Master and Apprentice

AU/AH/OOC

Chapter 9: Too Much, Too Fast

A/N: I'm so sorry that it's been over a week. Life has been way too crazy for me. The end of the online semester was more than I expected… and I thought life in the classroom was difficult! Sheesh!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. It was hard for me to write. It starts out lemony though.

SPOV

I woke up the next morning naked and still wrapped in Eric's arms. Our legs were intertwined and his face was buried in my hair. I carefully removed his arm and slid off the bed. He groaned and covered his head up with his pillow. I scampered off to the bathroom to clean up. I turned the shower on to let it warm up and as I was brushing my teeth, I finally got a good look at the bathroom.

I was so blessed out last night, I didn't even notice the massive tub that was more like a Jacuzzi, or the shower with its jet lined walls. The floor was dark marble and the countertops were dark granite. Everything was black and silver, mirroring the rest of the apartment. Pam must have spent a fortune gutting and redecorating this place. He must be loaded.

Even though we'd spent the better part of a week together, I still didn't know that much about Eric. Sure, I knew that he moved to Georgia from somewhere in Europe, I knew he had a doctorate and I knew his sexual history, but we still hadn't discussed the important things. I knew nothing of his family, besides the short conversation about his Mom the other night; I knew nothing about his childhood; I didn't know why he moved to the states. There was just so much I really wanted to learn about this man, especially after last night. I'm sure Pam would provide some insight, and I was really looking forward to meeting his partner in crime, so to speak.

After finding the towels, I stepped into the most luxurious shower ever. The jets were massaging up and down my body. There was really no need for a wash cloth; you could pour the soap on your skin and let the jets take care of the rest. I was so in awe of the shower that I didn't even hear Eric step in behind me.

"Good Morning, lover." His voice was full of need and hunger, low and guttural. He rubbed his fingers up and down my spine, placing kisses behind my ears and on the back of my neck.

I felt his need pressing firmly into my back and he wasn't standing that close. I reached behind me and grabbed his firm length, slowly running my hand up and down and twisting my wrist each time I reached the tip.

He turned me to face him and as soon as our eyes met, our lips were crashing into each other with a desperate hunger to consume each other completely. He lifted me up and backed me into the cool shower wall. My legs instinctually wrapped around his waist and then I reached between us to place him at my entrance. He slowly, so slowly I thought I was going to explode, pushed into me and then pulled all the way out and repeated this over and over again until I was begging, pleading and screaming his name.

"Eric, faster… please." My voice was barely a whisper. I was so lost in him and the feeling of our joined bodies. I would never and could never get enough of this man.

He increased the pace, and before I knew it we were both screaming each other's names. He released me from his hold and carefully set me down on the marble shower bench. He sat down against the opposite shower wall and we just sat there staring at each other, attempting to regain some control of our limbs and our breath.

Once we were good and dry, Eric carried me back into the bedroom and sat me on the bed. It was then that I noticed the strawberries, chocolate sauce, and champagne. I was so wrapped up in everything last night I didn't even notice the assortment of romantic goodies.

"Eric, what's up with the chocolate sauce and where in the world did you find ripe strawberries in December?" He tried to conceal his embarrassment, but I caught his reflection in the dresser mirror.

"Ummm… I was trying to be romantic, but someone foiled my plan." Now it was my turn to look embarrassed. I felt that familiar blush rise from my chest and up to my cheeks.

"Oh. Okay. Sorry I distracted you from carrying out your plan." He gave me a lopsided smile as he dropped his towel and began to pull up his jeans. Yum. Oh that ass. I just wanted to bite it. Commando again, damn. I chewed the side of my mouth to keep from saying something that would surely embarrass both of us.

"What are you staring at Miss Stackhouse?" Shit, I was staring, wasn't I?

"Just that perfectly fine ass of yours." He wiggled it slightly at me. I jumped off the bed and ran to put my arms around his waist. I laid my head on his bare back and then realized I was totally and completely naked. Oops.

