(Disclaimer: The Southern Vampire series and characters are the property of Charlaine Harris.)


A Quiet Moment

We left Mòr at his truck outside Fangtasia and Preston and I teleported to my studio. The air and energy brushing past and over me was refreshing. I felt freedom in the sweet air outside. Every muscle relaxed exponentially with every mile that we put between us and the vampires.

I hadn't realized how late it was until we got to my work studio and I was finally sitting down. The adrenaline rush from my encounter with the vampires had started to fade. Preston and I squeezed into the bathroom in my work studio. I sat on the hard seat and watched him through tired eyes wet a small hand towel.

I knew that the bathroom was small but with us both in it, it sure was cramped. I've never shared this bathroom before. No one but me had ever been in this part of my work studio. I always met clients' at the project site, so Preston was the first. And he made it look really nice. My eyes trailed his figure as he bent down on one knee in front of me. He brushed against my bare legs and I felt life between my thighs. I squeezed my knees together and sat up straighter.

Preston just smiled at me. Before the communion ceremony, from the very small time we had together, I liked him. He was beautiful and he was kind. But he could have left and I may have thought of him randomly but that would have been it. After the ceremony something changed. I knew him. I mean I truly and deeply knew him. You know, in that way when you know someone that the knowledge of them actually alters you. They become part of you. You worry about them. You think about them often. You want them happy. Their memory brings a smile to your face. It's like being in a world of strangers and in walks your closest and dearest friend. This was how it was for me now. And when he was gone something felt missing.

"Preston," I whispered. He had started to wipe the dried blood that had run down my arm and into my hand. I noticed some of the blood had gotten on my dress. I wasn't sure if it would come out or not.

"Yes," he said working on my palm slowly and delicately. You would think my hand were a flower pedal.

"Thank you," I said. "For coming tonight." He looked up and our gazes locked. His warm eyes had an unspoken truth about them. They were clear and had a depth to them. It was maybe his soul that I saw. Whatever it was, he had eyes that when you saw into them you felt like they were meant for you. Silly isn't it? They were safe and they were life.

"You don't need to thank me," he said softly. "I promised to protect you and I always will."

"I know, but thank you," I said sincerely.

We resumed our silence again. I could hear him breathing, deeply and slowly like when a person is calm and relaxed and lost in thought. Preston's sounds relaxed me and yet I felt a new energy building under my skin. Like an itch I couldn't scratch. It didn't make sense. But I guess getting on a roller coaster, into those itty bitty carts interconnected, and being hurled through the air at high speeds, at those heights, and moving in ways that defy gravity simply for the fear and thrill didn't make much sense either.

I quietly studied him as he finished with my hand. He was focused and unhurried. If I thought about it, everything about Preston was unhurried. But I guess when you have forever there isn't any rush in what you do. I had to smile. I was enjoying the close contact. He moved attentively up the inside of my wrist. I breathed deeply feeling mesmerized by the motion. From there he leisurely began to trail up my arm. It tingled. A little giggle slipped through my lips. Preston smiled.

"You look very pretty tonight," he said never taking his eyes off his task. A bright light turned on inside me. I adjusted my posture. "I'm not surprised the evening turned out the way it did. An orchid among weeds is hard to resist."

"Thanks, that's very nice of you," I smiled. He rose to his full length and rinsed the towel. "I guess I did stand out like a sore thumb." He huffed disagreeing about the sore thumb part.

"Do I need to show you how to play nicely with the vampires," he said teasingly.

"Perhaps," I said. "But tonight wasn't my fault," I insisted. "It started with a stupid vampire wanting to glamour me."

"He probably wanted to feed off you," he said pointing out what I already knew.

"Yeah, and a whole lot more, but then a vampire came to help," I explained. "But then that one wanted to feed off me too." Preston knelt in front of me again enjoying my retelling. He started gently inspecting me like a mother looking over her infant child. I really didn't mind. Preston was a sight for sore eyes. And I liked the attention.

"Then another vampire came to help," I continued. "But then that one took me in his office and tried to glamour me also." Preston mumbled something incoherently when he found the half crescent bloody wounds on my arm.

"It all happened so quickly," I said truthfully. "It really wasn't like I had much time to think through a good plan of action." Or for that matter come up with some sort of strategy. I was just stumbling through it.

"How did you manage to get the vampire off you?" he asked and I gave him a detailed breakdown, which he was immensely impressed with. I'll need to emphasis this part of the story when I retell it to my Gram-pa.

"He shouldn't have touched you," said Preston soberly. He was feeling a mixture between anger and irritation. I figured it was at the vampire and not at me. "You do realize that if you planned on keeping your adventures tonight secret," he said. "It won't be possible now."

"I sort of figured that one out already," I admitted. "I know I'll hear about it."

"The Prince didn't want you around the vampires," Preston pointed out. "That's what the scouts were for."

"I know," I sighed. After a short pause I said, "I did learn a lot tonight about them though. Maybe nothing about the Queen that is, but a lot about them in general."

"Be careful," he said. "As much as you may occasionally enjoy their company, you can't forget what they are. No matter everything else, their vampire first."

"You don't have to worry about that," I huffed. "I've had enough vampires for a life time, thank you."

"There," he said tossing the towel in the sink. He took the medicinal balm I had that was made of a plant extract that grows in the fae world. I kept it around for emergencies. I'd burned myself a few times on iron at the architectural salvage store.

Preston pulled up some balm with his finger and gently applied it to the cuts on my arm. The sensation of his fingers dabbing rhythmically on my bare skin was a very yummy feeling. I started wondering as I watched him if maybe he ever thought about me. You know, in that way. The way that the vampire did, except for the blood and the scary stuff. Not that I was interested. I was just curious. I couldn't help but wonder. How does a person even know, if you can't read someone's mind, if someone likes you—you know in that way?

