I am in such a writing frenzy mood tonight! Finally, Eric and Evie get some time to themselves! :) I just couldn't find a way to break this story up into shorter chapters, so I'm giving it all to you in one big lump! I hope you like it and I really would appreciate the reviews! I've only gotten two reviews, both from the lovely Jamberine! Thank you so much for following my story, and you deserve another plug for hanging in there with me through these updates!

****Recalcitrance by Jamberine over in the Harry Potter fanfic section, Hermione/Fenrir pairing, a read to die for!**** If you haven't read it already, you are truly missing out!

Reviews are like sweet, sweet yummy chocolate, and I eat them up instantly! As always, thanks for reading, and the story continues...


The night of the trip seemed to creep right up on me, and as I finished packing my last minute items in a carryon bag, Pam was already knocking on the door to take me to the airport. I had worn some jeans and a blouse with some comfy flats, but had brought a hanging bag with my business suit in it to have it ready to change into at the hotel to meet Adam, the Sheriff of Atlanta.

Pam drove me quickly to the airport and I was grateful, because I hadn't seen Eric in what seemed like ages and I was anxious to be near him again. Upon seeing my anxiousness in the car, Pam piped up and informed me that as a side effect of consuming his blood, it looked like I was probably going to feel the need to be very close to him since we had been separated for a few days, and that he was likely to feel that same pull as well. I kept wondering if by 'close' she meant I was going to want to molest him at every turn. I took a deep breath as we neared the airport, and Pam glanced over at me.

"Cupcake, whatever happens, happens. The less you fight your natural reaction, the easier it is going to be."

I took another breath and looked at her, nodding once in agreement and murmuring to myself comically, "Just remember, Pam's always right."

Pam laughed as she drove straight to a landing strip and the car came to a stop, jarring me from my thoughts. Pam moved quickly and took care of my luggage while I exited the car and took a look at the small plane. Apparently, there weren't that many vampires that flew all at one time. The plane looked like it could maybe seat 20 people with an area for luggage storage.

As I stood staring at the plane, I felt a familiar energy behind me and then cool breath on my neck, "It is good to see you again Evelyn," I felt cool hands move my hair away from my neck, "…mmmm….you smell divine."

I shuddered as Eric placed a kiss on my neck and I turned around, placed my hands on his forearms to stand on my toes, and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Well it's nice to see you too. I brought clothes to change into at the hotel if you are wondering."

I waggled the bag in my hand as he had been eyeing me pretty heavily.

He nodded and his eyes met mine, "Good, I am changing there as well. Come, we must hurry."

Eric's hand was on the small of my back ushering me onto the small jet as I gave a quick wave goodbye to Pam and blew her a kiss.

Eric quirked his eyebrow at me as we both took a seat on the plane next to each other, "So, you are getting quite attached to my child I see."

I smiled at him as I relaxed into the seat, "I like Pam very much, yes."

I started to buckle my seatbelt and heard Eric snicker at the gesture. I clipped the silver buckle together and glared at him, "What's so funny?"

He pointed to my seatbelt, "You insult me by wearing that thing. You're sitting next to a 1,000 year old vampire who can fly and you're worried about a little turbulence. Didn't I say I'd protect you against everything?"

He was turned towards me, and even sitting he was a towering figure as he leaned in to me.

I took in a gulp of air at the proximity, "Well, I never can be too careful. Who's to say I'm going to be first thing you think about if the plane starts to crash, hmmm?"

He didn't get to respond as the captain came on the intercom and in minutes we were in the air. I glanced around the cabin and noticed that there weren't but 9 other people on the plane with us. I supposed that vampires didn't travel too much.

"Were you well taken care of these past few days?"

I nodded my head at Eric as I dug through my purse, "I survived without you for a few days…imagine that!"

I smirked at him as I pulled out the item that Pam had gone shopping with me for.

I turned in my seat to face Eric as well, kicking off my shoes to get comfortable and folding one leg underneath me. I was kind of shy about what I was doing so I couldn't look him directly in the eye as I held a small black box out to him, "I wanted to give you this to thank you for taking care of me. I wasn't sure what you buy a 1,000 year old vampire…but I just wanted to let you know that I am grateful, and everything you have done for me means a lot. And Pam did kind of help me out with some advice, so I don't deserve all of the credit."

Eric was smiling, as I'm sure he felt very proud of himself, as he took the box from my hands. He opened the black box and pulled out the item I bought him. It was a titanium and black carbon fiber men's bracelet. I wanted to give him something practical, and I knew I had seen him with jewelry on before so I thought he might like it.