"Sookie, you might want to get dressed or we will never, ever leave this apartment and unfortunately, we need to eat."

"Now that you mention it I am kind of hungry. Fine, I'll get dressed." I gave him my best pouty face, grabbed my clothes and headed off to get ready. It was too cold outside to leave my hair wet, so I quickly blew it dry and then tossed it into a ponytail. I put on a cream sweater and a pair of comfy jeans and black boots.

Eric and I ate brunch at the local Waffle House. It was a little later than we'd realized and I am not one to skip breakfast. I can't just eat a burger at 11:00 because the restaurants say it's lunchtime.

After breakfast, we went back to Merlotte's to get my little POS car and headed to Gran's. We needed to discuss Christmas with her. After all, both Eric and Pam would be joining us this year. I knew she wouldn't mind, but I didn't want to spring it on her at the last minute either; Gran likes to be prepared. We always had enough food to feed a small country Christmas dinner, but Gran would still want to fix extra. Crazy Southern women.

As we pulled into the drive, I noticed Jason's car was here. He'd obviously come for breakfast. I was slightly nervous about walking into the house with Eric. Last night was the first time in a very long time that I hadn't come home after a date. I felt like I was doing the walk of shame. Jason was only going to make this worse on us.

Eric squeezed my hand as if he knew what I was thinking. I glanced up at him with a big, goofy smile on my face and we headed up the steps.

As we walked into the living room, Gran gave me a sweet smile and Jason gave Eric a look that I suppose was meant to be threatening.

"Good Morning Gran, Jason." Gran moved over to her recliner so Eric and I could sit together on the couch. I was so relieved to have something to talk about. The air in the room was awkward at best.

"Good Morning, Susannah, Eric. Did y'all have a good night?" Shit. She wasn't going to make this easy on me was she?

"Yes, we did. Thank you for asking; now Eric and I have something important to talk to y'all about." As soon as 'something important' left my mouth, I immediately regretted it.

"Oh my stars! You're getting married. One night alone and you're getting married!" Gran was out of her chair and hugging me and Eric both before I could get a word in. Jason just sat in his usual chair with this dumbass look on his face.

"Gran! Gran, no, no that's not what we want to tell y'all. We actually have something to ask you." Eric sat motionless next to me on the sofa. His hand hadn't left mine, but his grip had gotten considerably tighter.

"Well fiddlesticks, I'm sorry. I just thought something special must have happened last night." Gran looked to Eric and said, "Susannah doesn't ever stay the night with boys. Now what did you want to ask me?"

I'm pretty sure mortified wasn't even the right word to describe how I was feeling. Eric looked scared shitless and I was so embarrassed. I counted on being harassed about sleeping together; I did not expect Gran to think that we were engaged. I'd been quiet for too long and the room had gone from awkward to unbearable. Thank god Eric finally spoke.

"Mrs. Stackhouse, my dear friend Pam and I usually spend the holidays together. I didn't want her to be alone for Christmas, so I asked her to stay with me at my apartment in Shreveport."

I patted Eric's leg and said, "So, I was wondering if you would mind if Eric and Pam spent Christmas with us?"

Gran's face lit up like a light bulb. "Of course, of course! The more the merrier! Well it's not an engagement, but it's certainly a step in the right direction." She wasn't going to leave that subject alone now was she? I buried my face in my hands and Eric let out a nervous laugh.

"Pam, the threesome, Pam? She's coming here?" Of course Jason would finally put his two cents in if sex was involved. Shit. This day was turning out to be a complete disaster.

"Oh. I can't wait to meet the 'threesome Pam!'" Maybe Christmas with this group wasn't going to be such a good idea after all.

"Gran!"

"Suse, I don't know why you're so embarrassed. I very much look forward to meeting Eric's former lover. I'm sure she's got some lovely stories to share." OH. MY. GOD. Really. Really?

