Chapter Seven

We pulled up in front of Eric's home. I still couldn't believe that this was his home, a modern two story brick home; So unassuming that a 1000 year old vampire would live here in what seemed like an upper class family neighborhood. He pressed the button and pulled into the garage and parked along side the black Cadillac Escalade that I have never recalled seeing him drive. I guess it was for the occasion when he needed to carry around more than just one guest. We walked through the door that lead into the house which lead us through a laundry room and then into the kitchen. He flipped on the light and said "I have something I want to give you" and reached into the drawer and handed me two keys, "the first traditional looking key is for the house. It opens every door but one. That is what the second key is for. Lover, I am intrusting you with my life. The second key opens the steel door in which I rest behind during the day."

Tears filled my eyes as I looked at him. "Oh Eric, are you sure about this." I said all sniffley.
"You need to be able to get out of the room and lock me back in when you are ready to wake and leave when you are here with me. I told you I love you and want you with me always and you showed me your trust and the fact you no longer fear me earlier tonight. I too trust you with my life." He bent and kissed me tenderly and then licked my tears from my face. "Come Lover, I know you have been here before but now I need to show you where I rest. We walked up stairs to the end of the hall to what appeared to be a closet door. He opened the door and reached inside and flipped a switch and the shelving slid into the wall. He pushed on the back wall and it opened up he flipped one switch and a light came on and I could see the stairway leading down to a steel door. He flipped another switch and the shelves slid back into place and then he closed the wall behind the shelves. We walked down the stairwell and he used a key to open the door and we entered into his day chamber. He had his house built so that the entire last 12 foot of length of the house was completely sealed off and hidden. Inside the steel door, after he turned on a light, I noticed that the entire room was a steel box. Inside he was safe. I was safe. I looked at the room with the huge 4 poster bed in beautiful dark wood and draped in black sheets and a black comforter. The floor was carpeted in a beautiful shade of red. Sitting against the wall of the door was a stainless steel refrigerator and a microwave. He was set he could hold up in here safely if he needed to. As if he knew exactly what I was thinking he said, "There is a small bathroom through the door on the right and the one on the left is a closet." Ok, so with a little human food I could hold up in here with him. "Sookie we have some things we need to talk about. I am assuming you will go back to Bon Temps in the morning and since I don't know when we will see each other again you need to prepare for the trip to Florida"
"Eric I need to bring your car back to you so I will see you in the next couple of days."
"Lover, I told you that you could have the car, keep it as long as you like, keep it forever, or take the Cadillac and keep it or go pick out another and tell me how much and it is yours. The cars mean nothing to me. You are the only thing that matters to me; whatever makes you happy and safe is what I want. But I want to give you this," he handed me his credit card, "shop wherever you want no amount is too much but buy some things for the trip. You will need at least three evening gowns and some nice dressy casual and whatever else you feel you might need. Do not worry about the cost. Have fun. You don't have to buy it all at your friend's shop in Bon Temps go wherever you like."
"Will I not see you before we leave for Florida?" I was beginning to get sad.
"Lover, you can see me anytime you want. I am not sure how often I can get to Bon Temps over the next week or so since I have been gone for so long I need to catch up on my business affairs here before we leave for Florida."
"Oh, I see," I said. "I am not sure of my work schedule but I will call you as soon as I know."
"Sookie," there are the goose bumps and hairs standing up again, "Stay here with me for the rest of the night. You can lock everything up when you go. Just keep in mind, no one but you and Pam my where my day chamber is. I don't ever nest and I rarely ever allow another to stay over at my house."
"Eric, more than anything I want to stay here with you. I have been giving some serious thought to your offer. I will continue to think about it, I promise."

"Lover, the sun is coming soon, let's go to bed. I want to crawl into bed and hold you. I want to show you that my attraction to you is not just physical. I want to be with you, near you, not just sex and blood, but you all of you."

Tears flowing again I grabbed his face and kissed him and we slowly undressed ourselves and I left on my new black lace bra and panties and he left on his black silk boxers and we crawled into be. He wrapped himself around me and I couldn't imagine feeling any safer.