AN: Yeehaw! He's back in the saddle again. Thanks Sunkisz for being a superfly beta.

Chapter 10

EPOV

"How in the hell did you score that?" Alcide asked the minute Sookie and Maria were out of earshot.

I shrugged and walked to the bed of the pickup where our duffel bags were secured. I had asked myself that question more often than I wanted to admit. I hardly believed it myself when Sookie agreed to go on a road trip with me, but I knew better than to question it. Something about her made me lose all sense of reason. If you'd told me a month ago that I'd take a woman on the road with me, I would have called you crazy.

The summer rodeo circuit was prime picking for a single cowboy, and sitting at the number one position in the country assured me any ass I could want in any honky tonk along the way. But apparently I only wanted one ass, and that belonged to one Miss Sookie Stackhouse of Bon Temps, Louisiana.

"What?" I asked, smirking in Alcide's direction. He didn't need to know that I'd turned soft overnight with the crook of her finger. "You don't think a good looking guy like me could score someone as hot as Sookie?"

He shook his head and laughed. "I know you've gotten ass that looks as good as Sookie before; but you sure as hell haven't ever brought someone like her around. Shit, you haven't brought anyone around. The most I ever see is the back of their head as they're doing the walk of shame. Mr. Love 'Em and Leave 'Em, right?"

"People change," I said, swinging Sookie's bag over the side of the truck. "I thought it'd be fun."

"Maria seems to like her," he responded, picking up my bag and walking towards the house. "And you know how Maria feels about buckle bunnies."

Yes, I was very familiar about Maria's thoughts on my wandering ways. She'd lectured me more times than I could count. I reached into the cab and grabbed my hat, pushing it firmly on my head.

"Sookie's not a buckle bunny," I said firmly. She wasn't. I had known that the first night I'd met her, though she'd acted quite differently. "Hell, she doesn't even know a lick about rodeo. The size of the purse doesn't impress her."

"Good," he said with a nod. "It's about time you grew up and stopped fucking everything in a short skirt and hairspray that came along your path."

"Fuck you, Alcide," I practically growled. "It's not like I had someone waiting for me at home."

"Sure. Hey, you're free to do whatever the hell you liked. It's just nice to see you have a girlfriend finally." He stepped onto the porch and opened the door.

"She's not my girlfriend."

He laughed and walked into the house without a word.

I scowled at his back as I followed him inside. As much as I wanted to protest, I knew he was right. I hadn't exactly been Mr. Stable when it came to relationships. Between the bar and the rodeo world, I wasn't exactly inundated with girlfriend material. Willing bodies, yes; but nothing I'd want to take home to my mother. No one like the little librarian that had come into my life like a cyclone.

I followed Alcide into his spare room and set Sookie's duffel down in the corner. Alcide had a nice little spread on his dad's ranch – big enough for the family that I knew that he and Maria had planned to start as soon as this rodeo season was over. It was far enough away from the main house that they could have their own life, but close enough to have the comforts of your family.

Alcide left me to my own devices, and I took a minute to settle myself in. I had slept in this room more times than I could count, but I had never had a woman with me. Hell, I never thought I'd ever have a woman with me. It wasn't just any girl you brought with you to your best friend's house for a sleepover. My eyes darted to the large bed, and images of Sookie sprawled naked on the dark bedspread brought a smile to my lips. I wondered how long we'd have to play nice with Maria and Alcide until I could get her to myself.

I heard a noise behind me and turned around to see the star of my fantasy standing in front of me. She had cocked her hip and was leaning against the doorframe as she surveyed me.

"Nice hat, Cowboy," she said with a laugh, nodding her head in my direction. My eyes darted up to the chocolate brown brim and I shrugged, sitting back on the bed and giving her the once over.

"Want to come take it off me?" I asked, crooking my finger in her direction.

"Not particularly," she said, walking slowly towards me. "I haven't seen you in your hat since the night in Tyler." Her eyes glazed over and she came to a stop in front of me. "I forgot how sexy you look in it. Makes me think about how you looked when you weren't wearing anything else."

"Mmm." I reached out and grabbed her hands, pulling her in between my legs. "Care for an encore?"

She giggled, grabbing the hat and placing it on her own head. "With Alcide and Maria in the next room?"

"They won't care," I saidHer eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked at me and shook her head.

"I care," she insisted. "I just met them."

