AN: Okee, well this chap is an angsty one. All I can say is Sook and E still have some issues. But hopefully they are learning some important things along the way. Anyhow, I wont say anymore, dont want to spoil the fun. :D I hope you like this one, and thanks again to all my fabulous reviewers. Let me know what you think when you're done! ;)
Chapter 11
"Here drink this!" Eric insisted handing Sookie her glass of wine and she covered her mouth a few small coughs still left.
"Can you turn that off please?" Sookie asked taking the glass of wine after she had gotten it all out of her system. She didn't think she could stand watching that woman any longer and Eric clicked stop turning the power off on the player he replied explaining...
"She's in two of them and I believe Russell is in several as well, incase you were still working on that story?"
He phrased it as a question wondering if she was still following her leads, and Sookie looked up at him, her brow creased in pain as she remembered once again that she was unemployed. Everything had happened so quickly she barely had time to process it. What was she going to do for money? There was no way in hell she was going to depend on charity from Eric or Amelia. She was an independent and strong woman and could most definitely earn her own salt. Even if she had to waitress again, she would do it.
"I don't know, everything's been so crazy lately, I'm just waiting for the world to stop spinning."
Sookie took a long sip of her wine and closed her eyes leaning her head back on the couch in an attempt to clear her head and centralize her chain of thought.
"Well you can stay here while you're waiting." Eric offered taking her hand in his and folding his fingers through hers.
Sookie opened one eye watching him as she looked down at his hand holding hers. His touch caused her pulse to rise, and she suddenly wanted to bury her head in his hard chest and never let go, realizing she was having that yearning feeling again, but she knew she couldn't give into it. She needed to keep her wits about her and that certainly wasn't going to happen while she was staying at Eric's casa de amor. She swallowed, lightly squeezing his hand to let him know this wasn't about him and she answered with dry throat...
"I think I should go home, I've imposed on you enough already, plus all of my clothes are there, I can't very well live in one of your bathrobe can I?"
Eric's gaze lifted to meet hers and he raised his brows, causing color to once again flush across Sookie's face as he licked his lip subconsciously. She knew what he was thinking even without reading his mind and no that most certainly was not going to work, she thought.
"Well, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world would it? I could take a couple days off work..." He suggested with a smirk as his arm slid around her shoulders and he buried his lips in her neck. He was doing it again, she felt her lashes flutter as the warm flesh of his lips and tongue brushed against her, and she felt herself clench, moments away from surrendering herself completely to him once more. Trying to snap out of it in realization of what was happening to her, before they got too far Sookie sat up straight brushing him off and she shook her head...
"No, I cant stay."
She thought she saw a hint of disappointment flash over his crystal blue stare but she wasn't sure and then Eric replied sitting up too...
"You seriously want to go back there?" He asked her curiously not understanding why she would want to go back to the scene of her attack, not to mention her sudden desire to get the hell away from him and Sookie shook her head and looked back at him answering truthfully...
"No, it feels like it happened a lifetime ago, plus now I know to ask who it is before I open up my door."
He creased his brows in thought, knowing Sookie was being foolish about this, trying not to take offense to her brush off he finished his glass of wine and then stood up to get the rest of the bottle. He had a feeling he was going to need something to calm his nerves.
Sookie noticed Eric get up suddenly, realizing he was visibly upset. She followed him into the kitchen waiting for him to turn around and face her but when he didn't she leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his body from behind wanting this to stop. She had felt his distance from her all day. She knew something was up and she placed a kiss between his shoulder blades and Sookie whispered...
"I don't want this to end." Eric closed his eyes creased his brow in tortured angst wondering for the 567th time tonight what the hell he was doing with Sookie and his flesh tingled when he felt her warm breath coat his back...
"I just don't want us to wind up like one of those derailed trains that crash and burn after speeding too fast on the tracks, we should get some perspective, live our lives as we normally would and take it slow."
Eric understood now what she was saying, they shouldn't get caught up in the fantasy, and he thought she had a point, it was a good idea not to be disillusioned to what this really was, that still didn't change the fact that if she went back to her apartment she was practically painting a big red target on her back now that the police knew she was still alive. It was bound to have hit the airwaves by tomorrow morning.
He finally took a breath and turned around to face Sookie, placing his large hands on her shoulders Eric finally proclaimed...
"Well I'm not letting you go back there alone, so if you insist on sleeping in your own bed, you are looking at your new room mate, even if that means I get the couch." He added reluctantly.
Now it was Sookie's turn to raise her brows asking him for verification...
"You're serious?"
Eric looked her in the eye and lowered his head so his gaze lined up with hers and he finally answered...
"Serious as a heart attack sweetheart."
Sookie blinked and in that moment she knew he meant it. He would protect her like her own private bodyguard. Eric's words touched her heart and although she hated the idea of needing someone to watch over her like a little kid, the other part of her was screaming for joy that he cared enough to give up his place for a couple days until this all blew over. At least she hoped it would all blow over soon.
