I do not own any of these characters. Charlaine Harris does. Please don't sue!

A/N: Warning: Gratuitous explicit Eric/Sookie nookie in this chapter. Consider it an early Christmas gift to my new friends at the Blue Whale Pub!

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Eric and I sat cuddled on his sofa, watching the news. Felipe's hotel had been burned to nothing. Surprisingly it was closed for renovations at the time. I almost had to laugh at that bit of information, I knew better. Felipe had managed to get everyone evacuated and into safe spots for the day. I grabbed the remote and turned the volume up when Felipe came on screen. Eric wrinkled his nose in disgust, but I was interested in what he had to say.

This attack was launched by those who plan to push us back into obscurity. We are citizens, just like everyone else. We pay our taxes, and we follow the laws that humans have placed upon us. We share all of the normal human burdens, however, we share next to none of their rights. This will not be the last you hear on this matter. As we speak I have assembled a team of human civil rights attorneys, who believe that our fight for civil rights is justified. It is my hope that senseless acts like these ...He pointed to the charred remains of his hotel... will no longer go unpunished.

I flipped the television off and turned to look at Eric.

"Sookie, I cannot believe you wrote that."

"I can't believe he asked."

"He trusts you, he wants you in his employ."

"As a speech writer? There has to be something else going on."

"Ms. Stackhouse, I want to suck your blood" Eric was speaking in a horribly fake thick Spanish accent.

I laughed and swatted him with the remote on his upper arm. That didn't deter him from laying on the accent and teasing me. Finally he relented after reducing me to a fit of giggles.

"It was all in good fun lover, but honestly, he's was smart to ask. You are very intelligent." I just shrugged. I knew the day was coming soon that I was going to be thrown right into the middle of this political mess. Eric and I had only been home for one day, we had touched down around 4am. Clancy had shown up to give us a lift to Eric's house. I fell asleep as soon as we got into Eric's house.

The plane ride had been an emotional rollercoaster. I was upset about my dreams, but then Eric dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him. I glanced down at my ring and ran my thumb along the underside of it. How could I have said no? He sang to me, he danced with me, and when that was over, he made love to me.

"Eric?"

"The answer is Yes."

"You don't know the question."

"Sookie, You've agreed to marry me, I will give you anything you ask for." I laughed and thought of all the fun I could have the fun with that one. I leaned close to his ear and gently licked his earlobe. "Eric.." I breathed into his ear, I panted a bit to show my excitement.

"Yes. I told you yes."

"I want to save myself for marriage."

His head flew back from mine. He searched my face for any trace of amusement. It took all my effort, from all my years as a telepath to school my features so he couldn't see or feel me laugh. He looked around the room, then looked down. "Sookie, I don't know how I'll do that. I crave you, I crave you so much. It's a constant need, I need to have all of you." He looked up at me, he almost looked scared of me being serious about this.

One look at his face just did me in. I burst into laughter. I laughed so hard tears rolled down my cheek.

"That's not funny."

"Oh" I gasped for air between giggles. "Your right, it's not funny."

"Thank you."

"It's hilarious." I started laughing again, I could barely contain myself. Eric is always doing this sort of thing to me, this is the first time I managed to pull it on him.

"You'll pay for that." He grabbed me by my waist and pushed me back onto the sofa, he pressed himself on top of me and started licking my neck.

"Oh.."

"Oh?" He smirked. "That's all you have to say?"

I grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled his lips to mine, I slid my tongue across his lower lip and then nibbled it a bit. I felt a low rumble in his chest. He started pushing my sweater up, trying to completely expose my bra. Just as his hands were yanking the cups of my bra down his phone rang. He groaned and climbed off me, going to find his cell.

"What?" I smiled, it must be Pam. I'm sure she'd pay for her mistake later.

"I'm glad you are home, surely you did not call to gossip Pamela." Ooh, the full first name. I winced, he was really mad she interrupted us.

"I see, well, I'll deal with that when it happens. I will see you later this evening." He didn't even say goodbye when he hung up. He was back across the room and laying on top of me in a blink. "Where were we, Ms. Stackhouse.?" I pulled my sweater up and ran my hands over my breasts.

"I think we were here."

He grabbed my bra and ripped it off me. I was amazed, it was laying on the floor, but my sweater was still on me. I wouldn't think about that too much, I'd have to look at the bra later. I had more uhm, pressing, matters to deal with. Eric was kneading my breast in his hand. I was writhing and moaning between him. I worked a hand in between us to rub the bulge in his jeans. Just when I had his zipper half way down I heard a knock at the door. Eric stood up and stormed to the door, not bothering to zip his pants up.

