Chapter 10

Awakenings

Sookie's POV

I was swimming upwards through muck that seemed to grow thicker by the minute. I was blind to my surroundings but kept my movements headed towards one thing, the sound of Eric Northman's voice. The gentle urging I heard there warmed me and made me fight against the blackness that surrounded me. I became aware of my body for the first time in ages and it felt alien and cumbersome to me.

I felt cool splashes hitting my face, was Eric crying over me? I tried with all my might to speak or move but could do nothing, it was as if I was paralyzed.

"YOU FUCKING TOLD ME SHE WOULD BE ALRIGHT! I BLAME YOU FOR ALL OF THIS! I WILL END YOU IF SHE IS NOT RETURNED TO ME! FUCK THE CONSEQUENCES!"

I could hear things smashing all around me, my Makers rage hung thick in the air as he ranted and destroyed.

Eric, I'm coming back to you, I just have to find my way. I'm lost right now but I think I'm on the right track. Give me blood, Eric. Help me reconnect to myself, help me find my way.

I felt his skin on mine and his wrist was pressed to my mouth but I couldn't command my mouth to work.

"Leave us, EVERYONE!" Eric was bellowing now and I felt a spark of lust when I heard the commanding tone of his voice. I sensed that we were alone now in the room and I knew what was coming next. His hands made quick work of my clothes and I felt his mouth close to my ear.

"I'll help you find your way back to me lover. We've always known each other best this way. Surely your body will welcome you back once it remembers the pleasure I can give you." His voice was heavy with longing and I felt my brain making tiny connections, rewiring itself, becoming whole again.

His hands moved all over me, every inch of skin that he touched became alive and a part of me again. I felt my pinky finger twitch when he kissed my hand.

"That's it, lover. I can feel you returning to me." His voice broke a little and I felt so sad to have made him forlorn that way. He deserved only happiness and I would spend the rest of my existence trying to bring him nothing but joy.

His mouth moved to my breasts and I felt the now familiar tingling as his tongue teased my nipples. I heard a small moan escape my lips. Progress! If only I could move my hand to tangle it in his hair, to urge him on and let him know what he was doing was working and felt oh so right!

"Come back to me Sookie. I can't be without you, ever. I need you more than I need blood to survive."

I felt his hand part me and my body shivered involuntarily as I felt him slide his length inside of me. His mouth was on my neck, sucking and gently nipping my skin. I felt my mind reconnect with my own mouth as I whispered.

"I'm home, Eric. I'll never leave you again."

I felt his body shudder with his sob and then his mouth claimed mine passionately. He moved slowly in and out of me and I felt myself melting around him. There was no rush or urgency, his movements were gentle and loving. I felt myself climbing towards a release of such magnitude and beauty that when I reached it, I wept. I held onto my lover fiercely and cried from the joy of having him inside of me. Nothing would ever part us again and I would do whatever it took to make sure that he never cried for me again.

I had been a fool to wish for the things I had. I had wished to be more exotic, to feel that deserved to be with Eric, to have an older soul so that I wouldn't feel so unwise around his 1000 plus years of existence. I had all but sent that horrible woman a written invitation to come in and take over my body. Eric had never made me feel inferior, I'd done that to myself. I was such a fool to wish for such things when all he'd ever asked for was me as I am. I'd made all those wishes selfishly and also to spite Niall. He'd warned me that a vampire like Eric would never be satisfied with someone as simple as me and I had believed him. He'd also demanded that I stop using my fae abilities. I would never stop using my wishes, but I would never wish for anything so selfishly again.

Eric's POV

I could feel her returning, bit by bit. I thought of all the places she was most sensitive and the things that she had always responded to the most when I'd made love to her. I hoped that the sensations would be a beacon to her and I had been right. When she promised to never leave me again, I broke down and sobbed like a child, I was so thankful to hear the familiar lilt and accent to her voice. She had come back to me. I didn't care if I seemed weak as long as she was whole again.

Now as I lay here beside her, gazing down into her beautiful face, I can't help but wonder how someone so kind hearted could care for someone as cold and heartless as me. I don't know what I did to deserve her love but I would spend forever doing all that I could to earn it. Her love had changed a part of me that I had thought was set in stone. There might be some who would view it as a weakness but I would prove to them quickly that my love for Sookie did not mean I was less ruthless as a businessman and Sheriff. If for no other reason than what was mine was also hers and I would now be looking after both our interests.

"Sookie, are you well?"

"I'm as fine as a summer day, Eric. It's good to be back."

"Where did you go, lover?"

"I was trapped inside of myself somewhere. It was dark and I knew there was someone else there, even before she started speaking to me."

"Do you feel like yourself? What can I do for you?"

"I feel starved. Is there anything to drink?"

"Pam."

I heard my child coming to the door and she stuck her head inside.

"Master?"

"Sookie is hungry. Would you ask Sophie-Ann if there is anything to drink?"

"And I don't mean a human or a coke. Bring me some synthetic, Pam. Please?" Sookie sat up and smiled sheepishly.

Before I could stop her, Pam was on the bed and had Sookie in a bear hug.

"Welcome home, mistress." Then she planted a long, slow kiss on my lover that she didn't seem to mind. If I hadn't known better, I'd say that there was some tongue involved.

"Thanks, Pam." They were eying each other in a way that made me hungry in a carnal way. Maybe the scenario from a few weeks ago wasn't a one time deal after all.

"I'll find something for you, Mistress. Rest for now, the Queen would like audience with you two when you feel up to it."

I nodded at Pam as she left the room.

"Was it my overactive, horny imagination, or did Pam slip you the tongue?"

"I'll never tell." She was teasing me and it made me ache, I wanted to take her again already.

"My lover, we must decide what to do with the one who betrayed us. I can sense that Sophie-Ann will leave it to you to decide."

"I already know what I would like to do."

The fact that she already had a plan surprised me. I thought she had been almost completely unaware during the possession.

Pam returned with two bottles of TruBlood for Sookie and they were gone within seconds. I noticed the sly glances the two females gave each other and I wondered what had passed unspoken between them.

"What was that, Alskarinna?"

"What was what?"

"Don't play coy, Sookie. Remember, harboring secrets from me will always bring punishment."

"I seem to remember absolutely loving each punishment that you've thought up for me so far. That's not much incentive to be forthcoming with you, Master." Her hand found it's way to my erection and squeezed. I moaned and rolled my eyes. She was going to be in so much trouble.