A/N: Dear Readers- Finally! The next chapter… Yeah! I have been wracked with guilt about not keeping to my promise of updates on Friday nights. Life, health, children, work studies, and other have kept me away. In addition, my concern over the demise of ff (dot) net due to the interference of the Literary Union (LU)and its' despicable automated bot, Redbotten (RB), has driven me to distraction. I will be moving all my fan fiction to An Archive of Our Own (archiveofourown (dot) org). Since some authors' sites have been shut down without warning, my profile currently holds a link to this location. I'm setting up a wordpress account as well, which will be more than just my fanfiction. You might want to mark it in your favorites and set up to get notices when more stories/chapters are added. In both the AOOO and Wordpress accounts, I will keep my pen name CavalierQueen. I hope that all my loyal fans will follow me to my other locations. For more on the LU and the RB, and those from within ff (dot) net that are seeking its "cleansing" (yes, that is the word they use repeatedly), you can check out my profile for the links. Lord Kelvin has a forum on this subject as well since he is the main leader of the LU and the designer of the RB. He has a profile on ff (dot) net. Characters belong to Charlaine Harris. I'm just taking them out to play. This has been unbeta'd, since I have been so remiss.

The Claiming of Sookie Stackhouse

Or

Restraint & Exploration - The Merging of Innocence and Knowledge

Ancient lovers believed a kiss would literally unite their souls, because the spirit was said to be carried in one's breath.

~ Eve Glicksman

"Get off my fucking porch Eric. I rescind your invitation," she screamed at him as he landed on the steps leading to her house, blocking her way inside. His hand grabbed hers as it swung to slap him across his cool face, twisting her arm behind her bringing her against his chest.

Without humor, Eric laughed into her clean smelling hair. "You cannot rescind an invitation to your porch, lover. And I believe we have something to discuss, don't we lover?" He kept using the word he knew was making her crazy tonight.

Sookie gritted her teeth against the pain in her twisted shoulder. "I told you not to call me that," she spit out.

Spinning her around, Eric's big hand held Sookie captive with her arms above her head while his hard body pressed angrily against hers, crushing her against the porch column of her farmhouse hard enough to carve indentations on her back. The bruises left behind would no doubt brand her fair skin for days.

"This has gone on long enough, Miss Stackhouse," he growled his frustration.

"Eric, stop it. Let. Me. Go," she said as she bit through her clinched teeth. She was furious as well, their mutual anger spilling between them.

"I told you before…I am a patient vampire. But now you try my patience, lover," the sneer in his deep voice vibrated through his chest into her body, causing delicious but slight tremors.

Sookie knew she should apologize. She kept pushing herself at him, and he rejected her. But had it really been rejection? Somewhere in her lust-fogged mind, she seemed to remember him saying several times that he intended to come to her that night.

To hell with him…I have every right to be pissed off…

His free hand pressed carefully on her tiny neck, feeling her rapid pulse under his palm. She swallowed nervously, belying her proud and determined eyes. Never taking his eyes off of hers, his hand drifted down, capturing her breast in his palm, tweaking the hardened nipple under her light shirt. Her breathing was harsh, but she never broke eye contact with him.

She was beautiful when she was angry.

She wasn't helpless, he knew that. He would let her go if she really protested. And even if her mouth said the words, her body was screaming for him to take her. And he would…eventually, over and over again. He leered at her from under his windswept hair. She had made it clear she was willing and for reasons that escaped him now he had pushed her away. But tonight, before this katastrof, he planned to come to her, to claim her as his own. But she had lost patience, coming to him at Fangtasia, dancing with Kostan, then of all things, wanting to be tied to a dungeon cross! What a förstöra.

Now he was here. And he wasn't going anywhere. He'd take all of her and then some. And he'd make sure she'd enjoy every minute of that taking. But for fuck's sake, her first time wasn't going to be on an X-cross.

Reluctantly leaving her heaving breast, his flat palm pressed hard against her body, seeking out the feel of her beneath him. Reaching between the legs of her jeans, he rubbed back and forth and was rewarded with a moan as her eyes glazed over. She was damp even on the outside of her jeans. Judging from the scent of her arousal that drifted around him, and her dampness, she must be very wet indeed.

"You see, Sookie…lover," he drawled in that soft, arrogant voice, "I think our mutual patience is up. Although I think I outlasted you, lover." His lips held a smirk as they came down to capture her mouth. Her eyes closed as his mouth came close, feeling their breath mingling.