She smiled in kind and brought her hand up to cup his face. Looking into his eyes as she stroked his cheek with her fingers. She met his gaze with a deep intensity with gratitude, understanding, love…Sookie knew in that moment that she could picture herself with him. As different as their backgrounds were and circles of friends, she could see herself growing old with this man. And those blue eyes, as blue as the sea, had a pull on her and tugged at her heartstrings like some unseen force that wouldn't let her look away.
Sookie couldn't help herself, she couldn't not kiss him and as she stood up on her tiptoes and nudged him back into the counter surface behind them she felt her desire return. Her breath coated his neck and Eric moved his hand up to cup her jaw for full access and she closed the distance, her lips barely brushing his when they heard a click and then a familiar voice calling to them…
"Yoo-hoo, we have our eyes covered, is it safe to look?" Pam asked standing in the doorway her hand covering her sunglasses, even though it was dark out now. Amelia was with her and also covering her face, and that's when Eric rolled his eyes and he looked down at Sookie whose face was red again pressed up against his chest. Eric had half a mind to tell Pam and Amelia to take a hike or keep their eyes closed for a few more minutes, but he knew his sister would not take kindly to waiting, even when she did deserve it. So he finally cleared his throat as Sookie stepped to the side pretending to busy herself with the wine and Eric replied…
"Yes sister dearest, you can look but I believe kindergarten only meet's Monday through Friday."
It was Pam's turn to roll her eyes and she noticed Sookie was pouring wine and her face brightened into a smile and she replied with a sigh as she stepped over to them…
"Ah, thank you darling, I was a bit parched." Leaning in Pam added…
"I'm sure you were as well." Her words having more than one meaning, and then she smirked at Sookie and winked back at Eric and she called Amelia over…
"Amelia, you need to come and take a glass too." Amelia met Pam's gaze with a knowing grin of her own.
Sookie was a bit miffed but she figured whatever, they must have missed happy hour and she grabbed another glass and poured two more, one for herself and one for Amelia as Eric took his and then Pam raised her glass in salute…
"We must congratulate the happy couple, on their engagement!"
Her gaze flashed with Eric's for a split second and he was about to stop her when Pam tipped her glass up and drank from it.
"Congratulations!" Amelia offered with a broad smile taking a sip as well. The only two not drinking were Sookie and Eric and Pam finally explained…
"We happened to run into Claudia on our way back from the downtown area."
"Pam it's not…" Eric argued, feeling put on the spot because they agreed this was just a hoax and Pam had no warning of this and he owed it to her to explain. But she put her hand up cutting him off and Pam replied…
"I don't want to know. I already know far too much about your personal life than I should."
She smirked again and laughed shaking her head and she added…
"Amelia and I already have a bet on which one of you will crack first and make it real."
Sookie's jaw dropped open and shot Amelia a look. But Amelia was smiling and she offered…
"But we can't tell you which one of us bet on whom."
Sookie glanced back at Eric and shook her head thinking her friend was unbelievable. She was making a bloody game of all of this? And Eric replied with a confident smirk on his face…
"Don't worry Sookie, let the amateurs bet all they want, they don't realize that they just gave up all their cards."
His eyes locked with Pam in challenge and Pam replied smartly…
"Oh that reminds me…When I bumped into Claudia and she told us the news I pretended to be in the loop and happened to mention that I was throwing you two an engagement party. This Friday night at the Ritz!"
Her smug gaze read 'and checkmate' as Eric glared at her and Pam replied teasingly as she took Sookie's hand to look at her rock.
"Wow, perhaps we should showcase the ring; get pictures of it for the programs."
"Pam!" Eric growled and she giggled and then finally replied honestly…
"It's lovely Sookie, it suit's you." Sookie forced a small pursed smile not sure if Pam was being genuine or still kidding and then Amelia jumped in with her eyes wide and she asked Eric….
"Is this Cartier?" Being the jewelry buff and schooled at a young age about the value of investing in such timeless pieces by her mother, Eric nodded his head in reply and Amelia's smile widened pulling Sookie's hand closer she closed one eye and shook her head in amazement…
"The clarity is exquisite, and this color, it's so unique, I've never seen a shade exactly like this before."
Sookie risked a glance back at Eric and Amelia replied with a smile…
"He has good taste."
Before Sookie could even utter the words "thank you" Amelia was strangling her with a bear hug. Sookie's words came out awkwardly not sure why they were marveling over basically what was a fake engagement ring
"Amelia." Sookie insisted backing away so she could confront her friend and Sookie replied bluntly…
"It's not real; you know this is all a set up?"
Sookie thought she could talk some sense into her friend but Amelia just burst into another bout of laughter as she remarked to Pam…
"She says that as she's still wearing the ring." Sookie's face colored red and Pam replied smartly…
"One point for team Sookie."
"But don't forget he bought her the ring in the first place." Amelia added looking at Eric who was just as lost as Sookie at the moment and frankly not appreciating the condescending undertones in their voices.
"That's right, one point for team Eric too, I guess they've tied."
Both women laughed and then Eric pulled Sookie's hand out having enough of being the butt of their slapstick hour and he replied with sarcasm…
"You two should really start a comedy routine, make sure to take a gig at one of those two drink minimum clubs though."
