Eric's POV.
'I still maintain, whatever it is about your blood, it does wonderful things to me' I tell Tyra, sealing the wound in her neck I just fed from, and picking her up in my arms to carry her through to the bathroom.
'It takes the hard edge of a vampire who, underneath, isn't as fearsome as he seems. I think I'm starting to understand it, why you are the way you are' she replies as I gently put her down into the hot water, and then climb in behind her.
'Do indulge me of your theory then' I reply, lying back and wrapping my arms around her as she rests her head on my shoulder.
'Well for a start, you're dead. It's hard to have emotions when you're no longer alive. And secondly, I can imagine that to survive for as long as you have, you have to harden yourself to some extent in order to do just that, survive. I understand that, and I accept you are what you are' she replies simply. She's so intuitive, so not like a human in the way she thinks. We've been awake for about two hours now, just lying in bed talking to each other, getting to know each other better if you will. Which is something I've never indulged in before, but, with her it's different, I want to know her more. Because so far I only like what I have to hear; she sees this world and the people who live in it very differently to most people. She isn't driven or controlled by her emotions like humans are, she's more vampiric in her nature, going on fact and reasoning before anything else in her thought patterns. I like it very much, just as I like very much how her blood makes me feel, her energy too. I can feel myself becoming truly wrapped up in it, wanting to be too. It's like there's an invisible chord that's starting to connect us, just pulling us closer and closer.
'That's exactly right; a vampire does have to push all of that aside just to survive. If we stayed too human, or had too much of a conscious we'd have simply ceased to be a hell of a long time ago. I like that you understand that, that you truly accept we are what we are' I reply, stroking her wet hair and kissing her temple. It's a refreshing change to hear someone accept I am what I am instead of asking a million questions why I am not what they want me to be.
'I don't understand people who try and justify other's actions or lives based on their own morals and values. It's the height of ignorance of you ask me. I think it's very ignorant when people don't understand that' she muses.
'As do I' I reply, kissing her once again, which seems to be something I can no longer control, the level of intimacy I'm entering with this lovely woman in my arms. It's definitely something in her blood drawing me in, for I haven't acted like this with a woman in...centuries. Not since...her.
'Is something wrong?' she asks me, turning a little and stroking my cheek with her hand, her face studying mine.
'No, no nothing. I just...I was just remembering the last time I was like this with a woman' I reply, shocked at how my mouth opens and words I don't even plan on speaking come tumbling out.
'You're not going to go all cold on me and tell me to fuck off in a few moments, are you?' she then questions.
'No, of course not' I reply, affirming my words by holding her tighter to me.
'Good, because you can be very capricious you know. So who was the last woman you were like this with, if you don't mind me asking?' she then asks carefully. And then, as if by some kind of magic I just look into her eyes and my mouth opens again, with words falling from it once more, words I've never spoken to anyone other than Godric; a story not even Pam knows.
'My wife' I reply, watching her look shocked for a moment.
'You were married? When you were a human I take it?' she asks with genuine interest.
'Yes, when I was human. I married when I was twenty, the year after my family were killed. Her name was Ida, and in our nine years together she bore me three sons and two daughters. She was a tremendous woman, a perfect wife and mother' I reply, remembering her fondly.
'You had children too?' she asks me, once again looking shocked.
'Remember, I was once human. And I once found joy in the simple, natural things in life such as having a family of my own, children running around my feet, and a beautiful wife to take care of. Just because that is not the life I would wish for as a vampire, it does not mean I didn't welcome it as a human at all' I reply, watching her nodding, listening intently to my every word.
'Of course, sorry that was stupid of me to forget' she replies, while I instantly quash that notion.
'No, not at all, don't ever call yourself stupid in front of me again either, because you aren't, and I'm fully aware of how complex I am so it doesn't surprise me that hearing things like this surprises you' I reply, my words firm when I tell her she should never consider herself stupid.
'I'll bear that in mind. So, how did you meet Ida?' she then asks me, while I reach for a large bar of soap and a sponge, working it into a lather and gently pushing her forward, moving her hair over her shoulder and washing her back while I reply.
'She was the daughter of a wealthy farmer the next small town over, and I met her after I'd purchased a heard of sheep from her father, and then what followed was a very, very quick courtship followed by an even quicker marriage four months later, when we discovered she was expecting our first child' I tell her, remembering back to the very moment she told me she of the pregnancy with our first son Arvid, named of course after his grandfather.
'What did she look like?' she then asks me, while I move the sponge down to her arms, kissing the side of her neck and feeling her return the affectionate gesture by linking her fingers through mine in my other hand.
'She was tall, like you. And she had this incredible long light red hair, so long she could sit on it, she was a stunning woman, very much so' I reply, closing my eyes and being able to see Ida there clearly in my mind, a place she will never, ever leave.
'So you mentioned you were with her for nine years. And I'm a little afraid to ask...was that because you were turned after nine years and you couldn't go back to her?' she then tentatively asks me, moving her hair as I begin washing her other arm.