"What the fuck do you want Compton?"

Bill. He was back safe. I yanked my sweater down and tried to set myself to rights on the sofa. Bill came walking in, he took one look at me, then Eric, than my bra laying on floor. I felt my face flush, I stood and grabbed it from the floor. I mumbled something about dropping my dirty laundry on the way to the washer, but I knew Bill wasn't buying it.

His eyes went wide when he saw my left hand. I didn't realize that I had used that hand to grab my bra. I looked Bill in his eyes, he just put on a calm face and turned to Eric.

"Felipe called me back from China. He thinks I will be better use here in Shreveport." Eric looked mad that Felipe didn't even tell him. Bill looked devastated. Eric's phone rang again. I thought he was going to pick up and start swearing, but he was the picture of calm. He mouthed the words Felipe to me. I nodded and he left the room to take the phone call.

"So, how long?" No beating around the bush I see.

"Last night, on the plane ride home to Shreveport."

"Are you happy?"

"Very."

"Then I am happy for you. It breaks me to see you with him, but as long as you are happy, I will be happy for you."

I felt tears well up in my eyes. I could see that all the hurt Bill caused me over the course of our short and doomed relationship, was nothing compared to what I was doing him now. Knowing that I would be taken as his Sheriff's Queen just broke him.

I hung my head and tried not to let him see me cry. I felt miserable, I hadn't even considered anyone's feelings but my own.

Bill shifted in his seat. "I haven't fed, tell Eric if he needs me, he can just call." He stood and gave me one last look before disappearing out the door. Eric chose that moment to come back into the living room.

"Where is Compton going?" I didn't answer, I just burst into tears. Eric moved to comfort me, he next to me and pulled me against him.

"I'm awful, I didn't even think about how he'd feel."

"He never thought about how you felt."

"I don't think that's true, and even if it was, I wasn't raised like this."

"Do you regret this?" He lifted my hand and held onto my left ring finger. "Do you wish to change your answer?"

I looked up into his eyes, they were full of confusion and sadness.

"Oh no, Eric I love you. I've never been more sure of anything. I just worry about how everyone will handle it."

"Ah, I forget that you have many men who have been competing for your attention." I rolled my eyes at him. At least he knew how to make me smile.

"What did Felipe want?"

"We are going to meet with the attorneys tomorrow. He wanted to make sure you were still willingly involved."

"Of course I am." He leaned forward and brushed his cool lips against my forehead.

"Amazing, your just amazing."

"We are going to Fangtasia aren't we?"

"How could you tell?"

"You're kissing ass." Eric pretended to be shocked.

"Ms. Stackhouse, such a mouth for a proper southern lady." He rolled me on my side and spanked my bottom. I couldn't help but giggle. I enjoyed being silly with him, it reminded me of our friendship, before we had fell in love. Although, perhaps I was in love then, and just didn't know it.

"Well, Mr. Northman, you need to go get this proper southern lady a bra. A belle like me would not go outside, in the cold, with just a thin sweater and no bra." He chuckled, that sweet laugh that made his chest vibrate. After tormenting me some more he went upstairs and came down with a skimpy red bra, one that he had bought me just for fun.

"You can't be serious."

"We are leaving now, it's this or nothing." I snatched the bra from his hand and slid it on, without removing my sweater. He stared at me, looking confused.

"What magic makes you able to do such evil things?" I laughed. He had been expecting that I would need to remove my sweater to get a bra on.

"Magic? More like high school gym. When you are in a locker room, you have big breasts, and you can read minds, you learn to get your bra on in creative ways."

Eric shook his head and grabbed my hand. "Come we will be late." I held his hand as we left his house, just as we were about to get into his car I felt Bill nearby. He hadn't went to feed like he said, he was waiting and watching me.

"Eric, there's something I need to take care of. Go without me, I'll bring my car to the bar in a little bit."

"You want me to leave you here alone?"

"I'm not alone."

"Bill." Eric looked furious, but somehow managed to keep himself calm. He really was trying to be better for me. "Sookie, I don't like this at all. But you do need to make peace with him. Have him bring you to Fangtasia when you are through. I will not have you driving that." He pointed to my car. "I'd like you to arrive in one piece, not in a death trap." Before I had a chance to complain about him making fun of my car, he kissed my lips and left. I turned towards the house.

~*~

"Bill, you can come out. He's gone." Bill appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.

"I just wanted to make sure you were safe." I sat on the steps that lead up to Eric's front door. I patted the space next to me. "Come sit with me."

Bill came and sat on the step next to me, our knees were barely touching.

"Sookie, I.."