Eric nodded to Sookie and he asked her directly, wanting to get out of here….
"Are you ready to go?"
Sookie took one look at both women who were now covering their mouths to try to hide those smirks and she replied desperately…
"More than ready."
Sookie grabbed her coat and Eric headed towards the bedroom to grab an overnight bag and Pam asked them both…
"Wait a minute, where do you two think you're going?"
"I have an ex to confront!" Eric replied frustrated as he turned his back to her and made his way to the bedroom.
Pam suddenly dropped the teasing act when she realized what Eric had his mind set on doing and she set down her glass of wine, following him, she reached him before he got inside the other room and grabbed his sleeve.
"Eric wait! Do you even have a game plan before you confront La Bitch? Remember what happened the last time!"
Eric's gaze flashed with Pam's and he looked back at Sookie who was watching both of them carefully and he replied…
"We have a game plan."
Pam blinked in surprise and let go of his sleeve, but she was still worried about him with creased brows and she replied with a more calm voice trying to convince him…
"You need to be careful with her (Pam's serious gaze flashed over to Sookie for a moment and she added….) both of you!"
Sookie and Amelia crept closer to hear what was being said, Sookie's reluctant step saying all she needed to speak on the matter, and then they were finally within hearing range.
Pam shook her head looking back at Eric, she replied…
"If that woman sees you with her and then takes one look at that ring, you know she'll release the hounds of hell."
Sookie swallowed suddenly feeling fearful as she glanced back at Eric wondering if this was such a good idea, but Eric was determined and he replied sternly…
"It will be all right, if she doesn't want to start a press war, Sophie Anne will listen to reason."
Pam looked back at Eric for a moment pleading for him to think about this, but as his hard blue gaze met hers, she realized how steadfast he was. She realized for the first time how much he did indeed love Sookie. He wouldn't go to these lengths if he didn't, he wouldn't risk it all. Pam knew what the business meant to him, and when he tangoed with Sophie Anne, he was putting it all on the line. Unfortunately for Eric, Pam knew him too well, recognizing the hint of a flinch below his gaze as he looked back from her to Sookie she knew he was covering up his own fear as well. It broke her heart to see him like this. To see his heart ache and she suddenly felt the need to have a heart to heart with her big brother.
"I need to talk to you for a minute, in private." Pam finally announced and Eric looked back at her in question. She just gave him a nod of her head letting him know that this was serious and she had no intention of berating him.
Eric met her gaze knowingly no words needed, he knew when it was important to his sister and he gave her a slight nod explaining to Sookie and Amelia…
"We'll be right back."
Eric followed Pam to his bedroom and he shut the door behind them, looking back at her in question, Pam turned around and finally asked him…
"Are you serious about this? Are you serious about 'her' Eric?" Pam asked enunciating the 'her' part, needing to know point blank what her brothers intentions were because she couldn't in good faith let him risk everything he'd worked for if his mind hadn't caught up to his heart, and he replied in earnest…
"Yes. I am."
Pam felt a rare tear form in the corner of one eye because he had confirmed what she knew to be true all along, but she quickly blinked it back and she demanded taking his hand…
"Then you have to make sure it stays that way Eric because the moment you cave it's all going to come crashing down on you."
Eric looked back at her thoughtfully for a minute and he put his hand behind his neck as he absorbed the magnitude of everything and Pam continued putting her hand on his face so he knew she was sincere, and she replied…
"Sometimes I think you forget that I went through all of that too, same as you. I know you still think about them, you're worried that history will repeat itself the way this whole thing has been set up, but you cant think that way, you have to be strong. It won't happen to you Eric."
"How can you be so certain?" He asked her, trying to numb the pain he still felt inside, but it did no good, as hard as he tried to fight it--The memories came rushing back anyway…
"I don't think I'll be able to go sailing with you next weekend Eric, I just…"
"But you've been looking forward to this all year, c'mon dad, what is so important that you cant spend the last weekend of good weather out on the open water fishing with your son?"
He cringed and looked back at Eric with regret, and his father finally confessed…
"I'm moving."
Eric looked back at him in confusion and he asked him shaking his head not quite understanding…
"You're what? Why didn't mom tell me anything about this? Where? Did you guys buy a condo or something?"
His fathers brows creased as Eric's piercing blue eyes met his and then he looked down at his hands in shame and he finally replied…
"You're mother and I are getting a divorce son."
Eric's eyes grew large and round and crushed, much like a child who just learned that Santa Claus didn't exist and he asked him needing clarification…
"What?"
His father put his hand on Eric's and he replied in earnest…
"It's just not working out between us."
But as soon as Eric took it in he closed himself off, refusing to hear anymore excuses he growled jerking his hand away…
"Then you have to TRY harder, marriage is about commitment and for better or for worse!" Eric spat back growing more upset and his dad shook his head…
"It's been worse for longer than I can remember now."
Eric breathed out of his nostrils growing even more upset as the realization set in and he realized what his father was telling him. They flared out angrily and he demanded…
"That's not what this is about is it? You were unfaithful to her weren't you? (Eric shook his head and he added growing very distressed as he sat down and put his head in his hands) I should have known when you were away on business for her birthday last year!"
