EPOV

That went spectacularly to shit. When she asked if I cared for her, I found I couldn't lie.

"Caring for a human is very dangerous to a vampire," I answered warily.

"Excuse me if that doesn't warm the cockles of my heart!" Sookie said bitterly, buttoning her uniform and walking out of my room. Shit! How did we go so quickly from feasting on each other's mouths to Sookie walking out on me? I wanted her so badly my fangs ached. I could have had her tonight if I hadn't given her time to think. The problem was, I didn't just want her for one night. I knew one night wouldn't be nearly enough.

SPOV

I sat on my bed with my head in my hands and cried. Then I just gave in and lay on my bed and bawled. I cried because I missed my Gran, I was nervous about running away all by myself, and Eric didn't love me. After I had cried myself out, I got up, splashed water on my face and tried to think about what I really needed to do.

EPOV

How could one tiny woman hold so many emotions? If I had lied, both of us would have been much happier, at least in the short term. Just when I decided to go to Sookie's room and offer comfort – hopefully skin to skin- I felt her resolve. Interesting. I would wait for her to come to me. Sooner than I expected it, I heard a soft knock on my door.

"Yes?" I asked. Sookie stood in the hall. Her eyes were still puffy from crying, but I could see steel in them. She was brave for a human (or foolish). She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath.

"Do you still want me to accompany you to the poker game?" I nodded. "Let's practice, but there will be no sex tonight, so don't even try." I really had to fight to keep the laughter from showing on my face.

She sat on my lap, so soft and warm and inviting. We decided that Sookie tapping her foot on my leg would be the sign for bluffing. Her dress would cover the movement, plus there was the table. I touched her gently on the cheek, the arm, her neck. (I had explained to Sookie, that in order to convince people she was my 'entertainment' for the night, she would have to let me touch her. I did enjoy touching her.) Now I just needed the invitation.

SPOV

I had planned for 'James' to fire Thalia shortly after he arrived. Now that I knew she had no friends and no family, well, I was hard pressed to turn out an old lady- no matter how mean she was. Mostly I did my work and tried to stay out of her way. It was tolerable for a few more weeks.

Tonight was the dress rehearsal for our big poker game. Dress rehearsal? Were all vampires so dramatic? When I walked into Eric's room, a blue gown was laying across his bed. I picked it up and smelled it.

"It is clean," Eric said, his voice hard. "I'll turn, let me know if you need assistance." I would have been happier with him outside the door, but at least he volunteered to turn his back. "Be sure to put the undergarments of first." I glared daggers at his back. Did he think I would put them on the outside of my dress?

I looked at the under garments in despair – corset, garters,stockings, tiny panties made almost entirely of lace. I wouldn't be able to lace the corset by myself. Panties, garters, stockings, panties, and my own bloomers. I didn't want Eric to see me in my knickers, but they covered a whole lot more than anything he had given me. I held the corset in place.

"Eric?"

"Yes?"

"Can you lace up my corset?" He turned around with a wolfish grin, then saw my bloomers.

"You can't wear those to the poker game."

"You aren't seeing me in nothing but scraps of lace."

"Soon Sookie, very soon." I just ignored him. He laced up my corset and stepped away. He held the dress for me and helped me pull it over my head, then buttoned five buttons up the back.

"Eric, I can't wear this in public."

"The blue matches your eyes."

The beautiful royal blue silk hung to my ankles, except on the left side, where the material was pulled up above my knee. The dress had no sleeves. A row of lace and gathers at each shoulder held up the dress. The back was bare to the top of my corset and the front – my large bosoms weren't going to fall out, but just.

"This is a very special dress, Sookie."

"Oh yeah?" Forgive me for being skeptical. He reached into the folds of the material to reveal a small hidden pocket. Then another and another...

"When playing poker, it is not always a good idea to display all you have won in front of your opponents," Eric explained, eyes twinkling.

"I am going to stuff some of your winnings in my dress?"

"I'll pass the coins to you. You can conceal them."

"My dress will weigh a ton! What if it falls down?"

"You say that as if it would be a bad thing," Eric answered smirking. "Now, falling in the river..." I rolled my eyes at him.

"I still don't like this dress," I said, crossing my arms. That put my bosoms more on display, great.

"Sit," Eric commanded and pulled me on his lap. "Relax." The side of my dress rode up enough that my garter showed. Great.

"You aren't the one nearly naked!"

"I can be if that will make you more comfortable."

"That will not make me more comfortable!" I nearly shrieked. Eric chuckled.

"You are playing a role, Sookie," he said, looking into my cleavage.

"Eric!"

"I may not need your telepathy at all," Eric said with a grin. "Your breasts may distract everyone so much…" I slapped him. Then I thought better of slapping a vampire. Too late.

"Sookie, that will not make your life easier," Eric warned and left it at that. "Let's work on our signals." The signals were easy, but relaxing while he stroked my bare back, collar bone, the swell of my breast.

"Eric, stop."

"Could a man have you on his lap like this and not touch them?" Why did I agree to this again? Ah yes, money. I would get 20% of our earning to add to my independence fund. Didn't that have a nice ring to it? I closed my eyes and tried to relax as his fingers glided over the exposed cleavage. "You are so beautiful," he whispered in my ear.

I wriggled away from him and stood. "I think that is enough rehearsal. Will you help me out of these clothes?"

"With pleasure," Eric grinned. I rolled my eyes at him.