I couldn't take it anymore. I rushed out of the room, out the front door and towards my sanctuary. I heard Eric calling after me, but I couldn't stop running. I don't know how far I ran or for how long. I may have run in circles. When I finally reached the giant oak next to the pond, I climbed up its welcoming branches and found my safe haven.

As soon as I got to my favorite branch, I started crying. I was embarrassed; humiliated was more like it. I'd basically forced my mentor teacher to have sex with me last night. He asked me repeatedly if I was sure, and I all but begged him. He said he thought he was falling for me, but how could he be? He's only known me for a week. We haven't even spent that much time together. We don't even know each other. Last night was no better than a one night stand. I was just another name to add to the long list of girls he'd seduced.

How was I going to allow him to critique me and be a true mentor to me? How was he ever going to take me seriously? What was I thinking? I was totally overcome with regret. I'd slept with a man I barely knew; that was so unlike me. I was pushy and domineering and forceful. I made him have sex with me. I felt totally and completely rotten.

I went from hating myself to questioning him. Who was Eric Northman? Why did he leave Europe? Did he have a family overseas? Did they not care about him? Who would let their son move thousands of miles away for their education? I mean, Europe has to have better universities than the states. Why Georgia? Was he running from something or someone? I knew about his ex-wife and her betrayal, but what if there was more?

I was obviously not okay with this. I'd really screwed up. Bad. I was going to have to call Dr. Broadway and request another mentor teacher, maybe another school. Maybe Bill and I could switch. I'd call Dr. Brigant. He'd understand.

I was so lost in my tangents of random thoughts that I didn't even hear Eric crunching through the fallen leaves beneath me. I tried to wipe my face as best I could on my sweater, but it was pointless. I knew my eyes were puffy and red, and my nose was snotty; I am not a graceful crier. What does Oprah say, 'the ugly cry'? Yeah, that was me; I was most certainly doing the ugly cry.

When his eyes met mine he looked so distraught. Maybe he did care.

EPOV

When Sookie took off, I was lost. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what would cause her to react that way. She didn't even look back. She just left me there sitting on the sofa across from Gran and Jason. I called out to her, but she didn't even acknowledge me.

I'll admit that the visit hadn't gone the way that I thought it would. I was expecting some snide remarks from Jason about sleeping with his sister. I thought he might go as far as to tease me about adding her to 'the list.'

I was not expecting Gran to give us a hard time or for her to assume we were engaged because we'd spent one night together. And, I could beat the shit out of Jason for bringing up Pam and the threesomes.

I was hoping Pam would make it through her entire stay without that subject rearing its ugly head. Now I felt the need to defend Pam. I'd already defended myself to Sookie and I figured if Gran had any issue with me, then she would have just come right out and said it.

"Mrs. Stackhouse…"

"Please call me Gran, Eric."

"Gran, I really wish Jason hadn't brought this up, but since he has, I feel like I owe you an explanation." Jason cast his eyes down. I could tell he felt like hell and I really hoped he did. He could be such a dumbass sometimes. He has no regard for his sister's feelings. I was really fighting the strong urge to take him out back and go ape-shit on his ass.

"Eric, you owe me nothing, but if you feel the need, please continue."

"Pam is my best friend. We've been through a lot together. She and I share a similar… taste in women. We would pick girls up at bars and then bring them back to our apartment. I have never slept with Pam. We are just friends." The entire time I was talking I was wringing my hands together nervously. I never expected to have to explain myself to a 76 year old woman. Ever.

"I appreciate your honesty young man. I'm not sure I understand exactly what you're saying, but I don't care for any more details. It is obvious that Jason and I have been disrespectful to you and Susannah and for that I'm sorry. I never can tell how much is too much, and that's my fault. She is really upset about something and I have a feeling you're the only one who can rectify this situation."

"I'm not so sure about that ma'am."

I'm not good in these situations. I never have been. I am not good with feelings. Feelings and I do not get along. When Felicia and I finally did talk after the divorce was final, she told me that I wasn't emotional enough for her. Excuse me for not being all 'emo.' I was not raised to be emotional.