His father sighed and he sat down in the chair opposite him, and finally replied…
"I went away so your mother could spend time with her new lover."
Eric's eyes flashed up in disbelief of what he was hearing and he stood up and demanded…
"What the hell are you guys doing to each other? To us? You don't care about anyone but yourselves and your stupid sexual urges?"
"Eric." His father stood up trying to confront him but Eric spat back to angrily…
"Don't Eric me! I just found out that the one thing I thought to be real and true in this world was a sham."
"We tried to stay together as long as we could son, for you and Pam, you're mother knew it wouldn't work when we agreed to get married so she could get away from her family, know I now it wasn't love though, just infatuation which has a short shelf life as it turns out. We kept it up for appearances, but we just can't pretend anymore. You're a grown man now, both of you are grown, we need to be happy too."
His father replied and Eric felt his eyes tear up as his back was turned, but he couldn't let his dad see him cry and he shook his head in denial and replied sharply as he turned back around to face him with one final contemptuous glare…
"Well I hope you're happy now!"
And with that Eric stomped out of his parent's home slamming the door behind him. It was the last time he would ever see either one of them because less than a week later they both perished in a house fire.
Eric's gaze focused back on Pam's and she reached out to him but he just shook his head and replied….
"I'll be fine." Reliving that day all over again, he felt the guilt seep through his pores. He knew deep down, he did still fear that it could happen again. If he was as entrenched as he thought he was with Sookie, at what point in their relationship could it happen to them? How could he ever know if their love was the lasting kind? But Eric had no time for sentiments or heavy thoughts now knowing he was done here and he packed up some of his clothes in a duffel bag and then turned around to leave the room as Pam called to him…
"Eric!"
He replied over his shoulder as he went to open the door…
"Its fine Pam, Ill check in with you tomorrow."
And then he was gone. Pam knew there would be trouble because of this. She just didn't want to see her brother continue to pay for their parents mistakes. He deserved to be happy too and she knew if he didn't admit to himself and accept what he and Sookie had was real, he would lose her. She was too much like him in that respect.
"Don't screw this one up Eric." Pam muttered under her breath as she heard him collect Sookie in the other room and say goodbye to Amelia.
------------------------
"Did you make copies of those tapes?" Sookie asked Eric taking a deep breath as they stood in front of the elevator waiting for the doors to open so they could ride it up to Sophie Anne's Park Avenue penthouse suite. And Eric turned to her and asked curtly…
"Do you think I'm an amateur?"
Sookie looked back at him wondering where this attitude was coming from and raised her brows in question and Eric replied answering his own question…
"Of course I did, and I hid them in a safe place to."
Sookie didn't know if she should ask, not wanting to encourage whatever was bothering Eric, besides she never knew when they were being watched so she kept quiet on the subject and Eric repeated his instructions in the car…
"So when I start going at her angrily you step in between us and act like your trying to break up the fight, grabbing her wrist and mine okay?"
Sookie looked up at him and nodded. They had already gone over this twice in the car and it wasn't like she was some stupid child who couldn't remember simple instructions and Sookie replied sharply.
"Yes, I got it!"
There was another moment of silence and then the elevator doors open and they got on. Eric pushed the penthouse button on the elevator and they waited for the doors to close, and finally Sookie replied after enough time had passed…
"Eric, are you okay?"
Eric looked back at her strangely and he replied, awkwardly…
"Of course I am, why?"
Sookie reached for his hand and she confessed…
"You've just been acting different since we spoke to Claudia, more (she was searching for a word, and finally found it…) closed off." Sookie concluded and she asked him forcing him to look at her as she brought her hand to his face and turned his head to meet her gaze, and she added sincerely…
"It's nothing I said was it? I know things have been weird since we've gotten tangled up in this mess."
Eric looked back at her seeing the sincerity in her face and he melted once more. Whatever it was he had growing up his ass, fear, anger, frustration, whatever, it all went away when she looked at him like that. Eric finally closed his eyes noting the sensation her fingers caused as they brushed against his face and he shook his head and assured her…
"No lover, it's not you, it could never be you." He brought his hand up to cup the other side of her face his eyes studying hers, feeling the pull he leaned in, his lips mere inches from hers wanting her to know that there was no bad blood between them needing to ease the tension when the elevator door dinged open snapping them both out of the haze.
Sookie looked back at him disappointed but also anxious to get this over with, exhaling she finally replied with a nervous smile…
"It's show time." And then Sookie took his hand and pulled him out of the elevator.
"Indeed it is." Eric muttered under his breath as they approached Sophie Anne's door.