"Thank you Evelyn, it is quite beautiful."

He leaned over and without notice his hand was on the side of my face and his lips were pressed against mine. The kiss was short, but mind blowing, as he pulled back and clasped the bracelet on his wrist. It looked quite good on his skin and fit him nicely.

"Since I know you can get quite…violent sometimes, I thought this would be best for you. It's titanium and carbon fiber, so it won't easily break."

Eric still had a small smile on his face, "It has been many years since I have received a gift from a human. You have excellent taste and the gesture most certainly does not go unnoticed."

I sighed in contentedness and leaned back against the seat imagining Eric kissing me all over again. After a few minutes I was closing my eyes when I felt Eric's cool fingers wrap around my hand. His large hand engulfed mine, but I didn't dare open my eyes for fear that he would pull away.

"Your mind is completely in the wrong place Evelyn."

Right, Eric was holding on to me so he could read my feelings.

I cracked one eye open at him, "You are such a jerk. I'm sleepy and my mind can wander anywhere it pleases."

I heard his light chuckle and out of my halfway opened lids saw him pulling up the armrest in between us.

"Come, I will stop spying on your feelings for the time being. Get some rest."

He opened up his arm to me and I eyed him warily, "Whatever game you're playing at…" I curled my legs up on my seat and put my hands on Eric's chest, snuggling into his strong shoulder, "it's working."

Pam had been right; I felt like I needed to be close to Eric just as much as it seemed he wanted me to be as well. This blood tie stuff sure was interesting.

Either I was really tired from my day of restless sleep or the flight was really short, because when I awoke everyone was unloading the plane. I pulled off of Eric who placed an affectionate kiss on my forehead before I could escape his arms.

"You are so beautiful when you rest."

I smiled at Eric and stood up, slipping back into my shoes and stretching. "Thanks handsome."

I was surprised,and yet relieved, at how easy such comments came between us. In my mind, I reminded myself to just go with it, to not fight what came naturally.

I watched as Eric stood gracefully and then he pulled me back into his arms. Apparently, Eric didn't approve of the speed in which humans traveled because I was in the passenger seat of a red Audi R8 in moments. Eric tossed some things in the small trunk and sat next to me in the driver's seat to take off.

I was gaping at him as I was being tossed around like a piece of luggage.

Eric turned his head to look at me and must have noticed my confusion, "I am sorry. We must reach the hotel quickly to change. Dawn is approaching soon and Adam will not want to wait on us."

I just nodded as Eric sped unlawfully through the streets, bringing us to the Eclipse Hotel, a fancy hotel that catered to vampires. I stepped out of the car and let Eric whoosh me through the lobby to grab the keys to our rooms and again, I was attached to his hip to arrive at one of the bedroom doors.

He had our bags on one arm and me on the other, and as I got a moment to take in his rushed form I chuckled and teased him.

"So anxious to get me to the bedroom, eh Eric?"

As he opened the door to the bedroom he snickered, "Evelyn, I can guarantee you that taking you to bed would not be a rushed effort." As I stepped through the door Eric sat our bags on the sofa in the sitting room, "I would take my sweet time to devour every inch of you."

I felt the blush rise to my cheeks and closed the door behind me.

"Where is my room?"

Eric pointed at the door that was near the headboard of his bed, "Your room joins mine. You can head in there to quickly change but you have no time to unpack your things."

I nodded and took my belongings into the room, not taking time to look around as I scurried to freshen up my makeup and put on a black skirt suit with a plum silk blouse underneath. I slipped into my black stilettos, clasped a diamond necklace on with some matching earrings and stepped back into Eric's room. He was dressed in business attire as well and looked incredibly handsome. He wore a charcoal gray suit with a white shirt underneath and looked every bit the part of the corporate male associate at work that all the women fawned over.

I smiled to myself as I thought it and felt a pleasant tingle inside my stomach at Eric's voice, "You look beautiful. Now, we must go. Do you mind if I speed things up?"

I tried not to show my eagerness at being held in his arms again, so I attempted to hide my grin in my nod and latched onto his biceps as he swept me up in his arms and, in seconds, had me sitting in his car once again.

We drove in silence, reaching Adam's home in mere minutes due to Eric's keen eyes and need for speed. He helped me out of the car in my skirt and escorted me to the mansion on his arm as guards allowed us into the building.

Eric leaned down to my ear as we waited in a grand foyer to be taken to Adam, "You look beautiful, my sexy business partner."

