar design of the wallpaper, the loveseat in the corner—and for a second, I despised it.

The second passed, however, and I sank back into my bed, forcing myself to think, Thank god it was just a dream. A small part of me, however, sighed in disappointment and wondered what it would have been like if my dream had been real…

Thank you so much for reading—now, if you really want to make my day, you will press the magic green button. Remember, the more you review, the faster I update! :k

I am thinking of putting Bill in the fic- just thinking. What do you think?

Before you start throwing tomatoes and booing, I must add; there would be no romantic interaction b/w him and Sookie WHATSOEVER. But you have to admit, every good story must have an antagonist…

Thx! :k