-------------
Thirty minutes later after being kept waiting in the dark to Sophie's whereabouts, Eric thought this was a lost cause when she finally descended the staircase, in one of her long flowing robes. Eric stood along with Sookie as she made her grand entrance and Sophie replied with one brow raised in intrigue…
"I cut my daily massage short for this? You have some nerve showing up here Northman!" Sophie replied with her arms now crossed, and her butler offered her a cigarette on a tray. Sophie took it and allowed him to light it. She held in one of those cigarette holders and let out a puff of smoke before she began, making Eric and Sookie wait yet again, Sophie asked them as the butler walked into the other room, casting Sookie a look of distaste…
"So what do I owe the displeasure of your visit, did you come to collect your things Eric? Because I can tell you, they have all been destroyed along with everything else you gave me."
Eric closed his eyes, knowing this was going to get ugly. Recalling the only thing he ever gave her was some stupid watch courtesy of one of the charity events he had attended earlier that evening. He didn't care if she burned the thing if that's would help her get over him quicker more power to her. But somehow Eric knew it wouldn't be that easy. He wished there was some other way to deal with her without Sookie being here, but he needed to be sure the bitch wasn't hiding anything else. Sophie blew a puff of smoke into Sookie's face and she replied…
"I see you decided to bring Backwater Barbie along for the ride, how charming, is this your first official date? The Big and powerful Eric Northman decides to impress you by showing you all the rich and famous people he knows." She snickered and added…."I'm sure his last fuck has to be the highlight of the tour."
"That's enough Sophie!" Eric warned her, his anger on simmer and Sookie replied sharply…
"He was dating me long before he met you, but I guess the business of breaking up is never pretty is it?" Sookie snapped the tension in the room rising.
Sophie looked back at her with brows raised and she shook her head and replied with a smug yet distasteful smirk…
"Defensive! That's amusing Eric. (She turned her attention to Eric again and she asked him…) So Podunkie's not doing it for you in the sack huh? You came here to get a little 3 way action because I was so memorable is that it?"
She smiled and brought a finger to her lips and began to lick it sensually. Sookie's eyes began to narrow angrily and she felt disgusted. Worse than disgusted, she felt like pond scum at the moment, getting a sick queasy feeling all of the sudden. And Eric growled…
"Cut the bullshit Sophie, only someone as arrogant and devoid of intelligence as you would think I would actually bring my date here to conduct in a three some with you."
He laughed and then snorted snidely 2 seconds away from ripping her to shreds, because he had a few not so nice words to say to her, but Eric didn't want to do it in front of Sookie and he replied deciding just to get to his point…
"I'm here to find out if you have anything else for your new smear campaign."
Now it was Sophie's turn to laugh and she asked him blowing out another puff of smoke…
"And you actually think I would tell you, now who's devoid of intelligence?"
She snickered and shook her head in disbelief and then Eric continued cutting to the chase…
"No I knew you wouldn't tell me, which is why I got a hold of a few video tapes, I'm sure our friends at the New York post and NBC would be very interested to hear that you had attended several of the Club X parties. The video footage is lovely. I was especially fond of the night you showed up in that black dress and did a strip show for the whole party followed by an encore fuck fest with Jagger, you know he's a married man right?"
Eric replied with a wicked smirk of his own admittedly enjoying the fact that he had dirt on Sophie Anne, and he watched the light in her eyes shift from bemusement to fire in a matter of seconds. Growling she lunged at him and that's when Sookie knew she was up.
Her hands ripped at Eric's shirt and he spat back…"So tell me what else you have up your sleeves Sophie dear or this not only goes to the press, but the networks as well."
Sookie stepped in to break it off when Sophie growled back trying to claw at Eric, lashing his cheek with her nails she spat back…
"Go ahead and show them, it just gives me more time to get dirt on you and your new whore you bastard!"
"Stop it!" Sookie cried as she wrestled between them falling in-between Sophie's fist and Eric's chest.
"Ow!" She winced feeling the sting of the bruise on her cheek, finally grabbing a hold of Sophie's wrist even angrier now that she had lashed out at his girl, Eric bent down over Sookie and demanded from Sophie with a sharp and lethal glare…
"Tell me what else you have! I know you attended a few of those parties while we were technically dating, so the door swings both ways bitch!"
Sophie was struggling against Sookie trying to get to Eric and she spat back…
"Fuck you asshole!"
Just wait till the Post publishes those pictures of his little make out session with Vivian Edgington earlier today; no one will touch him with a ten foot pole.
She glared back at Eric smugly and Sookie's eyes widened in surprise. Her heart sinking quickly followed by a jealous anger, there was more of a struggle as Sophie went for Eric's balls although Sookie suddenly had the desire to make a go for them herself at the moment. She lashed her hand out and scraped Sophie's cheek with the tip of her ring in a split second reaction and Sophie cried out in pain.
"YOU BITCH!!!!" Sophie screamed like a dying hyena. She held her hand up to her scrape looking back at Sookie in rage and that's when Sophie noticed the engagement ring.
"So that's what this is about!" Sophie spat back glaring daggers back at Sookie she shook her head and she met Sookie's gaze with dark contempt…
"You need to clear the path for your lily white engagement announcement!"
Glaring fire back at Eric, Sophie spoke with venom…"You knocked up your trailer trash whore and now you're trying to clean up the mess is that it?"
"That's enough Sophie!" Eric warned her about two steps from strangling her himself and she shook her head and replied in disbelief…
"I should have known that's the only way you'd end up with some hick by your side!"
