A/N – Disclaimer, I don't own any of the characters!

Chapter 11

SPOV

It felt good to let Eric know about my ability. It felt right to trust him. But my telepathy a gift? Ha! I had thought that Eric was a smart man, but really – there is no gift in hearing people's every thought. I told him as much. It's why I kept to myself for so much of my life. It's what drew me to Bill in the beginning, the quiet. Is that why I liked being with him? The quiet? The quiet and the blood he gave me? And here is Eric. Strong, powerful, drop dead (no pun intended, although it's a good one.) gorgeous and here with me. He is listening to me as I go on and on and doesn't seem to be judging me. He's quiet and comforting as I'm feeling so sad about Gran. And he's taking an interest in me for me. There's no blood involved. Just honest attraction. Oh my God. He's kissing my tears away. I know that tears are probably like catnip to a vampire, but I think this is probably the single most romantic thing that anyone has ever done. Oh how I want this man. For just the briefest of moments I think that this it is wrong of me to want him so much; it would be wrong to jump into his arms and possibly more. But with just one look into his eyes and that brief moment passed. I decided to go for it.

His lips were calling to me, but they were too far away. I grabbed his hair with both hands, and pulled those lips closer to mine. I was a little unsure at first, and just passed my lips over his softly and gently. He did not seem to mind. I got a little surer of myself and what I was doing. I started to brush his lips with my tongue and demanded entry into his mouth. I put all of the emotions that I was feeling into kissing him. Our tongues danced together and my heart started racing. All of the electricity that I felt when we touched that first night was racing through my body. I wanted to feel more of his skin against mine. It was almost a compulsion. I grabbed his shirt in my hands and wanted to pull it over his head. He went to help and I was mesmerized by the way his pecs and his biceps flexed as he removed his shirt. This man was built well. I was drawn to his chest like a moth to a flame. I just wanted to touch it. It was perfect. I ran my hands all over his chest. It was like sculpted marble. I couldn't help but kiss it. All over.

He moaned a small moan, low and deep. I don't know if he intended for me to hear it, but I did. I guess I more felt it then heard it as my lips were pressed to his chest. For once I found myself wishing that I knew what someone was thinking; but his mind was beautifully quiet to me. I told him as much, which was right about when he picked me up and started to kiss me hard and fast. I could tell that we were going to settle into the couch, which wasn't nearly suitable for what I hoped to do. Was I going to do this? Again, I had a moment of uncertainty. Should I tell him what I wanted? Yes. When I suggested moving to the bedroom I could feel the corners of his mouth turn up. He started moving towards the back of the house carrying me with my legs wrapped tightly around his waist, trailing kisses up his neck, and twirling his golden hair between my fingers.

I stopped kissing him only to tell him that my room was in the back on the left. One of his hands went to hold my head while he held my bottom with his other. I was holding on to his waist so tightly with my legs, I don't think he'd need to support me with either hand, but I was enjoying it – especially when he would give my bottom a small squeeze. He was kissing me intensely and I couldn't help but move my hands to his face. He was so handsome, with a just little stubble that was tickling my hands. He managed to get us into the room and slammed the door closed with a quick kick of his heel. He made his way over to my bed (I was so glad I had changed the sheets earlier today!) and put me down slowly and gently on it. I got to my knees and knelt before him. I was almost eye to eye with him this way, at least close enough. I started to unbutton my linen shirt slowly, one small button after the other. He watched my hands very intently. His expression was impassioned and full of lust. After the shirt fell to the floor, I pulled one strap of my bra down my shoulder before moving to the other side. In an instant, I felt his big hands on my shoulders, tracing the tracks of where the straps had been.

"Look at me Sookie."

There were so many feelings running through me right now. Obviously lust, desire, need and want were pretty high up there. I also was feeling wanted, desired, important and powerful. Powerful because it was me that was making this 1,000 year old vampire feel this way. I also felt safe. I felt like with him, no harm could ever come to me. I felt safe enough to tell him my secrets, and I felt safe enough to give him myself. So I looked into his eyes.

"Yes Eric?"

"Sookie, I want you. I have since the first time I saw you. But, I do not want to be with you only to have you regret it later. You were with another vampire, although I am his sheriff and I can, I do not want to just take you from him. I want you to come to me freely."

In a way, I kinda couldn't believe that just as I was starting to undress, he decided that it would be a good time to talk about Bill. But, I really did appreciate him trying to make sure that I wasn't doing this because I was getting carried away in the heat of the moment.