Weakly, she pushed him away. "No, Eric. I can't do this again. Not and have you just leave me," her head hung limply against his chest, her voice choked with tears. "Please just go." All her anger and frustration had left her at his touch, and while her body was on fire, her heart was too hurt and sad to accept anymore.

Eric gently lifted her chin to his face. "Sookie, tonight has been…" he paused searching for the right words, "not the way I would have wanted it. I had planned to come to you tonight after I did my time at Fangtasia. I stayed away because I was trying to do the right thing, and that in itself is enough to tell me I should have continued to stay away."

"What?"

"Look, I know you saw my refusal of you tonight at the club as some sort of rejection. And for that I am sorry. It wasn't rejection of you. It was a rejection of the place. I never wanted you sullied with that sort of place, that sort of lifestyle."

Her eyebrows were still raised in skepticism as she listened to his words, not daring to believe what he was saying.

"After last week, in the woods, I got scared. Me. Scared. I thought it was absurd. Tiny human women do not scare me. Until you. I stayed away because I knew that being scared, of practically stalking you since we met, my jealousy and desire for you…all that was a sign that you were not just something quick, something easy. You were actually someone I cared about. I haven't cared about someone like this maybe ever. Not like this."

With his thumb he brushed a tear away from her cheek, "So now I am here, just like I was going to be here earlier, before things got…confused. And, this time Sookie, I don't plan to leave."

Sookie sobbed softly as she listened to Eric's words, and the passion behind those words. He hadn't been playing her after all. He meant what he said.

"Eric," she said with a tight voice, "maybe we should go inside."

He gave her a soft smile and leaned in to kiss her again. His lips brushed hers gently, wanting, waiting for her to respond, to accept him one more time. And she did. Her lips opened to his, allowing his tongue to slide into her warm and waiting mouth. Their tongues gently stroked each other reigniting their passion from earlier, only this time loving and tender rather than angry and frustrated.

Minutes later, Sookie and Eric found themselves in her bedroom, grasping at each others' mouths, tugging at what remained of their discarded clothing. In their haste, a jacket was left here, a shirt there, shoes pulled off and left were they lay.

Eric disentangled himself from Sookie and held her before him, his eyes burning and unneeded breath churning from his lungs. Her eyes were large and her chest heaved as she was overcome with need for him. And there was more than a hint of fear in her eyes…would he leave her once again? Reject her? Or would he finally take her, claiming her body, and if she was honest with herself, her heart and soul as well?

Tipping her face upwards towards his, he leaned forward kissing her deeply, consuming her very being, in one of those old-style Hollywood kisses every woman dreams of. That one kiss communicated everything he felt for her. Still kissing her, his hands moved from her face, down her shoulders and to her back, quickly releasing her bra, letting it fall to the ground.

He pulled away from her slightly, taking in the view of her lush body clad now only in white silk panties. It took his breath away seeing her tanned body against the white of her panties, a fleeting regret that he could never join her in her beloved sunbathing. But the thought was so quick he never remembered it even a moment later. His focus was completely on her.

He moved her backwards, slightly pushing her to sit on the edge of the bed where he lowered himself to his knees before her. Eric's fingers hooked under the edge of her panties and carefully slid them down her legs and off.

Sookie's hands came up to cover herself, but Eric quickly moved them back beside her. "Don't hide from me lover," he said in a guttural whisper.

Her mouth was slightly open, her breathing heavy. She could feel her breasts swell and her core clinching, spreading her wetness onto her thighs.

Eric could see that wetness, smell her musky sweet scent of her arousal, and tenderly moved her legs so he could see all of her. He particularly liked her bare pussy. That had only become a recent indulgence of women, and he found he liked it in particular. He could of course remember the days where women often had as much hair as men…well maybe not that much hair, but still, he definitely preferred this day and age.

"Do you always keep yourself bare?" he asked as his thumb lightly stroked her outer lips.

Sookie gasped at the contact, her skin even more sensitive after the recent shave. "No. I wasn't sure about doing it. Do you like it?" she asked hesitantly.

Eric's tongue licked at the shining wetness on her upper thigh. "Hmm, yes…very much." He lifted his eyes to hers, "But in the future, it is I that will do the shaving."

His fingers slid inside her folds, spreading them back allowing him to look at her virginal passage. He saw her swollen and ruby red flesh and could feel it pulsing beneath his fingers. "I'll be the one to spread your legs, cover your lips with soap or cream, and brush the razor down and back up…down and back up," his tongue mimicked the motions he described. "And then, when I am done, I'll eat you up until I've had my fill."

Sookie swallowed hard and her hips shifted involuntarily. She pushed against his thumbs, trying to wiggle them inside her channel that was crying out to be filled.