She sneered and looked back at Sookie and replied…
"To bad you wound up with him, you know he goes through women faster than one of your rednecks goes through a case of beer!"
And that's when Sookie finally snapped and went for Sophie Anne's neck lunging at her they both landed on the floor.
"You're the whore you stupid bitch, sleeping with all those dirty men!"
"Yes and your new fiancé just happens to be one of them!" Sophie added with a smug grin as she wrestled Sookie onto her back.
"What does he see in you?" Sophie spat back pulling at Sookie's hair in jealousy.
Eric has certainly reached a new low; thank god I dumped him when I had the chance for fame!
Sookie heard Sophie think as they struggled. Eric was shouting at them from the side trying to break them up, but Sophie clawed out, she was a feisty bitch and Sookie took her one chance in clarity of mind to spit back at her…
"Where are the pictures from Vivian's? Tell me now and I won't give you a big fat scar on your left cheek to match the other one on the right!" Sookie growled and Sophie's eyes widened subconsciously putting her hand up to her face in fear that her ring would leave a scar. And then she raised herself up in disbelief. Meeting Sookie's gaze in question. Eric who was trying to pull Sophie away from Sookie stopped for a moment in surprise to listen.
"How do you know about those?" Sophie proclaimed getting more pissed off by the minute, in her mind she was screaming.
What the fuck!
"Have you been spying on me?" Sophie accused her with angry vicious eyes.
"Vivian sold you out, and the cops are coming for you next!" Sookie replied, lying through her teeth. Sophie's eyes opened wide in disbelief and that's when Sookie took the opportunity to change positions. She just needed to get the location of the photos and grabbed Sophie Anne's hair. Sophie shook her head denying it…
"Vivian has them!"
Ill never tell you where they are cunt! Her eyes glared back at Sookie's in challenge and Sookie slammed her head back on the floor…
"Tell me!" She challenged meaning business and Sophie Anne spat back…
"Never!" Sookie closed her eyes trying to pry into her head, because she was clamming up again. She could feel Eric's strong arms around her and she gave it one last shot…
By tomorrow morning you two are going to be the most pathetic and hated couple in all New York City, thanks to my angel, Andre.
Sookie glared back at her so upset she could spit. She knew Sophie Anne was hiding more, but she knew she was a dead end; the woman wasn't going to break unless they decided that torture was on their agenda. So Sookie used one of the moves she had learned in her self defense course at the Y and replied before head butting Sophie Anne to an unconscious state she growled…
"Consider this a warning bitch!"
She knocked skulls and then Sophie was out.
Eric stood there in disbelief not even realizing he hadn't let out a breath for the last 30 seconds and he wondered when Sookie had turned into Wonder Woman. Sookie stood up, her eye on the prize she replied shortly as she ran to scavenge the rest of the apartment…
"She has pictures of you making out with Vivian Edgington from this morning."
"What?" Eric asked her in confusion not remembering any of that, and then it clicked. When he went over to Russell's house Vivian was coming onto him like a cat in heat. It was a set up. And now he quickly realized that Sookie was clearly furious with him.
"Sookie!" He tried to explain but she was already in the other room. Eric ran over to her and he plead again…
"Sookie, it was a…"
"Just find the fucking pictures; I'm pretty sure the press already has a copy as well!" She replied sharply and began rummaging through her drawers.
Sookie was thankful it didn't look like Sophie Anne had much time to put them away because there was a folder on her mahogany desk and labeled with Post Pictures. She opened it and flinched when she saw the photos. There was Eric being fondled, and kissed, and her eyes bulged when she saw where Vivian, her goddamn attacker had her hand!
"Did you find them?" Eric asked from his side of the room noting that Sookie had paused for longer than necessary and she spat back…
"Got it, now let's go!"
She felt a pang in her heart wondering why she had been so stupid, so naïve to fall for this guy, when it was true, he was just a creep like all the others, just like Bill. Sookie sneered and as the butler came back out into the sitting room to find Sophie just coming to, Sookie waved the folder in her hand and announced…
"Thanks we'll just be letting ourselves out!"
Eric stood in disbelief his head still spinning after all that had happened as he quickly followed Sookie out before Sophie could stop them.
"Sookie, Sookie wait up!" Eric called after her as Sookie rushed over to the elevator. Her hand was practically pounding into the close door button and the doors nearly slid shut until Eric shoved his foot inside and joined her in the elevator.
"What the hell was that about?" Eric growled, feeling like his head had been spinning for the last 20 minutes and it hadn't stopped and Sookie began to tap her toe impatiently waiting for the elevator to reach the bottom…
"I need a ride home because I don't have my purse with me, but after that, I think it would be wise for you if you left."
She glared daggers back at him and Eric shot her a look of disbelief realizing what this was about…
"Sookie! You don't honestly believe that bullshit do you? It was a set up!"
Sookie's eyes flared fire growing angrier by the second and she opened up the file shoving the picture of Vivian groping his crotch in Eric's face, and she spat back…
"IT LOOKS PRETTY CONVINCING TO ME!"
