Chapter 12

The next morning, I woke up to find my head a blur.

I remembered me and Eric talking – how could I forget? – And then I had gone to bed... and then...

I remembered feeling someone get in behind me... and a faint voice had said 'You don't mind...?'

My face lit up like a Christmas tree and my hand smacked up – almost slapping me – to cover my face. I was in bed with Eric Northman – the man who I was confusing my feelings for and who I was already uneasy about. I turned my head to look at him, and slowly came to realise he was draped over me. His arms were bound around my stomach; his leg bent over mine, holding my legs down and his head was so near to my neck it was like he had fallen asleep kissing me.

Had we done something that I was un-aware of? Oh god, that would be awful 'Hey Eric, sorry to ask you this, but, did we have a moment last night? I can't quite remember – oh and by the way – it meant nothing' I would so never say that to him!

I slowly moved my hands down to remove him from me, seeing as it was still day time therefore he was in a kind of... dead state. I sighed heavily as I dragged myself over to the kitchen desktop and help myself up on it.

'I...' I whispered 'I... love... you'

I stiffened myself and pulled my gaze from the desktop to my reflection on the sleek black metal of a cupboard.

'I love you' I said a little louder as I looked at myself, then, I slowly raised a hand to my face and stroked my lips. I held them there, just looking at myself and wondering how I seemed so desirable – needed – by everyone around me. I slightly turned my head to Eric in bed, so that I wasn't quite looking at him but I wasn't facing myself either and my cheeks began to burn like a supernova.

My eyes turned to a more dreamy state and, whilst smiling, I slowly whispered

'I love you Eric Northman'.

To my horror and surprise, just as I said it – his eyes shot open and he sat up. He peered over at me with a confused look pasted on his face.

'Why are you just sitting there...?' He asked, and then looked down at himself 'Is there something wrong?'

I quickly pulled myself together

'Um n-no. You're fine, I'm fine – all together fine' I smiled – what an idiot.

'Okay...' He said slowly. He then began to get up and it was then that I noticed he was only wearing trousers. Only.

His chest was bare and obvious in the dark room, and it glistened as if he was wet on a sunny beach. My heart melted, I melted and my face blazed with heat.

Eric leant over and turned on a lamp, which practically lit the whole room, and I could see the full extent of his... beauty.

Eric began to walk toward me and it was almost as if I had put slow motion on a DVD. He strode with a certain pride and flawlessness that nearly made him irresistible – nearly.

I knew, of course, that that was the more human side of me talking – because we all knew how irresistible Vamps were to Humans, didn't we – but the vampire side of me had a little more self control over that.

'So...' I asked a little shakily when he stopped in front of me 'W-Why are you up at this time in the day?'

Eric leant forward on the kitchen top and put his hands either side of me, which made it so incredibly difficult not to look at him. I blushed even harder than I already had and looked sharply to my left – the only way that wasn't as much at Eric as the rest.

'Well, it could be because I wanted to look at you...' He grinned and then pushed off the kitchen top and stepped over to the fridge – which was stocked with True Blood – and then continued 'Or it could be because I haven't fed since yesterday Afternoon'

I cooled off a little bit and smiled up at him; happy that there was some conversation and that there seemed to be no hint of anything the night before.

Eric pulled out a bottle and opened it up, taking a sip from it.

'Would you like a bottle?' He asked, keeping the fridge open slightly in case I said yes

'No, I'm not hungry' I smiled. Eric shrugged at me, and tried to drink his blood slowly.

'Although I know it's a bad idea, I want to try and keep talking to you like this during the day' Eric smiled

'Ah, no, Eric you can't do that!' I said, blushing at the thought I was really worried (even though I had no idea what would happen if he was up during the day).

'Do you actually know why I shouldn't do that?' Eric smiled, and then swigged the last of his True Blood.

I looked down and blushed a little, embarrassed that I had just basically made a fool of myself - telling him not to do something although I didn't know what would happen if he did – before I shook my head.

Eric very slowly placed his bottle on the side and then, completely taking me by surprise, darted over to me and grabbed me by the waist – forcing me to wrap my legs around him and put my hands on his shoulders.

I stared, speechless, at Eric as he took in every detail of my face.

'Eric...?' I whispered slowly, my cheeks returning to supernova. After that, I quickly found myself being kissed by Eric.

It was deep and bold and so... so... I can't even explain it.

He put me up on the kitchen top, his kisses getting deeper and deeper, harder and harder.

I could feel Eric's hands on my back, touching me gently and yet pulling me into him and holding me there. Then suddenly, we had darted over to the bed and Eric was over me trying desperately to pull off my dressing gown and get to my bare skin – but I wasn't ready.

'Wait... wait... Eric, stop!' I slowly got louder and louder and my shout made Eric stop quickly. I felt as though I was betraying him somehow, but I turned away and then finalised it with 'I'm just... not ready'

Eric was breathing hard, his face noticeably flushed from heat, but he breathed out and sank down a little.

'Okay...' Eric said, his face unseen – then he brought his head up and just repeated 'Okay...' then smiled sadly, kissed me on the head and went to the other side of the bed.