"Shh. Listen Bill. You will always hold a place in my heart. You have to know that Eric would never be able to push that away. No matter how much he wanted to."

"I worry for you, Eric comes with a lot of baggage. Look at how tangled in this civil rights movement you are."

"I know, but I would have been involved no matter what."

"Why didn't you tell me that you could see the future in your dreams?"

"I just found out, how did you know?"

"Felipe, he casually mentioned it to me. I think he was expecting me to know. But I didn't, I played it off."

"Thank God. I think he's just trying to see if Eric thought it was important enough to tell you. Since he didn't, Felipe probably thinks that it is just a fluke, like Eric told him."

"How did we get here Sookie? Here I am, without you. And you, you are becoming this woman that I didn't know you could be. You're thrusting yourself into vampire politics head first. You're giving speeches like a seasoned politician."

"I don't know Bill."

"Maybe Eric really does bring out the best in you."

"I'd like to think I have something to do with it."

"I didn't mean it like that."

I reached over and took Bill's hand. I held onto it tight. "I want us to be friends. I love you Bill, just not the way I love Eric. We have been through so much, we can't go back. It just wouldn't work, it would be too complicated."

"Things aren't exactly black and white with Eric."

"I know, but there isn't the past hurt. Bill, I need you to know, that I would trust you with my life. I know you love me, I hope we can work through this."

"We will." Bill squeezed my hand gently then stood, helping me stand as well. "Come, let me get you to Fangtasia." I followed Bill to his car, climbing into the passenger seat and buckling up. Before Bill started the car I turned to him. "Are you sure we will eventually be okay?"

"I sure hope so."

He started the car and we drove to Fangtasia in complete silence.

~*~

We pulled into Fangtasia, crowded as usual. Bill opened my door for me and placed a gentle hand on my back as he escorted me inside. Pam saw us coming from her spot at the door, she looked like she was holding back laughter.

"You know Sookie, I have the weirdest feeling that this has happened before."

" Very funny."

"He's in his office, he said to send you straight back there when you got here."

"Ma'am yes Ma'am" I said with a smile and gave her a little salute. She didn't get it.

"Sookie, I'm going to leave. Just remember what I said."

"I will, thank you." I reached for a hug but he stepped back. He was right to do so, if a bar full of people saw me hanging on another vampire, Eric would be furious.

"Bye."

"Bye Sookie."

I watched Bill walk off for a second and then turned to head back to Eric's office. I tried to feel him through the bond, I wanted to know whether I was going to get sweet, sexy, or angry Eric. It didn't feel like he was very mad at me. I knocked on his door very softly before poking my head in.

"Can I come in?"

"When have you ever asked?" I came in the rest of the way and got an eyeful of viking. Eric was sitting on his desk, how it managed to hold up all that muscle, well, who knows. His legs were slightly parted, he had stripped off the t-shirt he wore earlier and had on only a tight blue tank top. I bit my lip to keep from throwing myself at him. He looked every bit like the viking god he was. I loved the way his hair brushed the top of his massive shoulders. I could almost feel my tongue tracing the muscles of his upper arm and then down to his abs.

"Lover, if you keep thinking like that, no work will be getting done here."

The way he said lover sent chills down my spine. No one had ever called me that before, but Eric always did.

"Eric, what will you call me when we are married? Considering I won't be only your lover anymore."

"You're not only my lover now. But I will call you by a very special name."

"Really, what?" I had moved closer and was standing in between his legs. He kissed my earlobe and then whispered, "Snookums."

For what felt like the millionth time that night I burst into laughter, but this time he did too. I loved this about Eric, his sense of humor, his ability to make me laugh, no matter how bad my day.

"Snookums? What shall I call you? Honey bear?"

"That's perfect." He was still laughing, almost in tears. I was glad I could make him smile too. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me tight against him. Now there was no laughing, I could feel the bulge in his pants pressed against my stomach. "I think we have some unfinished business."

"Shouldn't you be working?

He smiled and showed a little fang. "I'm on my lunch break." I pushed him back on his desk and crawled on top of him, yanking his shirt off over his head and bending to kiss the muscles on his rock hard chest. My hand was snaking it's way down to his pants when I heard my phone ring.

"What?! Again, are you freaking kidding me?" I slid off his lap and grabbed my cell phone out of my purse. I didn't recognize the number, but I answered it just in case.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Stackhouse?" I mouthed the word Felipe to Eric. He looked confused and very angry.

"Yes, King de Castro?"

"It is. I wanted to call and personally thank you for the speech. It was perfect." By this point Eric was next to me on the sofa, listening to every word.