"We're cowboys Sookie," I said, knowing my argument was futile. "It comes with the territory."

She laughed and stepped out of my arms. "I didn't come in here to be seduced by you Eric, though you should get big shiny Sheriff's badge for effort." She took the hat off her head and set it down on the nightstand, brim up like I'd taught her. "Maria wants to know if you want something to eat."

I smirked and nodded. "Oh yeah, there is something I definitely am hungry for."

"Eric Northman!" she screeched.

"What?" I asked with a shrug. "You asked."

"That is so not what I meant and you know it," she said. I could tell she was amused behind her stern exterior, which made me want to crack her all the more.

"Are you saying you wouldn't enjoy that? I seem to recall a similar meal in your kitchen that you liked real well." The tell-tale flush rose from the neckline of her shirt and I knew I had her. "Remember that, Bunny?"

She squeezed her eyes shut and took a step backwards. "How could I forget?" she asked. "But no. Stop that Eric. Lunch. Would you like a sandwich?"

"I guess a sandwich would do, though it isn't as good as the alternative. Maybe if I could eat it off of you…"

Her eyes opened as she backed into the door frame and she shook her head. "If you embarrass me today Eric, I swear I'll-"

"What?" I asked, standing up and taking a step towards her.

"I don't know," she said, edging her way to the open door. "But you will not like it. I can promise you that."

"I might be willing to take my chances, Bunny."

"Don't you dare," she warned.

"Try me," I said, reaching out and clasping her hand.

"Can you two stop playing grab ass and get in the kitchen?" Maria's bored voice said. I looked up to see her standing in the hallway and wondered how long she'd been standing there. The flush that had been creeping up Sookie's neck engulfed her face as she turned around to look at the small woman standing behind her.

"Northman," Maria barked, stepping forward and taking Sookie's hand. "You leave this poor girl alone. You may be used to treating all those floozies with no respect, but Sookie here is a lady. And if I hear you're treating her like anything else, I'll come after you with my California Bander."

I swallowed the lump in my throat as images of Maria coming at me with that tool crossed my mind. "I wouldn't dream of it."

"What's a California Bander?" Sookie asked, her voice small.

"We use it out at brandings," Maria said, never taking her eyes off me. "It's what separates the bulls from the steers."

Sookie's eyes widened and she looked back at me, laughter brimming under the surface.

"There you go," she said. "That's my threat too. You'll teach me how to use that, right Maria?"

"For Northman?" Maria asked with a laugh. "Of course."

Thankfully, my balls were still intact at nine o'clock that night when we were out sitting around a fire under the stars. Maria had propped herself on Alcide's knee and was regaling Sookie with a tale of my exploits at the Calgary Stampede two years ago.

"So Eric here's leaving his hotel room when this tall blond guy comes storming up the steps," she said with a laugh. "He's dressed in full Mounty gear, and starts yelling at Eric, asking him where his wife was." She looked over at me and smirked before turning to face Sookie again. "Eric played innocent, though to your defense Eric, I don't think you knew she was married."

"I didn't," I said, with a shrug. This was the fifth story Maria had told about my sexual exploits. As much as I wished she would shut up, Sookie just seemed to encourage her. At least she didn't seem too off-put by the stories, not if the way she had sidled up to me was any indication.

"So this guy starts screaming at Eric, backing him up until Eric's flush against the wall. Alc and I are standing there in fits at the predicament Eric's dick got him into when the guy starts swinging."

I laughed and shook my head, recalling the events that had led up to that particular altercation. The woman in question had propositioned me after the Stampede when we were at Cowboys. She'd been a little firecracker, and I had been a little less than discerning. But she'd drank a bit too much, and by the time we made it back to the hotel, I'd barely got my pants off when she passed out.

"So Eric full on decks him. Knocks the guy out, and steps over his prone body and asks us if we're ready to go as if nothing happened."

"No," Sookie, said, shaking with laughter as she looked up at me, the firelight dancing across her face. "You got into a fight with Dudley Dooright and laid him out?"

I shrugged and pulled her tightly against me. She'd been driving me crazy all night, snuggled up against me as we sat around and drank. She'd only had a few beers, but every beer loosened her inhibitions, and when she'd slipped her hand into my back pocket, I nearly threw her over my shoulder and took her to bed.

"Canadians beware," she said with a laugh.

