A/N: I do not own any characters or the world of True Blood, but I do like to play in it.
Thanks for the reviews! Yeah typical Eric, already one step ahead of Sookie, right?
And who better to watch her than a supe who's half in love with her himself?
Agreed, Sookie is being *very* childish in that last chapter, and being treated accordingly. We'll see what Eric does to discipline her...
It was that look that gave her pause. "Meaning what? You'll toss me in the back of your truck and kidnap me if I try to strike out on my own?"
"Well, no…" A flush spread up the side of his neck. "But I can't just let you take off like that." He muttered and scooped her up, tossing her over his shoulder, his arms like bands of iron.
"Alcide Herveaux you put me down this instant!" Sookie demanded, pounding on his back impotently.
"Oh quit carryin' on." He gave her rump a little swat and Sookie felt like her head might explode but all that came from her was an exasperated splutter. Alcide didn't drop her in the back of the truck like a sack of potatoes, not quite. Instead he stuffed her into the passenger's side of the cab. "Now you sit tight and don't even think about trying to get away." He wagged a finger in her face. "If you're gonna act like a child then I'm gonna have to treat you like one."
"Eric's not gonna like this." Sookie scowled, arms folding across her chest.
"You're tellin' me…" Alcide muttered, slamming the door shut.
The ride back to the hotel was spent in silence, neither of them much in the mood to talk. As he parked his truck in the lot, Alcide turned to face Sookie, giving her an assessing look. "You wanna go up to my room to wait for a spell or straight on back to yours?"
"I'd like to go back to my room thanks all the same." Sookie replied politely, staring straight ahead.
"Can I trust you to walk through the lobby like a lady? Or am I gonna have to toss you over my shoulder again?" He had banished the faint smile on his lips by the time her ponytail swung around in indignation.
"You wouldn't dare!" She gasped.
"Try me. Any more tricks and that's exactly what I'll do." He threatened.
"Fine, I give you my word, I won't try anything." Sookie volunteered quickly, almost tripping over the words in an effort to get them out fast enough.
"If you break your word…"
"I won't!" She insisted. "I swear to baby Jesus, cross my heart, stick a needle in my eye." Her fingers traced a path over her chest for emphasis. Only then did she see the touch of a smile playing on his lips and she gave his shoulder a playful punch, relaxing a little. They walked back into the lobby like civilized people, stepping into the elevator without incident and arriving on their floor. "Is your room nearby?" She asked conversationally.
"Naw, it's not near as fancy as yours. But I'll have to wait till sundown to enjoy it anyhow; I'm still on guard duty." He gave her a lopsided smile.
Sookie smiled sadly, knowing just how tired he was, and all on her account. "You can get some rest now, I swear, I won't try anything."
"Thanks all the same, but I'll just stick it out. Ain't but a couple of hours left till nightfall anyway."
"How can you tell?" She asked, they were still in the corridor and she had no idea what time it was.
"I can tell. Full moon's coming soon. Not tonight, but soon."
"Oh." Sookie nodded, getting the door open and stepping into the huge suite. "Come on in." She invited him, knowing Eric would still be dead to the world for a while yet. Alcide moved past her, his big body brushing against hers as he entered the room, letting out a low whistle.
"Damn, get a look at this place. And here I thought my room was nice."
It was very impressive, and Sookie allowed herself a little smile at knowing that Eric had picked the room to impress her. Playing hostess in her posh surroundings, she offered Alcide a drink which he accepted, and a snack, which he declined.
Things had eased enough between them that they were able to chat in hushed tones for a while about nothing in particular. He filled her in on how his sister was doing, and she let him know about Jason's crazy new project with the people of Hotshot. Surprisingly enough, he knew all about them and agreed, they weren't quite right as a people. Though he had given Calvin Norris a grudging respect for trying to do his best for his people in a bad situation. He seemed truly saddened to hear that he'd been shot to death.
Eventually the light started to fade and Sookie looked up at the fancy clock on the wall. "It's not that I'm not having a nice time catching up with you, but you should probably go before he wakes up you know. Something tells me he won't like finding you here with me."
A careless shrug was given. "He's the one who sent for me."
"Well yeah but, he meant for you to wait in the lobby…" She pointed out.
"Which is what I would have done if you'd stayed put in your room like a good girl." Alcide smirked.
"Alcide…" Sookie couldn't explain the sudden need to get him out of there.