'No, she died a few months before I was turned, as did two of our children too. It was a fever that got them, which back in those days was so very common, one of the most common causes of death. I'd been away fighting for three months, when I returned to find Arvid, just eight years of age and such a man before his time, had buried her, his younger brother Melker, and his infant sister Lydia, leaving just him, Jonas, and Elisabet, and the three of them were very sick. I spent the next four weeks trying as hard as I could, with the help of the servants, to save them. The baby, Elisabet was next to die, she was just too small at five months old, she needed her mothers' milk, but all we could nurse her with was goats milk and it just wasn't enough. Jonas was next, and then Arvid. I lost them all over something in this day and age just wouldn't be an issue. Two months after Arvid's passing I was made after becoming mortally wounded on the battlefield, by my maker Godric, who told me he'd watched me, and said to me what an amazing warrior he thought I was, what strength I had. It's remarkable, the amount of fight humans have left in them when everything else has been lost. But then again, that's a Viking for you' I reply, realizing that I didn't even notice I'd dropped the sponge into the water, or that Tyra had turned around in the bath to face me as some point during my explanation.
'He was right, when he said you had strength. Now I understand even more why vampires harden themselves to such emotions. I think if I had to carry such a memory for a thousand years, especially after what happened to your parents and siblings, I'd be hard too. I don't want to sit here and gush out sympathy, you're too much of a proud man for that Eric, but I am sorry that they didn't go on to lead longer lives, which is what I feel you would have wanted for them whether you were made or not right?' she replies softly, leaning forward to kiss my cheek.
'Yes, that's exactly what I would have wanted for them, regardless of my fate' I reply, picking the sponge up out of the water.
'And now I'm going to have the good grace to change the subject, because this face says one thing loud and clear. 'I don't wish to discuss this anymore' she replies, stroking my cheeks with her fingertips before we fall into the kind of kiss that would break all lines of verbal discourse anyway, lying back in the water with her on top of me, the sponge again being let go of as I wrap both of my arms around her.
'You're a very challenging woman Tyra' I tell her as soon as our kiss breaks.
'Well I could have told you that' she begins with a small laugh. 'But how so?' she then asks.
'Because, I think you're going to challenge me' is all I reply, too busy feeling almost drunk on the energy that's still continuing to pour from her and into me, challenging, changing me. I suppose whatever she is, this is what she does. I just have to make up my mind whether or not this, or she, is a truly welcome challenge and change or not...
Tyra's POV.
'You know, you do have to let me go at some point Eric' I say, still feeling quite overwhelmed by the last twenty four hours, and how affectionate he's become towards me, almost treble how he was before. I'm not naive though, I know it's something to do with feeding upon me that makes him like this; it isn't all just me. But still, it feels lovely, witnessing him like this, showing me a totally different side to the usual cold, mean tempered, stoic Eric Northman.
'I'm fully aware of this, but I just don't want to right now' he replies, standing in the office with me in his arms, stroking my hair. We've been together for the last day and a half almost, him first arriving at my home yesterday evening at 8pm sharp after our kiss in the office. And it's now 1am, twenty nine hours later, and we're only parting because he's leaving the state to head to Mississippi on 'business' as he told me, not adding any more detail than that. Which is fine, he doesn't have to tell me every in and out, every intricacy of his life just because I had sex with him. I'm not that demanding or needy. All he told me was that he'd be back by the time I'd be here next on Wednesday, so I only have six days to wait to see him again.
'Well, this tired lady needs to go and find her bed after what you've put me through' I reply, watching him smirk triumphantly at the memory of our marathon sex sessions.
'Speaking of which, are all your aches, pains and abrasions feeling less tender now?' he asks me, since half an hour ago I had to have some of his blood since I was in such great pain internally. To be precise, I felt like my vagina had been sandblasted, something that amused Eric greatly to hear.
'They are, thank you' I reply, smiling at him and being granted a very long, soft kiss upon my lips. And with that, we say our goodbyes and I leave him in the office studying the computer screen, and begin my walk up the stairs and out into the club itself, noticing straight away that everyone behind the bar is staring at me in an enquiring way, probably all now knowing the reason why they haven't seen their boss, or me, in the last day and a half. But, there's only one Fangtasia employee who quizzes me on it, and that's the lady who owns half of it.
'Well, well, well, he's finally untied you then?' Pam asks, looking me over with one eyebrow arched up.
'He likes me to use my hands, so he didn't do that' I reply, kissing her cheek when she offers it forward and gives my shoulders a squeeze.
'Finally, you both get it out of your systems! I am pleased, now perhaps you won't be perpetually horny and he won't be tearing around here like a bear with a sore head, or rather a vampire with a sore balls because you keep refusing him' she replies, looking thoroughly amused. 'And with that, let me keep you no longer sugar, you look like you need some shut eye. We can catch up another time' she tells me, giving me another amused look while I give her a playful shoulder barge to get past, turning around and winking at her.
'Later Pam' I tell her.