He winked at me and I understood that he was reminding me that I was to play his business partner and nothing else. I nodded and smiled back up at him as a guard came in to show us to Adam.

"Ahh, I see you've made it Eric, and not a moment too soon."

We had walked in on a…well…disturbing scene of the vampire I presumed to be Adam, hovering over a pale woman lying on top of a dining room table. She was completely naked, and Adam's fangs were just pulling out of her shoulder as we came in. There were bite marks all over her pale skin, and her eyes looked completely unaware of her surroundings. I had to suppress my gag reflex and tried to remain as calm as possible without showing the disgust on my face.

Eric nodded to Adam, "Thank you, Adam, for seeing us at this hour. I wanted to thank you for allowing us into your city."

Adam waved his hand dismissively and his eyes scoured me up and down. I suddenly felt as if I needed more clothes to cover myself from his eyes.

"Now, who is your friend you've brought with you to meet me?"

Eric seemed to tense and glanced over to me, "This is Evelyn. She is my new business partner and is accompanying me on my business here in Atlanta."

Adam stood, tossing the pale girl off the table like a piece of trash. She landed with a sickening thud, and my heart wrenched, wondering if she was still alive.

"Ah, I see, a human, Eric? Is she available for a taste?"

I glared at Adam and Eric growled, stepping closer to me. "She is mine, Adam."

Adam stopped his advances and a smirk crept up his face, "Why, Eric, claiming a human? After all these years?"

Adam seemed to find something funny and began to laugh.

Eric interceded, "I am sorry if we have interrupted you. I just wanted to thank you again, for your hospitality. We will leave as dawn is soon approaching."

Adam straightened his face, "Of course. I insist, after your business is done here, you must come and stay with me before you leave. I will greatly enjoy the company."

Adam reached for my hand and kissed the back of it and I nearly vomited. He was such a vile creature, and his energy and feelings flowed into me like an over-bearing tsunami as he made contact with my skin. The waves that crashed over me were dark, full of lust, hunger, and a thirst for blood and death. This vampire was not a nice vampire. Eric's hand found its way to my back as Adam released my hand and I could breathe once again.

"It would be our pleasure, Adam. Have a nice rest."

Eric quickly ushered me to turn tail and leave the mansion and we were back in his red sports car in moments. Speeding off, he growled and drove even faster. I had to roll the window down as I felt so violently ill from the encounter with Adam. Never had I felt such disgusting feelings from someone before. It was as if I could taste his evil in my mouth, as if I could feel his hands crawling over my skin with his lewd and perverted intentions.

I leaned towards the window and took in deep breaths. "Are you alright, Evelyn?"

I closed my eyes and took another breath before answering. "He's dangerous, Eric. He's demented and he's sick and I won't go back there."

Eric growled and reached for my hand, caressing it softly, "I know Evelyn. I was able to connect to him through you. I felt, for a brief moment, what you felt from him."

I leaned back in my seat and squeezed Eric's hand, "Are most vampires like him? Do they all feel so…"

"Twisted?"

I looked at Eric and nodded, he glanced at me before putting his eyes back on the road, "When vampires live together, or are surrounded by many other vampires in their living quarters, they tend to become darker. They tend to separate themselves from the world and lose whatever humanity they had left in them. They compete with one another, become enamored with violence. Those of us who choose to live on our own stay connected to the world, and tend to treat our food with a little more respect."

I sighed and traced my thumb on the back of Eric's hand as we pulled into the hotel, "But no matter how we live, Evelyn, we are all ruthless when we need to be. Adam is much younger than I am, and much weaker. If he ever tried to lay a hand on you, I would not think twice before killing him."

Eric's blue eyes pierced right through me as he drove the point home. I nodded, the nausea subsiding as he helped me out of the car.

I hooked my arm around his, "Can we walk around a bit before going inside…I'm not sure I can take anymore 'whooshing' around tonight, and I need some fresh air?"

Eric smiled knowingly and escorted me to the pool and grassy lounge area at the back of the hotel. I felt myself centering again as we walked around the pool, the smell of chlorine invading my senses and strangely clearing my head. A light breeze blew and I concentrated on the rustle of the trees and the feel of Eric's presence next to me.

"Better?"

I nodded and smiled, "Much. I think we have an 'all-clear' that I won't vomit on your bedroom rug like some pesky cat."

Eric chuckled and walked me onto the elevator. As we rode to the upper levels I stared up at Eric, smiling softly, "Thank you, for what you said, earlier. That means a lot to me, Eric, knowing that you are here for me. I fear I've gotten myself very deep into something I'm not going to be able to survive without your help."