"Eric, I told you – I do not belong to Bill. I belong to myself. He abandoned me Eric. He left, and left me here with no word of his return. I question what I have felt for him. I wonder if the feelings I have had are real, or based on circumstance. But you, you make me feel safe. You make me feel, well lots of things. Like, little sparks throughout my body when you touch me. I've thought about you since I met you. I want this Eric. I don't want to spend a single moment thinking about anyone else now." I reached my hand out and put it on his chest. A large hand covered mine. His gaze was intense and his eyes didn't move from mine.

"I'm glad to hear it Sookie. But you need to be clear what this means."

"What does it mean Eric?"

"I do not share with others. If we do this, as much as you say that you belong to yourself Sookie, you will be mine."

"Tell me exactly what that means Eric." I said as I trailed my finger down his chest to the waist of his jeans.

"It means just that Sookie; you will be mine. No other may have you. None may lay a hand on you, feed from you or bother you. I protect what is mine Sookie. I can be ruthless, and would be when it came to you. Of that you can be certain."

In as much as I wanted to call him a Neanderthal with the whole "Mine" business, I thought it was probably just easier than saying "my girlfriend" or "my boyfriend". That would seem silly coming from one as old as he was. And if it prevented any other vampires from trying to feed from me or hassle me, then it was it really that bad being his? While my head was fighting the whole "mine" thing, and somewhere in the back of it was saying that I hadn't told Bill that we were through; my heart and my gut were telling me that being with Eric was right. I was never one to jump into something before but…

"So long as I will not be treated as a pet or a possession Eric; so be it."

And with that his lips crashed into mine. His one hand quickly went behind my head gripping my hair and forcing our lips together. His other hand went quickly behind my back, unclasping my bra and sending it floating to the floor with my shirt.

"So beautiful." He murmured as he pushed me back onto the mattress. And I believed him.

I felt such a hunger for him; I had never felt for another before. The feel of his skin on mine was absolutely electrifying and I wanted more. I wrapped my legs around his and tried to pull us together even further. I could feel his erection grind against me, and I couldn't wait for us to shed what little clothing we still had on. As if he were the mind-reader, faster than I could imagine he undressed us both. Vampires have amazing speed. He hovered over me in the darkness looking into my eyes and then all over my body. The sliver of moonlight that was shining through the window hit his face, and down his back. If I live to be a hundred, I do not think I will ever see someone more beautiful as he looked in that moment. His eyes returned to mine, and he spoke to me in another language. Although I could not understand what he said, I could not mistake the tenderness in his voice. My hands ran down his back and rested on his ass. I couldn't help but squeeze and try to pull him closer to me. One of his hands cupped my breast, and his other ran lower, towards the warmth between my legs. His lips and tongue played with mine, while his fingers played below. Although Eric was cold, I could feel warmth spreading throughout my body. I was tingling all over, and could not wait any longer.

"Eric… please." I moaned softly into his ear. I couldn't bring my voice much louder than a whisper, but I knew he would hear me.

"Yes lover?" He responded with a breathless quality to his voice.

"Now."

And with that he kissed me like I have never been kissed, and entered me at the same time. If I died at that moment, I would have died happy. Very happy. We moved together in perfect rhythm. He filled me exactly, and I could never remember feeling so good in my life. I never wanted this feeling to end. I could feel my climax building as his hips moved fluidly with mine. His hands roamed up and down my body caressing me as he kissed me and whispered to me in that other language. As I felt myself about to reach my climax and slip over the edge, I turned my head to the side and bared my neck for him. I needed this to feel complete with him. He stopped for a moment as if to question what I was offering.

"Please. I am yours." And with that he let out a growl and bit my neck. I called his name as I came, and grabbed on to him as if he was my anchor in the wind. He drank in for a few moments as I shuddered beneath him and then I felt him reach his own release. He lazily licked the small puncture marks on my neck to close them and then rolled to my side. He pulled me close so I was facing him. I kissed his brow, his cheeks, his chin and finally his lips.

"Stay with me until I sleep Eric?" I didn't want the moment to end. I knew he would have to leave and return to Shreveport before dawn, but I didn't want to let him go.

"Of course lover. Do you wish to sleep now?"

"Not quite yet. I am just not ready for you to go."

His hand rubbed up and down my arm. His hand found mine. He threaded his fingers with mine and pulled my hand to his lips to kiss it before he replied, "Neither am I."

A/N – So there you have it. They finally got together! So where do they go from here?