"Well," Alcide said, standing up. "I reckon it's about time we headed inside. We've got to be on the road at seven tomorrow if we're going to make it up to Witchita Falls in time for our go-round."

I nodded, standing up and grabbing Sookie's hand. Most of the summer was like this, driving from rodeo to rodeo and making it in time for your event, especially in these smaller rodeos like Red River. It was a hectic schedule, but once you got used to it, it wasn't so bad. I reckoned it would only be better having Sookie with me. No need to go out late and try to find a girl to take home when I brought one with me.

We said our goodnights, and I shut the door behind us, following Sookie into the bathroom. I watched as she started her nightly ritual. She'd only been at my house for a week, but I already knew exactly what she did before she climbed into bed – or at least what she liked to do if I didn't interrupt her with a better idea. She'd start by taking off her earrings and brushing her hair, then her make-up, and last, but not least, she'd brush her teeth.

She reached up to pull the rubber band free from her hair, exposing a tantalizing glimpse of her midriff in the process.

"You sure about this, Bunny?" I asked, watching as she ran her fingers through the loose waves that fell to her shoulders.

"Sure about what?" she responded, meeting my eyes in the large mirror over the sink.

"About coming on the road with me."

She stilled, and set the brush down before turning around to face me. She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the counter. "Is this your way of telling me you're not sure about this Eric?"

"What?" I asked, my eyes widening with shock. "No. Hell no. I just don't want you to do something on a whim that you're going to regret."

She shook her head and turned back around. "I've been sleeping in your bed every night for the past week. I had my chance to back out and say no, and I didn't. I came all the way to freaking Dallas with you, and put up with a night of being interrogated by your friends. If I haven't backed out yet, I am not backing out any time soon."

A smile crept across my face and I closed the distance between us, wrapping my arms around her waist and nestling my chin on the top of her head. "Cause you like me so much?"

She shrugged. "I like you okay, I guess."

"Mmm hmm. Just okay?" I felt her spine stiffen against my chest as my fingers danced up her ribcage, stopping just under her breasts.

"Maybe a bit more than okay," she said, sounding breathless. "But not much. I still think you're an egotistical prick."

"I thought you liked my prick," I said with a smirk.

"That's about the only thing I like about you sometimes, Eric. But it seems like you've got a lady in every honkytonk that enjoys your prick, if what Maria was saying was right."

"Maybe," I said. I wasn't going to lie about it; there really wasn't a point after the stories she'd heard tonight. "But you're the only one that can have it this summer."

She laughed. "Is that supposed to excite me?"

"I reckon it should. You seem to have liked what I've done with it so far."

"Do you ever think of anything other than your dick, Eric?" She asked, the mirth gleaming in her eyes.

"Sometimes." I shrugged, and pulled her tightly against me. "When I'm thinking about you naked, I'm not thinking about my dick much."

"No," she laughed. "That's you thinking with your dick."

"Either way," I responded. "It's all yours."

"Is that so?" she asked, spinning around to face me. I braced my arms on the counter on either side of her denim-clad hips and lowered my head until our foreheads touched.

"That's so, Bunny. I am at your disposal to use and abuse any way you'd like. All you've got to do is ask."

She held my gaze for a moment, not saying anything. A mischievous smile broke out across her face. "Any way I'd like?"

"Mmmm," I murmured, moving to her ear and sucking her earlobe into my mouth. She tilted her head to give me better access let out a satisfied sigh. "Anything. What way would you like me Sookie?"

"I've got a few ideas of what I'd like you to do tonight," she said, pulling back to meet my eyes.

"Like what?"

"Well, first things first, you are wearing far too many clothes," she said, tugging the bottom of my shirt out of my jeans. This was promising. She'd only had two or three beers, but maybe she was too drunk to remember her diatribe about not having sex with me in Alcide's house. I certainly wasn't going to remind her.

"There's an easy way to fix that, Bunny."

I groaned when she reached up and began unbuttoning the white buttons, slowly taking her time. Our hips were melded to one another's, though she was barely touching me beyond the stray brush of her knuckle against my chest. This was going to drive me crazy.

I reached out and tugged at the straps of her tank top, and groaned when she slapped my hands away. "No, this is about what I want. Use and abuse as I'd like, right?"

I swallowed audibly and nodded. Maybe my little dominatrix fantasy was coming to light. This might just be the best night ever.