"Well, King, you did pay me to do a job. I believe in doing a job to the best of my ability." Eric rolled his eyes. I knew Felipe, I'd have to play little miss subservient around him.

"And a wonderful job you did. Tell me, Ms. Stackhouse, how would you feel about doing this for me as a career?"

"Honestly King, no disrespect intended, but I could never leave Bon Temps."

"I wouldn't ask you to, it would be part-time work. You would be paid per job, no travel required unless it is urgent."

"If I were to travel, I would prefer that my bonded accompany me."

"Ms. Stackhouse, I would not dream of separating you. I also know that you both are much more than bonded. It is my understanding that you are engaged to be married." I turned to Eric, he nodded. I assume he told Felipe earlier.

"Yes King, we are."

"It did seem to take him a while. He asked my permission some time ago."

"Excuse me?"

"Yes, the night you saved us. When I returned to his home I was enchanted by you, he then told me of his intentions. I was kind enough to put him in touch with a well known jeweler here in Nevada." My eyes just about popped out of my head. Eric was staring into his lap, suddenly very interested with his hands.

"Well, thank you. The ring is lovely I couldn't imagine a better one."

"Your viking made sure no expense was spared, darling." Okay, this was creeping me out, Felipe was being kind. Very nice, and sweet, almost like a father would be. It was giving me the chills. Plus, I had one nagging question in the back of my mind that needed answering.

"King, may I ask you a question?"

"You may."

"Why me? I mean, I'm sure you have professional speech writers or something, like the president does. So, why ask me to do this?"

"You amuse me, I have never in my long time on this planet, had to explain anything to a human. Yet, here I am about to do it for you. Could your viking be right, do you hold a mysterious power over all men you meet?" He paused for a second. "No matter, that is for a later time. The answer is, yes, I do have professionals. But I see your potential. I rarely hold humans in high regard, but I find myself doing just that with you. Your speeches have a purity of passion in them. Like someone not hardened by years of writing the same thing. I will not call on you every time, but when I think the situation would benefit from your point of view, I will be contacting you to ask for your services."

"Thank you very much King. I appreciate you answering me, I'm sorry if I was disrespectful."

"Ms. Stackhouse, now let me tell you something. You fear me, I can tell."

"No, it's just-"

"Please, listen. You have no reason to trust me after the take over of your state. However, things are not always what they seem. Remember that, this piece of knowledge should serve you well in the future."

"I will do that, your majesty."

"May I call you on this number again if I need you?"

"Yes you may. Thank you for asking."

"Have a good evening Ms. Stackhouse."

"You too King."

I shut the phone slowly and turned to Eric. "What was that?"

"I don't know, but I will figure it out." Eric pulled me close to him, I laid my head on his bare chest, trying to calm my frayed nerves. I looked down at my ring and smiled, Eric had wanted to marry me for a while, but he waited until the perfect time. I kissed the tips of my fingers and touched them to his left ring finger.

"We could marry tonight, you know. If that's what you wanted."

"I want a simple wedding, but I don't want to elope."

"Anything you want dear one, simply tell me what I need to do."

I tried to snuggle and relax, but my mind wouldn't let me rest.

"Eric, Felipe told Bill about my other gift."

"What did Bill say?"

"He played dumb."

"That's for the best, if this were more than a fluke, I would have told Bill. But since it was suppose to just be an unusual temporary side effect of my blood, I didn't say anything. If Bill knew, Felipe would have known that this was a permanent gift."

"Why didn't Felipe say anything to me?"

"I'm not sure. He's acting strangely."

I just shrugged and climbed up into Eric's lap, he seemed content to just hold me. Well, he was content, until I made the mistake of wiggling to get comfortable, I immediately felt his excitement pressed against me. He pushed my hair away from my neck and planted soft kisses against it, occasionally letting his fangs scrape me.

"Mmm Eric"

"I want you, right now. Lose the clothes." I giggled, he certainly wasn't going to be Mr. Romance right now. We had been interrupted several times. I climbed off his lap and started tugging my clothes off as quickly as I could. By the time I was done, he was already naked and standing behind me. He pulled my back against him, his length pressing against my bottom. He grabbed a handful of my hair and turned my head forcefully to him. "I want it rough, lover. I've waited all night, I was gentle last night, now I want it harder." I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. I knew how exciting it was when I relinquished control to Eric, sexually I mean. With his hand still tangled in my hair he pushed me over to the sofa. I went to lay back on it, but he had other plans. He put me on my knees on the sofa, my stomach was pressed against the arm of it. I arranged myself, one knee on the sofa, the other foot planted on the floor. He did the same, only behind me. I whimpered when he pushed his fingers into me, I knew he was just stretching me a bit for what was to come. I cried out when he thrust them into me harder.