'Later foxy lady' she replies, winking back and smiling before letting the next few patrons in the queue inside the club after unhooking the velvet rope that blocks the entrance. And right now, I really do feel it. To be desired and wanted so much by a creature as powerful and beautiful as Eric, and then to be shown physically the measure of his want, for many, many consecutive hours, has made me feel every inch the foxy lady. Even though I have no idea if that was just a onetime moment of lust, or whether I perhaps might decide to take him as a lover (I know the word 'relationship' would never even enter his thoughts, so I'm not hoping for one) or what, but I do know that the feeling of breaking my rule about sleeping with a client did feel pretty good, to quell the four months worth of pent up lust for him, just to open the floodgate and let it all out, I feel remarkably relaxed for getting out all than tension. And as I drive home, I replay little pieces of what's gone on between us over the past day through my head, how amazing the sex was more than anything, but also the way in which he opened up to me about his life as a human. I certainly never expected to hear that way back in the 980's he'd been a family man, his children Arvid, Jonas, Melker, Lydia and little Elisabet the complete centre of his world, as well as his wife Ida. It was truly tragic to hear he lost them to something that can be treated with something so simple such as paracetamol and bed rest now. I felt a great injustice for him, at hearing that. But then that just shows how different life was back then, which was something I was even more keen to learn of, having a direct source of history right there in the bathtub with me, yet I left it because I didn't want to invade upon his private and personal memories any more than I already had. Those are for him, not for me. And I think he appreciated that too. Also I think he appreciated being asked about everything he'd seen over the last thousand years too, the life he'd lead of a vampire, which he was only too happy to inform me of after we'd retreated from the bath and ended up wrapped around each other in bed again.
'You're so refreshing, usually all people want to know are the mundane things, the frequently asked questions if you will. Why can't you see sunlight? Why can't you still eat food? Can you still have sex? Do you actually feel pain even though you can heal yourself? Can I see your fangs? Will you bite me? Will you make me a vampire? Not one of those awful questions has passed your lips, and for that I thank you. Now, what century in particular would you like to know about?' he said to me, while I excitedly told him I wanted to learn more about every era of time he'd watched, participated in, I wanted to know the zeitgeist of each culture, of each decade he'd ever lived in, I just wanted to know it all, more about this earth, through the eyes of a vampire who'd walked it for a millennia. And so, he told me. Not everything of course, I think we got up to about the fifteenth century before he expressly wished not to have his mouth 'occupied by words any longer' as he put it. Yeah, five seconds after that it was between my legs again, and I was not complaining about that at all.
When I arrive home I let myself in, shaking off the rain that's currently plummeting from the sky, and receive a welcoming shove in the legs from Poon, circling my ankles in her usual kitty like manner. I'm surprised she's actually here and not off deep in the forest somewhere. Another thing I'm surprised about is that I got so caught up in Eric that I left my cell right here on the counter in the kitchen, where I'd put it last night before rushing over to Lafayette's. And as well as a text from the man himself asking what I decided, and that I can leave him in suspense no longer, I have a text from Danny, the man who I was meant to be going on a date with tonight. Oh...crap. I'd totally forgotten he even existed truth be known, and if I had of had my cell with me I really can't say I would have been that bothered about answering. I know that sounds mean, brushing him off because I got a better offer, but hey, at least I'm honest. Although I'll keep back some of that honesty when I let him down gently. I dunno, since last night he hardly seems relevant any more, no matter how much I professed to like him to people like Pam and Lafayette, Anna and Dmitri too. I think Lafayette was right when he said all I was going was using him as a way to stop thinking about Eric, and he was such a nice guy so he doesn't deserve me to be nasty when I do as I stated I will, and let him down gently.
'Hey, I'm really sorry I wasn't here when you came to pick me up earlier, and that I didn't get in touch to cancel our date. Something important came up and because of it I'm going to be busy for a while with it, so I'll let you know when I can fit in that third date, and sorry once again, T x' I text to him, hitting send and receiving a reply within seconds, which is a little eager if you ask me.
'Yeah no worries baby, I'll wait, you're more than worth it xxx' he replies, adding two things to that text message that tip the bile to the back of my throat, kisses and the use of the word 'baby'. I'm a grown woman for heaven's sake; baby is something I've always hated being referred to as by anyone, except maybe my parents because I'll always be their baby after all. And so after being conveniently nauseated enough by Danny not to feel guilty about having no intention of making a third date with him, I go about my evening (or early morning) and decide that I'll do a small tidy up and throw in a load of washing before heading off to bed. Okay, make that two loads of washing, since I just walked into my bedroom and saw and smelt the bed sheets, covered in sweat and sexual secretions and definitely not worthy of sleeping on. And so after changing them for a fresh set, and putting the dirty ones in the basket ready to do in the morning. I'm too sleepy to wait up and put them in after the current load is done. Locking up and switching out all the lights I head off into bed, and as soon as I'm all curled up in it I realize something; even though the linen has been changed I can still smell Eric; which is something nice to have wafting into my nostrils as my tired body falls into a much needed sleep mode just a few moments afterwards.
Authors note - You girls, you ALL make it worth it each time I see one of your lovely reviews pop up in my inbox! I've worked so hard trying to make this story not a million miles away from the True Blood we all know and love, but with some of my own ideas included into the mix too for freshness and originality. I'm so happy to see they're going down well with you all, keep on enjoying and I'll keep on posting you lovely lot! :D xx