Eric snickered slightly at her movements. "No, no…lover," his voice vibrated against her thigh, "you must remain still. Lean back on your elbows, but don't take your eyes off of me. Do you understand?"

Sookie could only nod. She had read about this, but was never sure what it would be like, or if she would like it. And she'd read that guys either liked it or didn't. As she lowered herself and felt his tongue casually darting in and around her, his face almost rapt with joy, she figured he must be one of the ones that liked it. Wasn't she the lucky one?

Making sure she was watching him, he lowered his mouth to her lower lips again, his tongue slipping between her aching folds and once again reaching her heated flesh. His tongue licked the length of her ending at that small bundle of nerves, causing her to arch her back.

He immediately stopped, and her head jerked back, her eyes wide. "Watch me Sookie," he growled.

She nodded and felt him return to his licking, soon feeling his tongue pushing into her passageway, pulling another gasp from her lips. Her heart was pounding, threatening to burst as he darted in and out, fucking her with his mouth. His thumb came to push against her clit while his tongue kept its own rhythm.

Her hips bucked as she cried out in pleasure. She felt his free arm anchor against her hips, holding her in place. Her blood sizzled and boiled, rushing through her body. She felt her muscles tightening and her womb clinch as her cream flooded her channel. She screamed as she felt the lightning scorch her body, thundering her orgasm until she poured into Eric's mouth.

As he felt her honey melt in his mouth, his extended fangs pierced her soft and sensitive flesh, creating another earth-shaking orgasm, ripping a scream from her parched throat, leaving only a sob accompanying every pull of blood that Eric drank into his mouth, mixing her two nectars together making the heady brew he would never, ever tire of.

He lifted her carefully and placed her limp and damp body completely on the bed. She could only roll her head to watch him as he stripped himself of his jeans and lay beside her. In her dreams, in their fully clothed encounter in the woods a week ago, she had known he was well-endowed, really well endowed. But now that she was confronted with a fully naked Eric, his cock pressed against her thigh as he held her, she licked her dry lips as she looked at him with frightened eyes.

Eric smirked at the fear, "Do not worry, lover. It will hurt for a moment, but then it will feel really good. I'll make it really good for you. I promise."

She nodded silently. She realized she hadn't said much since they had entered the room, but honestly, she'd been so overwhelmed she wasn't quite sure what to say.

"Eric?"

"Hmmm?" he sighed as he snuggled in beside her.

"Can you get me some water? I think my voice is a little hoarse." She wanted to be embarrassed, but she wasn't. But she did want some water, really bad. And she didn't want to move. Although, she was pretty sure she couldn't have moved even if she was so parched she was dying as if in a desert.

He chuckled into her ear, and rose gracefully from the bed. "As you wish, lover."

Seconds later, he returned with a full glass of ice and water, giving it to her to drink.

She rolled towards him as he lay back down beside her. "Is it always like that?"

"What?"

"You know…that?"

This time he laughed out loud. "That? Well, that meaning your orgasm? I believe I shall set my goal to meet or exceed that each and every time."

"God, Eric. I'm pretty sure my heart can't take that every time. I thought it had stopped for sure."

"Trust me, lover, I would know if your heart was close to stopping, and it was most definitely not." He nuzzled her forehead and began kissing down her face, reaching her lips.

She tasted the tangy flavor of her come and the coppery taste of her blood tangled together. Her tongue darted into his mouth, seeking out the taste, a taste she found strangely exciting.

As they kissed, his hands moved down her body, feeling the softness of her skin. He couldn't remember anyone's skin ever being so soft. She felt as if she had a fine coating of baby powder on her skin. Eric's hands reached her breasts and covered them completely, massaging them. His thumbs tweaked both of her hardened nipples as she pushed against him.

He was so ready for her he thought he would explode, but this was her first time and he would be patient. Rough and tumble sex would come later.

She was beyond ready for him, her hands moving as did his. She moved along the defined muscles of his back, reaching his ass and squeezing as he squeezed her breasts. Sookie pressed her body against his, throwing a leg around his hips, thrusting her own at him.

He pulled away from their kiss, looking into her eyes. "Sookie, we need to slow down…" his gravelly voice unbearably deep.

"No Eric. I'm ready, I want this, and I really don't want to wait anymore. Make love to me Eric. Let me feel you moving inside me." She was almost breathless as she declared her need. Her hand was firmly stroking his velvet staff.

It was Eric's turn to swallow hard. He nodded slowly, and with his eyes never leaving hers, he moved his body over hers, pulling her under. With one hand, he slipped his hand over hers, guiding his cock into her, stopping just inside of her entrance.

