A/N: A big thank you to everyone that has been reading this story. I really hope that you are enjoying it. To those that have been sending me comments and leaving reviews, much love to ya! To those that have added this story to favorites and/or alerts, thank you.


7. Quicksand

A week and a half later…

I had just got home from work and am extremely grateful that it is Friday. Playing on the answering machine is another message from Judy. This is now the forth time since just over a week ago that I saw her that she has called and left a message. You would think that she would have gotten the hint by now that I really didn't want to talk to her, I mean it's not like me to not return a phone call. I shrugged my shoulders when the message ended, I would see her soon enough. A coworker had convinced me to go out with her tonight for some drinks. Her place of choice… Fangtasia. She has never been and is really excited about the possibility of going, she and I are not really friends but she's a pretty cool chick and I decided to oblige her. This way I can see Jude face to face and tell her to stop calling, I'll also do my best to refrain from ripping her limbs off and beating her with them. The only thing I am hesitant about is seeing Eric, since it is his bar and he likes to display himself on a throne I am pretty certain that he will be there. I haven't heard from him since he was hear last week. I guess my lie was that good.

I had an hour to get ready before my coworker, Stephanie, would be here to pick me up for our night on the town. Well… not really town, just Fangtasia. I headed for the shower, not that I really needed one since I had taken one before work this morning but it was more of a refresher. As my mother had always said, you never know who you may see. I could get really lucky and Garrett Hedlund just might be a fan of vampires and be in Louisiana and want to party amongst them at Fangtasia. Yeah I know it's really far fetched but a girl can have her fantasies, right? Once I was done in the shower I redid my hair and make up, I left my wine red hair down with a soft wave rolling throughout and applied the makeup a little darker than usual since I was going to a bar or club tonight. It felt appropriate. Now I am not really one for dressing up all that much, since most female friends have always told me that I dress somewhat like a boy. Even my mother used to tell me that, of course it was a bad thing if I fixed myself up nice in her company though. I learned that the hard way, it was important to my mother to look good but god forbid you look better than her! That is not supposed to happen. After putting on a matching set of purple bra and panties I grabbed the jean skit I had laid out on the bed earlier and slid it on. It was very fitted to my curves and just barely reached mid thigh, it was a light denim that played well with my skin tone. I then grabbed the white tank top off the bed that I had also laid out earlier and slid it on. It hugged my upper body and left about two inches of skin showing from the hem of the shirt to the waistline of my skirt, which rested on my hips. It was one of those tanks that had the spaghetti straps and wasn't really see through considering it was white but you could faintly make out the purple bra. I laughed to myself, I was looking quite like a tease and about to head to a vampire bar. Should be an interesting night.

I heard a knock sound on the door and I called out to who I assumed was Stephanie, whom was right on time, that I would be right there. I slid on my favorite brown leather flip flops and checked my reflection in the bathroom mirror real quick before heading down the hallway to the front door. I mentally patted myself on the shoulder, I looked pretty damn good. I can clean up pretty well when I choose too, I just don't get how girls can do this every single day. It sucks being a chick, takes so much work to look good whereas guys generally look good without much of anything. Seriously, look at most species… the males are typically more naturally beautiful and the females are plain. Mallards have those beautiful green heads and the purple on their wings and the hens are just plain old brown. Look at male lions versus the females… I rest my case. I opened the door to see a sexy looking Stephanie grinning at me in excitement. I smiled back her.

"Wow… Steph… you look amazing!" I said with a slight gasp and my hand over my chest, she kinda sorta took my breath away. Her shoulder length dark brown hair was left down and straight, it was parted on the side and her bangs had been side swept. Her hazel eyes were accentuated with black liner and mascara with a shimmery charcoal colored eye shadow. Those pouty lips of hers were nice and glossy. She was wearing a little black dress that hugged her body and accentuated her curves nicely, she smelled of Tommy Girl perfume.