When my shirt was unbuttoned, she slid her hands across my chest and ran her fingertips around my back. "Why don't you go finish getting undressed and get yourself in bed," she said, standing up on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear.

"Sounds pretty good to me," I said, turning my head and kissing her for the first time. Her fingers tightened against my bare skin. If she'd had any nails, I would have surely been marked, not that I would've complained. When she was thoroughly melted against me, I broke off and asked, "You gonna join me?"

She nodded, reluctantly dropping her hands to the side. "In a bit."

"Then what?" I asked. Hell, this was hotter than a lot of foreplay I'd experienced over the years. If she'd tell me in detail what she wanted me to do, I'd add in my own flavor of course, but this'd be a hell of a starting point. I'd be more than happy to comply with her wishes.

"Then," she said, looking at me wistfully. "Then we are going to go to sleep."

Except that.

"Shit Sookie," I growled, tightening my grip on her.

"What?" She asked innocently, pushing at me gently. "You said I could have anything I wanted."

"I didn't think you'd want that Sookie." I sounded whiny, but frankly I didn't give a fuck. She'd riled me up, got me thinking we'd be having some extracurricular activities that might help me go to sleep, and now this?

"We've got a long day ahead of us Cowboy. And I sure don't want to be responsible for you doing bad tomorrow cause you missed out on some sleep."

"I'm more than likely to mess up cause we didn't have sex, Sookie," I said. It sounded like a good argument. Hell, it was a good argument. Lying next to her in that bed and not getting to have her would surely make me more restless than going to sleep thirty minutes later.

"Nuh uh," she said, shaking her head. "I told you it wasn't going to happen earlier. Not in Alcide's house. Not before we have to hit the road and you've got to perform tomorrow."

"Bunny, there's gonna be a hell of a lot more nights like this. We're gonna be moving from town to town, lucky if we even get a bed to sleep in. There's no way I can keep my hands off you every night before a rodeo."

She leaned back and bit her lip, as she often did when she was thinking. It made me want to suck her lip into my mouth and bite it for her myself.

"Then," she said, nodding to herself. "Then think of it as your final night of rest before you hit the road. Your last chance to get a good night's sleep."

"I don't want a good night's sleep, Sookie," I said. "What I want is you naked and on top of me."

Her eyes widened. She still wasn't accustomed to my forthrightness sometimes, and damned if I didn't like that about her.

"Eric," she said, shaking her head when I pulled her to me. "I can't-"

"I can be real quiet Bunny," I said, running my lips along her neck, stopping in the spot I knew she couldn't resist. "Real quiet," I whispered. I pulled her pelvis against me, showing her exactly how much I wanted her.

She groaned when I pulled the skin on her neck into my mouth. "We shouldn't," she protested.

"We should," I said again, knowing that I was melting her defenses.

"This is me protesting," she said half-heartedly.

"You can stop me if you really want me to," I murmured between kisses, as I began to unbutton the fly on her jeans. She didn't stop me. Not even when my fingers brushed along the top of the scrap of lace covering her. "Lace?" I asked.

She shrugged and nodded, reaching up to entwine her fingers in my hair.

"You want me to stop, Bunny?" I asked.

She shook her head. "No."

"You sure, now?" I asked, pushing the denim down over her thighs. The jeans fell to the floor leaving her in nothing but her lace and a t-shirt.

She closed her eyes and nodded. "But I swear to god Eric, if you make one peep and they hear it, it's over."

"Is that a challenge?" I tugged the shirt up and over her head, reaching around and releasing the matching bra with one flick.

She gasped and nodded when I hoisted her onto the counter and stepped between her thighs.

"I'm always up to a challenge, Bunny."

And I was.

AN: Hey Eric lover (that's you), did you ever think about reading stories that DON'T have Eric in them? (gasp, I know) Thyra10, Sapfirerose and I were having a twitter conversation one day about the severe lack of stories written that don't include our dear Viking or his darling telepath, and have created a community and an associated challenge for stories that do not have Eric/Sookie or Sookie/Bill as the main pairing. Please head on over and give it a go:

http : // www . fanfiction . net/community/When_Two_Wrongs_Make_a_Right/81488/

Okay, now back to the cowboy. I can honestly say I didn't think I was going to write the Cowboy again. He's a cocky SOB and sometimes I want to be like Maria-Starr and use the California Bander on him. But I managed to stave off the urge for at least one more chapter ;D