"You are sure?"

In answer she held him with her hand and pushed her hips so he entered her. She gasped slightly with the burning as he stretched her, and without taking her eyes off of his, pushed her hips up further forcing him inside.

Eric lifted his body over hers, holding himself up so they could both look down the length of their joined bodies.

She watched as he buried himself in the lush curves of her body. He stopped as he felt the small thin barrier, and looking into her eyes, he pushed through. She took in a short, tight breath at the initial stinging pain and licked her lips.

"Mine," he declared as he felt her barrier tear and sensed the small release of blood. "You are mine, Sookie Stackhouse. Now and forever."

He started to move within her, drawing sobs and cries from her body, her hips thrusting against his own. He allowed her to set the pace, responding to her driving need. He was pleased, although not surprised, to find her responsive and passionate, her intense answer to his own needs making them well-matched.

Her head started to thrash on the bed as she felt that now familiar sensation of intensity building within her body. He suddenly stopped his pulsing within her body. "Look at me Sookie," he commanded.

Her eyes wide, she obeyed immediately. He loved the way her face was flushed and her small heart shaped mouth was slightly open, her breathing rushed and hard.

"Say it. Say that you are mine," he growled.

Sookie bit her lip and then nodded.

"No, I want to hear you say it. I want you to believe it, to know it just as I do."

"This isn't fair Eric," she whined.

"Yeah, well…I never said I played fair. Say it."

She tried to push her hips up to restart their rhythm, but he pulled his body away just enough. He was still inside her, stretching her, feeling her pulsing around his swollen and near bursting cock. If she didn't agree, he wasn't sure he could stop anyway, but he wanted to hear her say it, to know it…hell, he needed to hear it.

"Eric…I am yours. Completely and totally. Take me, claim me, now."

He breathed deeply at her capitulation and slammed back into her, driving deep within her as far as he could go. He couldn't go all the way, but he pushed hard causing a scream from her at the unfamiliar sensation.

But she gave as good as she got, pushing back at him, impaling herself on him at every thrust of his hips. Soon, the room was filled with the sound of skin eagerly slapping against skin as he pummeled her body. She would be sore later, but his blood would solve that problem, leaving her ready for more even after this.

Her orgasm caught her by surprise, bolts of lightning shattering her body causing her to scream as her blood boiled over. Eric's fangs bit into his own wrist and placed it against her open mouth and after seconds of hesitation, her mouth closed around the torn flesh.

With a guttural roar, his fangs pierced her flesh at the neck, sending another overwhelming orgasm through her body, causing her to see black spots and her nails to dig into Eric's flesh, drawing blood again.

As their mutual orgasms turned into smaller waves, he finally released her neck, licking at the blood flow, allowing the wound to close completely. His blood now coursing through her veins would take care of his bites and whatever soreness she might be feeling.

Eric reluctantly pulled Sookie away from his wrist and she watched wide-eyed as the wound sealed as if it had never been there. She licked her lips, tasting the last of his blood. She thought it tasted like chocolate and port wine and it was definitely something she could become addicted to. For that matter, Eric was definitely something she could get used to.

As he tucked her body against his, he licked the rest of his blood from her mouth. She took his head in her hands, and as he had done earlier, kissed him slow and deep.

"Eric, even if I wasn't sure before, I am now. I am yours. No one will ever be able to make me feel like that again," she paused, feeling the tears fill unspilled in her eyes. "Is sex always like that for you Eric?"

She was pretty sure he would say it wasn't, even if just to not ruin everything, but she was unprepared for his response.

He hugged her to him even tighter, his eyes full of emotion, "That was not sex, Sookie. That was making love. Vikings used to repeat something they had learned hundreds of years before them… kisses can unite lover's souls, because the soul is carried on the breath. When I kiss you, that is what I feel…our soul's uniting, merging, becoming one. We are soul mates, Sookie. After a thousand years of kisses, of making love, believe me, kisses and love making like that only comes around once in a lifetime. Even a thousand life times."

She touched his face and brought it down to rest on her shoulder. She whispered into the pre-dawn darkness, "That was perfect Eric. You are perfect."

He smiled against her soft skin as he felt her breathing and heartbeat slow as her body drifted off to sleep.

TBC

A/N: Hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day. Kids here in the states, for the most part, go back to school! Yeah! Everyone is very excited. I may post a note instead of a full chapter for Chapter 9 to refer everyone to the new chapter posted on AOOO (dot) org, so please be patient with me as I move everything to the new site.