She pulled me in for a hug. "Thanks hun. You look unbelievable… I'm not sure I want to be seen near you." She said with a laugh as she was releasing me and gave me the once over with a wink.

"Oh stop! You're making me blush." I said with a silly wave of my hand. I reached for my purse that was sitting on the table near the door. "Ready to go chick?" She nodded excitedly as I grabbed my ID out of my wallet and some cash and then stuffed them into my bra. She gave me a funny look.

"You know you can bring your purse with you, they usually will hold it behind the bar if you ask." She said with a chuckle as we headed towards her shiny dark blue Beemer.

"Ah, I know. I just hate carrying things." I said with a shrug and climbed into her car. Once my seat belt was buckled she backed out of the driveway and started for our destination, Fangtasia. After a few minutes of silence her sweet voice sounded in the car.

"You know, I've always admired the perfume you wear. Can I ask what it is? I just might have to copy you and buy a bottle for myself to wear from time to time." She had turned to look at me briefly with a genuine smile on her face.

"It's not a perfume but it is a specialty scent, I can order some for you if you'd like. It's Tahitian Orchid."

"Oh… that would be great." She chuckled. "It sounds exotic!" I chuckled in return at her excitement over a scent. But I understood anyone that loved good scents, as I was a stickler for always smelling good. It is one of my many quirks and one that my mother had kind of ingrained in me, so lets just place all the blame for that one on her. I felt a grin move on the corners of my mouth moving them upwards… and her we are.

"Haven't been here in five months but not one thing has changed." I said nonchalantly as she parked the car. "Ok the chick at the door checking ID's is a vamp and she can be a little creepy but just be cool. If she checks you out… just shrug it off. The vamps… they like to taunt." I said with a chuckle. "They love the sound of making your heart beat a little faster and smelling the scent of your blood surge through your veins in the anxiety."

"Thank god I am coming here for the first time with someone that knows the ropes a little." She gave me a big grin before opening her door and gracefully sliding out of her car. I let out a deep sigh and tried to do the same thing but I was much less graceful as I had forgot to unbuckle my seatbelt. I laughed to myself and unlatched it and stepped out, closing the car door behind me. We both rounded to the front of the car and walked side by side to the line of those waiting to get inside the vamp bar. Once we reached the front moments later, Pam the side-kick gave us both the once over. She in a very unsubtle way let her eyes linger over me and I arched my brow at her.

"Hopefully this visit wont be as eventful for you as the last time sugar. Though I am glad that your tasty form has returned." She purred to me with a bored look on her face as she waved us in. I felt Stephanie's eyes on me and I turned to look at her, she was giving me a cheeky little grin. I think I am really starting to dig this chick! I shrugged my shoulders innocently and she rolled her eyes at me.

"Are you a trouble maker my dear Jax?" She cooed in my ear as she grabbed my hand in a friendly manner. We interlaced our fingers as we made our way into the club laughing. I was obliging her as this kind of contact is a bit weird for me. The music was booming and I looked to Stephanie to check her reaction as she looked around the place in amazement. The vamps and fang bangers dancing and chatting each other up. For the most part everyone was dressed in a Goth dark patent leather sort of attire and wore heavy makeup. The vamps were doing their strange movements that no human body could really manage as gracefully, dancing fast and slow at the same time. Stephanie looked mesmerized as she was looking around, I was slowly leading her over to the bar. Once we found some empty stools we sat down and out of nowhere it seemed our bartender appeared and I laughed as Stephanie gasped slightly.

"What can I get you ladies?" Asked the shirtless Asian bartender covered in tattoos.

"I'll have a martini." Said Stephanie with a sly grin as she checked out the bartender appreciatively.

"How do you like it?" He asked seductively as his eyes bore into hers.

"Dirty." She said with a wink and I chuckled to myself lightly. She nudged my leg with her foot delicately and my smile only grew larger. He disappeared for a moment and when he returned in the blink of an eye, her drink was sitting in front of her. She stared in wonder and he turned his attentions to me.