I grew up with a harsh ex-Swedish marine alcoholic father and a mother who hardly spoke. I was the only son, and therefore the constant target of my father's post-barhopping tirades.

He wanted me to follow in his footsteps. I was larger than him by the time I turned 13 and that meant that I would be the perfect specimen for the marines. Unfortunately, I enjoyed school more. Sure, I was athletic; I played football or as the Americans call it, 'soccer.' I was the best goalie in our league.

My father gave me two choices: the marines or football. I opted for choice number three, mathematics. When he found out I had a full scholarship to the University of Oxford, he was infuriated. My mother tried to hide it from him, but he beat us both for it. That was the final beating my mother took. He ended her life that night and was arrested. I haven't spoken to him since.

My girlfriend, at the time, Felicia, and my best friend, Victor, and I all decided to pack up our stuff and move to the states right after graduation. Felecia's parents were none too pleased; they didn't want their daughter moving across the ocean with some boy, so naturally, I proposed. Of course, I was unaware of the fact that she and Victor were already sleeping together before we were married. All I knew was that I was getting away from my miserable life in Sweden with my lover and my best friend.

After the affair, I had nothing. I shut down completely. My mother's death took half of my ability to trust and to love and the affair took the other half. I was nothing but an empty shell of a man. Pam was the only thing that kept me going; but she has her own skeletons. One night over one too many shots of Jagermeister we spilled our guts to each other. Neither one of us has discussed that night since, and it's better that way.

So, here I am sitting alone in Sookie's childhood home with her Grandmother and her worthless piece of shit brother wondering what the hell I'm going to do to make this better. Last night was beyond words. I meant what I said to her though. I was falling in love with her and it scared the fuck out of me. I do not love; not anymore at least. Terrible things tend to happen when I love someone.

"Eric, son, are you okay?" I must've zoned out for longer than I thought. Gran looked alarmed and Jason was no longer sitting in the living room.

"Yes Gran, I guess I was just wondering what I should do now?"

"Well, I can tell you care a great deal about Susannah, so I'll give you a little hint."

She grabbed my hand and led me out onto the porch. "You see that pond out there?"

"Yes ma'am, I do."

"Walk towards the pond. You will find a very old oak tree just to the left of the pond. Look up and I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for. Oh and Eric, don't let her run." She gave me a wink, a quick pat on the back and sent me on my way.

From the front porch of the old farmhouse, the pond appeared to be about 100 yards away, but after walking for what seemed like at least a mile I was beginning to worry that I'd never reach her. When I finally found the old oak tree, I could hear Sookie crying, but I had no clue where she was.

I heard the branch creak above me, and that's when I saw her. She was sitting in the middle of that huge oak tree. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes were puffy and she was barefoot. She had to be freezing; there was a cool breeze coming off the pond and she was in nothing but a sweater and jeans.

I didn't want her to know that I'd been watching her, so I intentionally stepped on some fallen leaves to get her attention. She looked down at me and in that moment I wanted to take all of her pain away. I never ever wanted to see her cry again. And I'd be damned if I was ever the cause of those tears.

"Eric… please, just go. I can't do this now."

"You can't do what, Sookie?"

"I think we made a mistake. I… I… think I need a new mentor."

Fuck! This is exactly why I didn't want to sleep with her last night. I knew she'd regret it today. I just fucking knew it!

"Please come down so we can talk."

"There's nothing to talk about. I think you should go. I… I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry."

I wasn't going anywhere. I was not going to leave under these circumstances. So, I took my shoes off and climbed up in that damn tree with her. Gran's words were echoing in my ears 'Don't let her run.'

A/N: Don't hate me. I had to leave it there. Classes are done, so I'll update soon. I promise! I couldn't let this story go without some angst. These two have entirely too much to discuss!

Oh, and I'm SO sorry for not responding to your reviews! I feel terrible! I wanted to get Chapter 9 out there though!

Thanks to my beta DarkRaven2008!