Then the elevator dinged and, Sookie moved to the front impatiently thinking to herself…Thank god! She couldn't stand being trapped in there for one more minute with him. After what happened with her ex she had no more tolerance for unfaithful men.
"She was coming onto me like a beast in heat, what was I supposed to do? I needed answers!" Eric proclaimed fast on her tail.
Sookie rolled her eyes and marched out of the building in no mood for his pathetic excuses and she hissed back with a lethal glare in her eye…
"If you ever want me to speak to you again you will just shut up and drive me home, I can take it from there!" Sookie declared standing by his corvette with toe tapping telling Eric that she meant business.
"I'm not going to…" Eric began, but Sookie interrupted him and she replied…
"You know that head butt thing I did in there, I can do it to you too."
She glared at him as he unlocked her door begrudgingly needing to talk some reason into her and she slammed it shut. Eric got in his side, figuring if he wanted to get anywhere he should play by her damn rules even though it really boiled his blood to get this kind of treatment after all they had been through. He was trying to find her killer for fuck sakes!
They made it to her apartment in record time and Sookie jumped out of his car. She rushed up to her apartment not even bothering to say anything to Eric when he hurried out and chased after her proclaiming once inside the building although he had lost her in his line of sight…
"I'm not letting you stay here alone tonight!"
"Then enjoy your stay in the hallway!" Sookie spat back alerting him to her whereabouts, already one flight ahead of him. Eric hurried as fast as his legs could take him and he hollered back…
"You're being a stubborn bitch right now!"
"Better a bitch than one of your whores!" Sookie answered the fire in her veins white hot; already at her door she was jumbling for her keys and going for the lock when Eric reached the landing.
"Sookie!" He hissed knowing what she was intending to do before she even did it; she unlocked her door, quickly opened it, and rushed in slamming it shut. But, Eric got there in the nick of time and he threw his hand in to stop it from closing, and then he heard a muffled crunching noise.
Big mistake, Eric thought as he winced with a loud hiss feeling the jolt of agonizingly fierce pain across his crushed and now numb fingers. His large hand had been smashed in-between the door and the doorjamb. But at least he prevented it from closing although Sookie didn't seem to care that he had made it inside already throwing her jacket on the chair, her back turned to him icily. Eric growled in anger and he shouted at her…
"Where do you think you're going, I'm not done with you yet?"
Sookie turned around to look at him with a glare and put her finger up to her mouth in thought and she replied sarcastically…
"Hmm lemme think about that for a minute, you screw over your ex girlfriend while cheating with me and then you cheat on me with 'THE WOMAN WHO TRIED TO KILL ME IN MY OWN APARTMENT!' Yeah, I think we're done!"
Sookie proclaimed tossing her hand out in anger and Eric shook his head growling in defense…
"I didn't know at the time she was you're attacker, I was just trying to get answers and she threw herself at me, I didn't fucking respond!"
His nostrils were flaring now in anger and Sookie shouted refusing to give him the benefit of the doubt…
"GET OUT!"
She pointed to the door and shook her head and replied angrily….
"Just get out! I don't want to see you anymore, I don't want anything to do with you, this was a bad idea from the start! You and me were never going to work, and I can't stand to look at you right now, in fact I HATE you so just get the fuck out ass hole!"
He couldn't pretend that her words didn't hurt and Eric replied with an angry sneer…
"You're not going to even give me a chance to explain?" He hissed meeting her glare with contempt he walked up to her angrily forcing Sookie to take a step back and Eric barked…
"You don't think I have a lot to lose by being with you? Do you know how long I had to stay on the phone with my clients to do the damage control from that expose because you had to go to that damn party?"
"I ALMOST LOST EVERYTHING!" Eric cried throwing his hands up in the air and then he glared at her in challenge.
"It wasn't my ex who called the press." Sookie declared her tone more subdued now in defense and Eric's eyes widened in anger.
He stepped closer to her ignoring the throbbing pain in his hand as the realization hit him. She was just a cock tease; she couldn't stick it out through anything.
"She would never have found out about us had you not come to my office in the first place!" Eric countered.
He had backed Sookie up as her ass bumped against the corner of her bed and she looked up at him in lethal anticipation. He was so close, and she wanted to lash into him deep right now. One more step was all it would take. She wasn't going through this again. She dared him with her eyes to bring it on…
"At least we are in agreement that our lives would have been better without the other in it."
Sookie cut back and that's when Eric took the final step closing the gap, his large tall and strong muscular body looming over her and he lashed out with a look that could kill as his cool voice delivered the final blow with a glare of disdain…
"Yes, at least we can agree upon that!"
His nostrils flared in contempt and Sookie couldn't help herself, he had no right to agree with her, or talk to her that way, this was his doing, it was his goddamn fault, he was the unfaithful one, her hand came flying up in reflex to smack him when he caught her wrist and pushed it back against the bed post.