"What about you? What would you like Red?" He was giving me the same lustful look that he gave her but I hated being called Red. I squinted my eyes somewhat and glared at him a moment before I answered.

"Dos Equis." Was all I said and in a flash it was before me. "How much for the two drinks?"

"They are on me." Came the smooth voice behind me and I heard Stephanie's breath catch in her throat. I slowly turned my head to look over my shoulder and sure enough, there was Eric. I would be a fool if I didn't admit that this sexy beast made my own breath catch in my throat as well. The Adonis was looking down at me with a glow in his eyes and a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. I lost myself for a moment and slowly raked my eyes over him, from head to toe and back again. He knew I was checking him out and he stood to his full height and even stretched a little to help me get a good look, what a sweetheart. He looked incredible in his dark blue jeans and dark green fitted t-shirt and I chuckled when I noticed the flip flops on his feet. Even though his blonde hair was slicked back real nice like it usually was it is apparent he isn't dressed for the floor tonight and I remembered then that upon entering the bar that the throne on the dais was empty.

"Why thank you kind sir." I said with a cheesy gin as I held up my beer to him.

"I never would have pegged you for a beer drinker." He said with his smooth voice, it was melting me like butter in a hot pan. For some reason I was turned on by him more than usual tonight.

"I'm just full of surprises handsome." I gave him a wink and he leaned a little closer to me with a bit of a smirk on his face. "Tonight I am the world's most interesting man." I said with a chuckle referring to the Dos Equis advertisements. I took a swig of my beer and had my eyes cut over to him the whole time I took that drink, just staring into his pale blue eyes. I felt a slight nudge on my calf that obviously came from Stephanie. Setting my beer down I looked over at her quickly and she was staring very dreamily at Eric… the lady-killer.

"Damn! I am so rude. Sorry Steph." I said looking back and forth between her and Eric. He barely looked at her before his eyes made their way back to me and the low neck line of my tank top. "Stephanie this is Eric, he owns this place. And Eric this is a friend of mine, Stephanie." I said casually waving my hand back and forth between the two of them. Eric gave her a killer smile and a nod that would have dropped me out of my seat had I been on the receiving end. Stephanie had a huge grin on her face as she blushed and gave a girlish wave to him.

"Hi." She said sheepishly. "This is a cool bar, never really seen one like this before." She said sweetly as she meant it as a compliment but Eric furrow his eyebrow at her and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"This is her first time here… well… first time at a vamp bar in general. So… you popped her cherry." I said giving him a coy smile. I had no idea exactly what had gotten into me but I couldn't help it. Stephanie gave me a light slap on the shoulder as her face turned bright red. Eric had a huge smile on his face.

"Jax!" She said while giggling like a school girl and had a hand over her mouth in embarrassment. "You really are trouble aren't you?"

"No way… I'm sweet as pie." I said to her and took another swig from the bottle in front of me. Looking back at Eric, he has an intent look in his eyes and I decided maybe against my better judgment to toy with him just a little. I shifted slightly in my stool and uncrossed my legs slowly before crossing them back with the other leg on top, you know Basic Instinct style except I am wearing underwear and he wasn't in a position to see up my somewhat short skirt. But his eyes did follow every exact movement I made and when his eyes met mine again I saw lust.

He leaned down and I took a deep breath as his face was right next to mine and his breath on my neck sent chills down my spine and I had goosebumps all over my body. His voice was just was whisper but I could tell the difference of the sound when he spoke, it was a bit huskier. "Do you want to dance?" He moved so that he was looking right into my eyes and I could feel his breath on my lips as he spoke again. "Or do you want to dance?" He asked with that husky voice as he continued to stare into my eyes. He was so close that his lips nearly grazed mine as he spoke. I swallowed hard and shifted in my seat, my skin was feeling warm and tingly all over. He smiled as he heard my heart beat a little faster and as I took quicker shorter breaths. He looked past me as he gently grabbed my hand in his and spoke to Stephanie.

