SPOV

Eric kissed me thoroughly, then stepped back. The urge to throw myself into his arms was almost overwhelming. He took my hand and led me to the couch.

"You may ask me five questions. I will answer you as completely and honestly as possible." Really? Could I narrow all my questions down to just five?

"Are you really bisexual?" Was that really my most pressing question?

"Pam has such a big mouth," Eric responded with a half smile. "How best to explain this to you? Vampires don't get caught up in things like gender or race or country of origin like people do. And we really enjoy sex. My maker, Appius, first introduced me to sex with men. I enjoyed it, after awhile. Occasionally when I feed on a man, I will have sex. As you know, feeding and sex are very much intertwined for vampires. "

After awhile? I couldn't imagine Eric doing anything he didn't want to do. I found myself opening up and telling him about Uncle Bartlett. Eric held me and licked my tears (which was a little strange at first). I couldn't have asked for a more compassionate listener. Eventually, I was ready to ask my second question.

"If we become a couple, will you be faithful?"

"When you and I are lovers, I will have sex with no one else." He looked me up and down. "Why would I want anyone else if I had you?" Perhaps Eric was saying that just to get in my pants, but he seemed sincere. "When we are lovers, I will want to feed from you. I am very old, I only need a little," he added when he saw the worry on my face. "I will only feed from another if it is an emergency.

"Do you like being a vampire?"I asked him.

"I do now. At first I pined for my children and my home. After some time, I embraced my new abilities. If Appius had not turned me, I would be no more than dust now. "

"Will you tell me about your family and home?" And he did. Eric told me about his wife, Aude, his children that lived, his parents and siblings. His eyes grew a bit moist. He told me he did not believe he had ever told anyone so much about his family, not even Pam.

"What do you think will happen in New Orleans?" I asked, a little afraid of the answer.

"I have been loyal to Sophie-Anne for many years. I doubt she will repay my loyalty by stealing my "favorite pet", whom I am in the process of bonding with. That would be very bad PR as far as the other vampires in Louisiana are concerned. And, she likes me," Eric said with a grin. " Very likely, she will ask to arrange an agreement for you to work for her occasionally."

"Do you really believe that?"

"Uh uh," Eric said smiling and shaking his finger at me. "You have asked your five questions already." Did I dare? Would I regret this?

"Eric, I have one more question." My voice may have wavered a bit. Eric just raised an eyebrow.

"Will you make love to me?" He did and it was amazing. We enjoyed each others bodies until almost dawn, exchanging blood during our second climax. As I was drifting off to sleep, Eric whispered to me in language I didn't understand. He could have been saying "About time you gave into me, you stupid girl" or "I'm not so sure that was worth the wait", but I don't think so. His gentle voice lulled me to sleep.

EPOV

Dear Abby had been correct, the best way to build a relationship (I can think relationship, although I'm not ready to say the word aloud yet) was to share stories about your life and really listen to the woman you cared for (not ready to say that aloud yet either) as she shared hers. Uncle Bartlett would pay. Should I tell Pam one of her columns actually helped me? How many times in the next decade did I want to hear 'I told you so'?"

Sookie fell asleep in my arms. She was simply amazing. If Sophie-Anne insisted on taking her from me, we would leave Louisiana. I enjoyed my position as Sherriff of Area 5, but I would not give up Sookie for it. I cannot love, can I?

SPOV

I woke up the next afternoon, a little sore, but deliciously so. The romance novels I had been reading – not even close to the real thing. I lay in bed for a while with a goofy grin on my face. Eric was mine. Wasn't he? Eventually I floated off to the shower. Under the warm spray I noticed the fang marks on my breast and my thigh. A little tingle ran down my spine. When would we have a chance to do that again? Tonight? No – tonight we were going to New Orleans. Crap! How did I forget about that?

When Eric arrived shortly after dark, he pulled me into his arms for a long, deep kiss. My head spun just a little.

"How are you, my lover?"

"Frightened and giddy at the same time." Eric smiled and kissed me on the forehead.

"You will be safe. I am not finished with you yet. There are a number of positions…" I just rolled my eyes. My heart rate may have sped up just a bit.

We walked outside hand in hand and Eric directed me toward a limousine. Really?

"We are riding in a limo to New Orleans?"

"Did you expect something more exotic? The bat mobile, perhaps?" I laughed and climbed in the limo.

"Were you expecting the Queen to send Cinderella's carriage for us?" Pam chimed in. We laughed about odd conveyances all the way out of Renard Parrish.

I hope you don't feel cheated out of lemons. I'll just leave the details to your imagination! Again, thank you for all of the reviews. I think I may be addicted to them. :)