Eric looked down at me, his blue eyes serious, "I am sorry for bringing you into this mess, but I do need your help Evelyn. I did not expect Adam to react to you in such a matter, but I should have been prepared. You are incredibly beautiful and you radiate warmth and happiness, everything that would draw a vampire in."

The elevator opened its doors and I walked out with Eric, a small blush on my cheeks as a spark of courage rose inside me, "Do I captivate you as well, Eric?"

Eric had the door to his room open in a flash and pulled me in behind me. Closing the door behind him, he pressed me up against the wall and I felt my heart start to quicken from his actions. The room was completely cast in darkness and I could not see him in front of me.

"Your mere scent drew me in the first time I met you."

I could feel his breath on my ear and then one of his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me flush against his hard frame, "I tried so very hard to stay away from you, but I think that fate has somehow tied us together."

Eric kissed my neck and lifted me from the ground effortlessly, guiding my legs to wrap around his waist as my skirt pushed past my hips.

I felt the wall at my back again and quickly unbuttoned my suit jacket and threw it to the floor. Eric, whose lips had never left my neck, was running his hands over my thighs more gently than I had expected a man like him to touch me. I gasped as I felt the sharpness of his fangs graze my skin in one of his kisses, and it turned me on to a degree I had never experienced before. My soul demanded for me to complete the blood tie, and I found myself unable to deny the urge.

Tangling my hands in his hair and squeezing my legs around him I held him to my neck, "Please…I need you to."

His arm around my waist tightened and he gripped onto my bare ass, placing another kiss over my jugular before I felt his teeth sink in.

The stinging pleasure was unimaginable, and as he sucked on my flesh I couldn't control the moans escaping my throat or the wetness that pooled between my legs. After I began to feel a bit dazed, I felt his fangs leave my throat, and I could only describe the loss of his bite as a pained emptiness. He lapped so gently, so caringly at the wound, I had a whole new love for Eric's tongue. His grip loosened a bit, and he walked us over to his bed, laying me down slowly on top of the comforter.

Moving on top of me, he kissed my lips lovingly and ran his hand down my side, "My beautiful Evelyn, I promised you that if I were to take you to my bed, I would not rush a single moment. Dawn is approaching, and as much as your sweet blood invigorates me, I am getting very weary."

I nodded in the dark, gripping his biceps with my hands, "I understand, Eric."

I leaned up to peck him softly on the lips.

"Do you want me to give you your privacy now?"

I smiled up at him in the dark, knowing full well he could see me. He pulled off me to stand, flicking on the bedside lamp while removing his suit jacket, and started to unbutton his shirt.

He was grinning down at me, "I trust you, Evelyn. And you are welcome to stay with me during the day. I'm not great company though…more of the quiet type."

I chuckled at his vampire humor and pushed myself off of his bed, trying to pull my eyes off of his body so I would be able to walk out of the room. I playfully stuck my tongue out at him, "Well that's nothing new. You aren't great company at night either."

I chuckled as he swatted my ass, "Go get yourself ready for bed. I'll show you soon enough what type of company I am."

I walked into my adjoining room, laughing at the situation and grinning like crazy. The night had started out badly, but Eric made sure I had forgotten about it within minutes. Pulling night clothes out of my suitcase along with my bathroom necessities, I headed into the bathroom to get cleaned up. I jumped into the shower quickly, relaxing under the warm spray and scrubbing down. I ran my hand over my neck to feel Eric's puncture marks and shivered with desire at the recent occurrence. Perhaps being bitten could be incredibly painful, but Eric made it feel like a pulsing orgasm. Shaking my head of the thoughts, I rinsed off and stepped out.

I finished my routine and put on my nightgown. It was a black lace baby-doll nightie that hit right at mid-thigh. I pulled on a matching thong with it, ran a brush through my hair, and took a deep breath to go into Eric's room. Walking in, I found him already lying on his back in the bed, the sheet covering him up to his waist. He was entirely motionless. Dawn had come and Eric was asleep. I sighed in disappointment, but decided to sleep next to him anyway. After completing the blood tie, I felt a stronger need to be near him, even just to be in his presence. And, after everything that had happened, I needed the company just to feel safe, and to know that I wasn't alone.

Sliding in under the sheets next to him I kept my distance, as I was unsure what type of natural reaction he might have if I touched him. Lying on my side away from him, I quickly drifted off to sleep.