Eric couldn't stop the animal urges that came over him as his lips crashed down over hers in a smothering angry and vengeful yet intoxicating kiss. He kissed her so hard the cut on her lip reopened and some blood seeped out. She ran her nails across his back leaving scratches in reply, but he wouldn't let up. She kissed him back with a matched hunger her body telling her confused and scattered mind what her heart really wanted.
She felt his large hand plunge down into her panties. He felt her tight womanhood already wet and waiting. She bit down on his neck still needing to get her anger out and as his fingers danced in between her slick heat they wrapped around the crotch of her panties and he ripped them open. Sookie gasped against his skin as she felt the tremors course over her body in needful pleasure.
He raised her arms over her head and yanked off her top and bra and her eyes flicked fiery sparks with his. She didn't know what they were doing; just that she wanted it to happen. They were so fucked up she didn't care anymore, lowering her arms she looked at him through thick lashes in heated anticipation waiting for his next move.
She hated the control he had over her as he pressed his hard aching dick into her pelvis and at the same time yearned for it. She reached up to kiss his mouth, but instead their tongues touched and stroked the other and with one flick of his wrist he had spun her around so his hardness pressed against her backside. He used one hand to massage her clit while the other yanked her pants down. They fell into a pool at her feet along with the shredded panties. She wanted to look at him but he wouldn't let her assuming the dominant position. Sookie realized she wanted it too. She wanted to be dominated. The bastard could do whatever he wanted, she groaned frustrated banging her ass against his pelvis in frustration, and then she heard his zipper come down.
He pressed her up against one of the four posters of her bed as her breasts parted by the long wood frame. Sookie didn't know what was happening behind her, she only could hear his pants and his body holding onto hers as he shred his clothes. Take me! Her mind screamed in a desperate hunger she didn't know she possessed. And then she felt his thighs press into her from behind and rock hard arousal rest in-between her slick folds. She felt his fingers move inside her massaging and widening her opening and then without warning he shoved his dick deep inside her from behind shoving her body onto the edge of her bed for support as he moved with her.
Sookie moaned on contact as she felt him fill her and then begin to thrust hard. Enveloped in her slick heat as he palmed her breasts and made her nipples harden in her hands, his anger and aggravation returning in a mixed ball of passion, fury, and need…
"Say it again, say that you hate me!"
He hissed on the back of her neck as his fingers plunged deep into her wet folds massaging her. She whimpered and moaned her body crumbling under his touch. Eric needed to have the control, his whole life was falling apart around him and he just needed this one thing. Then the death of his heart would be swift and sweet. His legs spread her thighs out further as he thrust again and again and he chanted as one hand came up to caress her breasts as he rode her fast and hard…
"Tell me you didn't mean it; tell me it was just a lie….I need to hear you say it!"
He felt her back arch into him as his pelvis crashed into her ass time and time again and he declared…
"Say it!"
Eric heard Sookie whimper, sick and tired of this cock and bull routine, he just needed to hear her say it to his face and to just break his heart and get it over with, and Eric pulled her leg up and shoved her over onto her back as his hard rigid body pressed into her. He was so angry he grabbed her shoulders as his dick submerged even deeper into her and he spat back…
"SAY IT!"
His eyes were full of fire wanting to have his heart split in half, needing it to happen so he could finally wake up and return to his old self again and not this pussy whipped asshole he had become. Eric barely noticed the tears that had formed in the corner of her eyes and Sookie finally shook her head and replied closing her eyes she whimpered weakly in reply…
"I can't."
"Why?" His emotional voice began to crack as he noticed her hesitance, her pause. Why couldn't she do it? He questioned needing to hear her say it as her face began to brake and then he found himself struggling to hold his own ground as the walls slowly crumbled away around him once more but he fought it with everything he had.
Her tears fell more freely now and she looked up at Eric pleadingly and she looked into his eyes and finally broke shaking her head she concluded…
"I can't because I still love you."
Her dark and stormy eyes locked with his and the final chip in the ice casing around his heart broke. His face fell in relief and his lips crashed against hers smothering her mouth with his own. It was true, he loved her, he loved her so fucking much it hurt.
A carnal desire took over as his mouth devoured hers. He spread her thighs out flat against the surface and completely submerged his full throbbing and aching hard wet cock all the way inside her.
Sookie threw her head back in ecstasy and he began to fuck her hard. The small full sized four poster bed began to tap against the wall as he rocked her deep. Eric wasn't sorry for forcing it out of her through sex. He wasn't sorry for any of it, because now he knew she was his and he wasn't ever going to let her go. His heart, like Sookie's was a delicate organ, not one to be toyed with or treated trifley, but he had to have faith that they could get through this together. They wouldn't turn out like his parents. He wasn't going to become a shell of the person he once was lying to himself and going through the motions to keep up public appearance, only to get his heart slowly crushed and broken beyond repair. No he was done with the playacting bull shit. If they were in this for real he was going to make it real. He could convince Sookie, he knew he could. They were rarely on the same page and often their minds didn't agree with their bodies but Eric had no choice now. He wasn't going to fail at this. They weren't going to fail. Not even the hounds of hell could try to bust what they had up and if they did, he would challenge the devil himself to a duel.
He was in the game now. All or nothing.