"If you'll excuse us, Jax and I are going to dance." I didn't hear Stephanie respond so I assume she just nodded at the gorgeous vamp. He pulled me off the stool and lead me out onto the dance floor. It wasn't a slow song but he stepped very close to me and wrapped his arms around my waist pulling us even closer to one another, our bodies were pressed up against each other now. For some reason I just kind of stood there like an idiot looking up at him in wonder. I really don't know what is up with me but ever since I saw him my brain has simply turned to mush. His hands slowly glided up my back and to my shoulders, then ran down my arms as he lifted them to his neck and I locked my hands together. I was somewhat standing on my tip toes as we started to sway and his hands returned to the small of my back. One of his large hands slid a little lower and rested on my butt, he pushed me into him a little more and I could feel that he was definitely turned on.

I rested my head on his chest and looked over at Stephanie at the bar, she seemed to be flirting with the tattooed bartender. Who knew she was into the bad boy type covered in tattoos? I kept casually scanning the bar area as we swayed to the heavy music and my eyes landed on Judy, who was standing next to the bar in front of the hallway that lead to the offices and rooms in the back of the bar. She had quite the scowl on her face as I am sure it didn't please her to see her crush pressed up against me. I smiled evilly at her and gave a quick nod. Eric felt the movement and pulled back slightly to look at me, I leaned my head back so that I could look at him and I smiled when our eyes met. He furrowed his brows together and gave me a questioning look.

"Judy is glaring at me from the bar area." I chuckled. "I'm guessing she doesn't like seeing her hunky crush pressed up against me, not to mention that your hand is on my ass." As soon as I said that he grabbed a handful and gave it a good squeeze. I slapped him playfully on the chest and he chuckled as he leaned down and captured my lips in his. He moved his mouth on mine like a skilled lover and gradually deepened the kiss until his tongue was practically down my throat. When we finally pulled apart I was left slightly gasping for air and he rested his forehead on mine staring into my eyes.

"Why don't we discuss this further in my office." He suggested as he wrapped his hand around mine and started leading me in that direction. I caught a glimpse of Jude and she had a look of murder on her face but it sinfully made me smile. I gave Eric a slight tug as I headed in the direction of Stephanie and he followed still holding onto my hand.

"How you doing babe?" I asked her and smiled when I saw that she was indeed having a good time with the bartender. He had placed her phone back down with what I assumed was his number that was freshly programmed into it.

"Good… although not as good as you." She said with a wink. I wiggled my eyebrows up and down at her and I heard Eric's soft chuckle come from behind me. He had released my hand for a moment to take something from Pam as she walked by. With a quick glance it looked like a business card.

"So… uh… I'll be back in a little while. We have some business to discuss in his office." I said with a cheesy serious face.

Stephanie rolled her eyes at me and a sly grin plastered on her face. "Sure you do. I'll be here waiting for you when your little meeting is done." We both chuckled and I turned back around to Eric and at that very moment dear little Judy walked up. Eric had his hands in his pockets and she interlaced one of her hands just above the elbow of his arm. He looked down at her with a disgusted look but she didn't notice as she stared at me the whole time.

"I finished those spreadsheets on the budget and everything looks real good." She was apparently talking to Eric but she was still staring at me. Her face was blank but her eyes looked ravenous if not deathly as she continued to glare my way.

"Great Judy. But you could have waited until later to tell me that." He took a step away from her and her hand fell back to her side. She finally looked up at him and seemed a little taken aback by the scowl on his face. "You know I don't like to be touched. Don't ever do that again or you may not have a hand afterwards." He said in a lowly right in her face and with the most sinister voice I had ever heard come from him.