"It should be healed by morning," he said absently and completely oblivious, thank God, to my train of thought. All alone in my small work studio bathroom Preston made one final inspection of my limbs. I pressed my knees together again when his hand brushed my thigh accidently. I drew in a quick breath.

Preston smiled at my action, but continued to inspect for any missed blood or cuts. I was too embarrassed to look at him for a few seconds. Once I felt composed again I raised my eyes to watch him again. He looked everything like a Prince should. Regal and beautiful. He replaced the small cap on the balm and placed it back in its place.

"What," he asked uneasily. I wondered why it made him nervous when I watched him? I'm sure women and men alike stared at him all the time.

"Nothing," I said softly. He rinsed the small towel and carefully draped it over the edge of the tiny sink. "I do have to say," I said, "that I can see the whole 'living on the edge' and tasting 'living' like Mòr says, but I think tonight was a bit more edge than I cared for," I admitted. Preston chuckled.

"Well," he said turning his full attention to me again. Wow! Even at this late hour he was still so handsome. "I think you've had enough adventures for one night."

"I agree," I confessed. "I think I'll stick to Bon Temp for a while." Truth is that after tonight I sure could use a lot of the quiet life. I'd never been in a fight before. And for my first fight to have been with vampires, it seemed unbelievable and insane.

"It's late," said Preston. "Let me take you home."

"Ok," I said. Preston stood and put his arms under me lifting me as if I were as light as a feather. My arms went around his neck automatically. He smiled and gave me a wink. My stomach filled with tangerine flavored pop rock candy snapping, and bouncing, and dancing about excitedly.

"Ready," he asked. I nodded too hesitant to make any sound. "Shall I drive you or teleport you?"

"I want to go home," I breathed too distracted by the pop rock candy in my stomach.

"Hold tight," he said. He drew me closer and more securely against his broad chest, one hand against my bare leg and his other arm wrapped around my back. It felt more than nice. The energy around us swirled up in a familiar pattern and seconds later we were in my grandparent's house.

Preston never once judged me with an expression, a word, or feeling. He could have scolded me or told me how crazy I had been, but he never did. Maybe it was because of his experiences. He'd had a lot of situations like tonight when things took a sudden and unexpected turn for the bad. I wasn't sure why these things happened to us? It wasn't like I went into the vampire bar tonight looking for trouble.

Once Preston brought me home and I was safely tucked under my sheets, sleep took me quickly. I dreamed of Preston for the first time. I also dreamt of the beautiful female vampire from Fangtasia. She wanted Preston. And not just for his blood. I decided that I probably didn't like her. Crazy how strongly a person can feel over a stupid dream. She was probably a really nice vampire lady. No. I take that back. Stupid vampire.

I woke up feeling irritable. I wondered if I was going to start my period. Or maybe it was the long night or the drinks I had at the concert the night before. I did feel something close to a headache. I pushed aside the sour feelings and took a nice long relaxing shower. It seemed to help. Once I put myself together I joined Gran in the kitchen. Gram-pa was in the fae realm and wouldn't be back for another week. Chances were that they've probably already heard about last night.

Gran had a fresh pot of coffee ready when I came into the kitchen. It was already eleven in the morning. I had cleared my scheduled today since I had planned on staying out late the night before. Good thing I did.

"Sam called a few times looking for you," said Gran. "He said if you could give him a call."

"I hope everything is ok," I said wondering if I had mentioned causally to Sam that I would be taking today off. Once in a while when he was in a jam he would ask if I didn't mind coming in and helping with a shift here and there. Maybe that's what he wanted. I finished my coffee and then made my way over to the phone to call him.

"Sookie?" asked the man's voice on the phone. It was Sam.

"Hi Sam," I said cheerfully. "Gran said you were looking for me."

"Chèr, we need to talk," he said ominously. "Can you stop by the bar?"

"Sure," I said hesitantly. I wondered what could be so important that he couldn't tell me over the phone. "What about I come down in an hour?"

"That'll be great," said Sam. "I'll see you then."

"Ok, bye," I said and hung up. I glanced out the window and saw my car. I smiled at seeing it outside. Preston must have brought after he left me. I made a mental note to remember to thank him when I saw him next. Merlotte's was a good 45 minute drive, so I slipped on my flip flops and I was really glad I had gotten a pedicure a few days ago.

A few minutes later I jumped in my car and drove to Merlotte's making a few calls to check on some special order items I had placed for a client's project. I wrapped up my last call just as I pulled into Merlotte's parking lot. From the look of it, they were in the middle of the lunch rush. Once I got in I made a beeline to Sam's office waving to familiar faces on my way in. I spotted Jason sitting with his work buddies. I made a note to swing by and say hi.

"Hi Sam," I chimed when I entered his office.

"Hey Sookie," said Sam. He rose and gave me a long hug. Sam wasn't a quick hugger. He tended to linger when he hugged me. "It's good to see you."

"What's up," I smiled taking the chair next to his desk.

"I'm glad you could make it in," he said closing his office door. I found this odd and I felt uneasy. What could he possibly have to say to me? I debated whether to read him or not.

"A vampire came in last night," said Sam jumping right in. This was not what I would have guessed was the reason he asked me to come in for. Unfortunately Sam had my full attention and not in a good way. After last night, the last thing I wanted to have to deal with was more vampires.

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A/N: I've relabeled the chapters in the drop down menu. Hope it doesn't confuse things. I'm doing it to help keep me organized. My chapter numbers are not aligning with the numbering since I included a prologue. Thank you for reading and reviewing.