A/N: Just wanted to take a moment to clear something up. Some of you wonderful readers have wondered why Eric seems so harsh at times. I guess it was more clear in my head that he was also a victim but would certainly never play the part. Regardless, he is prideful, confused and somewhat angry. The way I have viewed the scenario is that he is as we all know over 1000 years old and never let a human touch him as Sookie has. That alone would have rocked him but to return to himself, having no memory of recent events and such a strong change to his emotional state involving Sookie. He is just processing in his own way. He has wanted Sookie for a long time as we know and can not understand how she wanted him 'broken' but not as the strong powerhouse of a man/vamp that he is.
Not sure if that helps at all…but I just thought I would explain a little of his mind set. Not to worry though I have faith that Eric is and will be who and what most of us want him to be!
In Thy Lovers Arms
Eric POV
It has been four days since I seen Sookie outside of her house with her 'friend'. Every night I have thought about going to her. I try to convince myself that I am only wanting to go because I still have her damn check and I am sure she can use the money.
I just can not bring myself to go. She obviously does not want me, I guess that should have been obvious. She had always turned me down before why would have thought it would be any different after. The most difficult part of this will be the bond, for me anyway. She doesn't understand the bond just yet we have never fully discussed it.
Pam has given me a hard time and says this needs to be settled as I have not been good for business. She says I must go to her, but she is the one refusing to speak.
"Pam, what will you have me do? Put myself at the feet of a human and beg her to talk to me? To hear me? Is that what you will have your master do Pam?"
"Well it wouldn't be the first, you liked being at her feet before. There were no complaints from you!"
"Mind your tongue Pamela"
"Eric, you are not happy. The two of you have always pushed each others buttons easily but when it matters you are there for each other. Even when you were not yourself where did you go? Who did you seek out?"
"Do not speak of things that you do not understand Pam" Pam is the one pushing my buttons now, and she knows it.
"What's to understand? You care for her, you love her and have for a long time. Even if you choose not to see it. She makes you happy and you make her happy, I see it every time you are together…go to her Eric." I sit staring at the wall across from desk trying make my own sense of it all but I just can't.
"I can't Pam, I just…can't" It's a simple statement and she knows to leave it be. "Here, make sure Sookie gets this. It is her payment for keeping me…safe." I say and hand her the check.
Sookie POV
I woke up this morning feeling like a brand new woman. I had slept like the dead last night, never even waking to use the washroom. I had realized something while drifting off last night. I am Sookie Stackhouse, I am my own woman and I do not depend on any man for anything.
Part of me feels bad for sending Quinn away so abruptly last night, the only excuse I have is that he has always been a real ladies man and has never had any interest in settling down. I doubt it would have been any different with me.
I still do not really understand how I had let it happen. I can only say that I was like a mad woman, my emotional state all over the place. I felt calm and happy, then angry and sad. Plus I felt wanted and needed and then I felt hateful and guilty. Guilty of course because of Eric.
Yes I fell in love with Eric, But I have loved and lost long before him and I am still here. If I was able to survive the loss of both my parents years ago. Not to mention my Gran much more recently and she had been my rock, Well I could certainly survive this loss. At least he is still alive, well as alive as any vampire can be.
I guess I have forgotten that prior to this whole fiasco, Eric and I had started to become friends in an odd way. Yes he made lewd comments towards me often. Definitely tried on numerous occasions to get me into bed and more often then not scared off any man showing an interest in me. He was also always there for me any time I needed him.
That was when I decided that if nothing else I wanted everything to just go back to the way it was. For the most part I know this probably will not happen but I can always hope right? Eric is even more proud then me so I don't expect he will come to me any time soon. He tried to talk to me and I basically told him to go away, then jumped him. I am sure he is as frustrated with me as I am with him.
We have a connection and a bond that neither can deny. This alone tells me that sometime soon we will get past this. He will come around whether just to see me or on 'Business' as he likes to call it and when he does I will tell him whatever he wants to know.
More days passed and it has been over a week since I have seen or heard from Eric. I go through each day in a robotic state. Wake up, go to work, come home, shower, go to bed. Sometimes I stop for a couple of things at the grocery store or watch a little TV. It turns out that the new me only lasted for all of one day. I am still ok but I really really miss Eric and I think about him constantly.
I worked the dinner shift today and returned home after 8:00pm. I smell of fried foods and alcohol so I quickly hop in the shower. The warm water is so relaxing and it starts me remembering back to my first shower with Eric.
God, I can almost feel his long fingers as they gently parted my lower lips. While he licked and placed open mouthed kisses along my breasts…my hand slowly slides down my stomach and gently grazes my already throbbing mound…"shit, damn cell phones" I mumble to myself as I hop out of the shower grabbing a towel and reaching for my phone.
"Oh god, Fangtasia! Shit, crap!…Hello?" A strangled breath escapes my lips.
"Sookie, darling is everything ok? You sound winded. I wasn't interrupting anything was I?" It was Pam. I silently thanked the good lord, I think I would have passed out if it were Eric. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would beat right out of my chest.
I was so relieved that I didn't even care that I was well aware of what Pam was getting at. She was hinting that maybe I had someone here. That I was 'busy' with. "No Pam, I was just getting out of the shower and ran for the phone that's all. What can I do for you?"
"Oh it's no big deal really, I just need to see if you are available to come to Fangtasia tomorrow night?" She asked.
"Are you asking or telling Pam?"
"Asking of course Sookie, I would never dream of 'telling' my master's bonded anything."
"hmph" I grunted at her "Give it up Pam! I don't think your 'master' is too worried about who is asking or telling me anything."
"I think you might be surprised at Eric's reaction if he thought that someone may be 'telling' you that you had to do anything you may not want to."
"Pam, I really do not know what you are getting at, I have not heard from Eric in over a week. I highly doubt that I would be his first priority regardless of the situation, but yes if you require me to stop by that will be fine. I have the day off so it is no problem."
"Great! Would 10:00 be good for you Sookie?"
"That's fine, I will see there. Oh wait. Would you mind telling me what this is about?"
"I have to go Sookie, but I will fill you in as soon as you get here…ok?"
"Ok, bye Pam"
"Bye"
So this is it! Tomorrow night I will see Eric again. We can hopefully put this whole thing behind us and just get back to normal. I miss hearing from him every day or two, even when he would just call to say hi. Checking up on me…he would say.
I will just be happy to have this week finally over, it has definitely been one hell of an emotional roller coaster. I am up and down, hot and then cold! Well I am putting an end to it tomorrow night regardless of what Eric need me for.
A/N: I don't know about you but I can not wait for Sookie and Eric to finally see one another!
****All characters belong to Charlaine Harris****