She actually snorted in response and looked to me. "That's not what you've said before big guy." I had to throw a hand over my mouth to hold back all the laughs that were dying to spill out. Does she have a death wish? Did she actually think any of this was getting under my skin? Eric grabbed her arm roughly and dragged her away, she could barely keep her feet under her as they disappeared into the darkness of the hallway. My curiosity got the better of me and I followed, of course giving some space. I had just barely reached the start of the hallway when I heard a door slam so I leaned against the bar and waited. It was a good twenty minutes before I heard the very same door open and then close softly, from the shadows he appeared. He still looked a bit angry as his eyes landed on my face.

"So… what did you do to her?" I looked away after the question fell out of my mouth. Even though I really don't care for Judy anymore, it still made my stomach turn a bit to think of her possible punishment. To receive a beating by the hands of the man she crazily adores is such a sad thing if that's what did indeed happen in there. I felt his cool fingers under my chin as he turned my head back to face him.

"We talked. That's all." He said calmly but there was still a rage flickering in his eyes.

"You seem upset about something. Did her touching you and making those comments really piss you off that bad or did something else happen?" I said with a sigh. These vamps sure can be tight lipped when they want to be, it can be like pulling teeth to get some communication from them.

"Judy told me that you've been seeing that Jeff guy. I know Judy isn't exactly honest when it comes topics that have to do with you but she had pictures on her phone. They have date and time stamps. It's hard to deny those." He said glaring at me.

I laughed somewhat uncomfortably. "You have got to be kidding me! You don't own me Eric, I can date if I want to. You and I certainly aren't a couple so what's the big deal?" I threw my hands up in the air and help up one when he was about to say something. "Jeff and I are just friends and I owe no justification to anyone over that. And why the fuck is it ok for her to be following me and take my picture when I am out? Is she the goddamn paparazzi now?" I paused and took a few deep breaths to try and calm myself a little. "Jeff and I go to lunch together nearly everyday and sometimes we grab dinner, so what! We're friends damn it!" I threw my hands up in the air again but this time it was more in defeat. "Of course… just when I am actually starting to like you… you have to act like some jealous prick and once again this shit is coming from the same jealous bitch that obviously wants you. So of course she's gonna plant little seeds in your head." I let out a sigh of frustration and turned to start walking away but his hand wrapped around my arm and pulled me gently back to him, the anger in his eyes had disappeared when I looked at him. He brushed my hair back behind my shoulder.

"You are overreacting." He spoke calmly. "I wasn't angry with you, I am angry at the situation and these new developments with Judy. We vampires are possessive by nature and yes I was a little jealous at the pictures but I trust when you say that he's just a friend. Besides, like you said, I have no claims on you. It is nice to hear that you like me, although your lie just over a week ago let me know that as well."

I shrugged my shoulders and felt slightly like an ass for jumping down his throat without fully understanding why he was pissed. Since we don't know each other all the well just yet it's hard for me to distinguish his looks. I let out a deep sigh and looked deeply into his pale blues. "You know, I was surprised when you walked away after I lied to you. I thought you would say something." I chuckled at the memory.

"I wanted to say something but I also knew that you wanted me to leave. It was enough just letting the words play over and over in my head. I thought when I asked you to lie to me that you would say, I love you. Just like you said you would but instead when you said you hated me and couldn't stand the sight of me, I knew then that you have feelings for me. Even if at this point you are still willing to deny them to yourself."

"I'm not denying anything to myself… I do have feelings for you. I'm just not sure what those feeling are just yet. I definitely feel a lot for you physically but I'm not sure of the rest just yet, that may take time."

"I've got all the time in the world." He said as his eyes bore into mine. His eyes were pulling me in, it felt like gravity or quicksand. I took a step to him and placed my hands on his face and pulled him to me as I planted my lips on his and kissed him deeply, passionately. I pulled away and walked over to get Stephanie. I wasn't sure why but I just needed to walk away for now, I had a strange and unfamiliar feeling in my gut. I barely heard his voice as I continued to move away from him.

"Lover… until my body is dust and my soul is no more… I will love you."


A/N: Let me know what you think! Hope you enjoyed it.