"Shh, don't you dare make a sound." Okay, I was a modern woman, I hated the controlling bit, normally, but for some reason, I was more than willing to play subservient to Eric in bed. I actually loved it. Maybe because I could feel how much it turned him on, through the bond. Well, there was other evidence of that too.

He pulled his fingers from me and I bit my lip to keep from crying out. I felt the blood run down my mouth, I didn't care enough to stop it. Before I could think about it any longer, Eric had slid his length in me. He was so deep inside, that it felt like he was in my throat. My nails gripped onto the leather sofa, ripping it in the process. Eric didn't even slow down his assault, he was thrusting so hard I knew my thighs would be blue with bruises tomorrow. I felt his hand snake up my back and grip my hair, he was tugging on it. Normally it would have hurt, but it was just fueling our growing lust.

"You like it rough don't you. You're every bit as kinky as I am." I almost came right there. Eric and I had gotten rough before, but now he was talking dirty, and that did things to me that it probably shouldn't. I didn't have much time to think about it because Eric took his free hand off my hip and smacked my bottom. It stung a little, but felt so good. I felt him stiffen inside me, I knew he was close. He smacked my bottom one more time, then pulled his hand out of my hair. He leaned over me and clamped his hand over my mouth. He flipped me onto my back and after two plunges he came inside me. I was so close, but I couldn't release, I was writhing under him, trying to figure out why my climax wouldn't come.

With his hand still over my mouth he leaned down and bit, right at the soft spot behind my ear. I started to scream but his hand was over my mouth, I bit down on his palm and tasted his blood. I could feel him shudder as he came again, at the same time I did. When my breathing finally slowed he took his hand off my mouth. I could feel our blood dripping down my chin. He pulled out of me and tugged me back onto his lap, he gently started licking our blood from my mouth.

Of course, something had to ruin it. I was on Eric's lap, naked, the scent of sex hung heavily in the air. My mouth was bloody from biting my own lip, and then biting his palm. So, this was obviously the perfect time for someone to barge in.

But oh no, it wasn't just anyone. It was Quinn. I watched him take in the image. I could feel his rage as he saw my mouth bloody, the leather of the sofa ripped, and Eric's hands covering my breasts, shielding them from his eyes.

I could also feel Eric's rage growing. He wasn't the happy with the way that Quinn looked at me. I wasn't either, I didn't need to be a telepath to tell what he was thinking. Whore. That pretty much summed up his feelings for me.

Eric slid me off his lap and stood, rising to his magnificent height. He strutted to the closet in the back of the room and pulled a shirt out for me. He walked right back past Quinn, not even acknowledging him. He stopped in front of me and stood me up, using his massive body to block Quinn's view. He helped me into his button down shirt and sat me back down on the sofa. He turned to Quinn, watching his face as he slipped his pants on, no underwear. I tried to focus on being angry at Quinn. Who was he to storm into Eric's office?

"What do you want?" Eric finally spoke up. His voice was ice cold.

"Felipe sent me. He told me my debt has been transferred to you."

"What a lovely gift. But for now, you are dismissed. I have no use for you." Quinn put a hand on the door like he was going to leave. I wished he would be smart enough to do it, but I knew better. And sure enough, he turned around to look at me.

"Babe, what the hell have you become? Your screwing a vamp in the back of a club, and from the looks of things, your drinking blood. I've never known you to be a fangbanger."

Eric lost it, all the rage he had been pushing down came out, he grabbed Quinn by his throat. Quinn was by no means a small guy, but Eric made him look frail.

"I could crush your throat right now, your life is mine until your debt is paid. If you ever speak to my fiance in that manner again, I will kill you, and not even the hounds of hell will stop me." He released Quinn and let him hit the floor. When he regained his composure and climbed to his feet he gave me a cold stare.

"You're getting married?" I held up my left hand. Without another word he turned and stormed out. Leaving me and Eric staring at each other in disbelief. Why had Felipe given us Quinn.

"Sookie, I refuse to ask him for anything. I will call Felipe tomorrow and politely decline his gift. Hopefully, once I explain the situation, he will understand." He came back to my side and situated me on the sofa, laying me down so I was comfortable.

"Sleep my love, tomorrow night will be a long one. Do not stress over this minor setback. I will handle it." He brushed the back of his hand across my face. I took once last look into his eyes.

"I hope I wasn't too rough."

"You were perfect Eric."

"I love you."

"You too, honey bear."

I fell asleep to the sounds of him laughing next to me and his hand brushing my cheek.

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TBC