"You want me to go?"
"Don't you think it might be for the best?"
"You just don't want Eric to know you snuck off like that." He chuckled.
"What? No, that's not it." Sookie protested, but she knew in her heart he was right. She was hoping to avoid any kind of confrontation with Eric over it by controlling the spin over what had happened that day. But she wouldn't admit that, not out loud in any case. "I'm not ashamed that I went out today. He'll see the shopping bag anyway."
"But you don't want me to tell him that you tried to ditch me."
"I didn't…" okay well she had and Sookie started to realize the situation she'd put him in by doing so. "Well, yeah. Look I'm sorry about that. I know you were just trying to look out for me."
"It's all I've ever wanted to do Sookie, make sure you're safe." Alcide rested his big hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes.
Her eyes flicked to the closed door and she took a step backwards, not wanting to lead him on, not after they'd managed to salvage what was left of the day and stay friends. "I appreciate that Alcide, I really do. But like I said, I'm with Eric now."
He seemed to consider that for a moment. "I think I'd better go at that."
"You won't say anything to him, will you?" She gave him a pleading, puppy dog look.
Alcide was silent for a long moment, watching her. "No, I won't." He sighed. "Take care now Sookie." With that, he stepped through the door without another word.
Sookie frowned at the closed door, wondering if she'd just damaged something between them in asking for his silence. Suddenly tired, she stripped down and climbed back into bed with Eric to take a nap, cuddling up to his cool body. It was disconcerting to sleep with someone who was so utterly still. She'd never gotten used to it, though really the number of times she had spent daytime hours in bed with a vampire could be counted on one hand. Just before she drifted off, she remembered that she had wanted to try and find out what the word was that Eric had called her. What was it?
She smelled of that mongrel; that was the first thing he noticed upon waking. That she hadn't bothered to try and wash off his scent was encouraging. If it had been anything beyond casual touching she might have felt the need to wash up afterwards or he would have smelled it on her. As it was, he found no sign of arousal from her and that alone was enough to dissipate most of the irrational jealousy that swelled at the wolf's scent on his woman.
Still, that mean one thing; she had tried to leave him during the day. A smile curved his lips, he'd known she would try such a thing, and privately he admired her independence for it. She would have made a fine queen in his day, given a little bit of schooling in proper behavior. It wouldn't do to let her know that, or think that he approved of her circumventing his safety protocols. She must be punished… after a fashion.
Plucking her from where she dozed, Eric cradled her to his body, admiring her smooth curves and the way her tawny skin contrasted against his own pale flesh.
Sookie stirred a little, snuggling into his embrace. "Is it time to wake up?" She yawned.
"So it would seem." Eric replied, sitting on the edge of the bed, laying her nude form across his lap. "It appears you have been busy today." He felt her body stiffen against his and knew she'd taken his meaning. The question remained; would she try to conceal her perfidy or simply smile that crooked smile of hers that melted his heart?
"I did go out for a bit today, yeah." Sookie replied carefully. "You're not sore are you? You never said I couldn't go out and do some shopping."
"No, I am not sore." He replied, though she soon would be. "If you wanted to go shopping you should have told me, I would have taken you. No matter the hour, any merchant would have welcomed our business." One way or another.
"Well… yeah I guess I didn't think of that." She squirmed a little, and Eric held a little tighter to the flare of her hip. It wouldn't do for her to distract him from the lesson at hand. But even as he held her still, his flesh started to stir in anticipation. "But you knew I'd try something like that, didn't you?" She pointed out with a wry twist of the lips.
"I told you Sookie, I protect what is mine. I can see that I was right to ask the Were to guard you." Eric allowed a tinge of censure to enter his voice.
"Eric I'm perfectly capable of running errands on my own." The color started to rise in her cheeks as she warmed to the subject. "You didn't have to send for him all this way."
"If you could be trusted to stay where I leave you when I bed down for the day, this wouldn't have been necessary." He pointed out. "Tell me the truth now… for I will know if you lie to me." Eric cautioned her. "Were you really just running errands, or were you going after your cousin alone?"
Sookie squirmed again and he gave her delectable rump a swat, causing her to jump a little in his arms. "I ah… well I was going to go check out the shack, just take a look around… but then Alcide was there so…"
It was difficult to keep the smile from his eyes, but he kept it from his lips for the moment. "Thank you for being honest with me." He brushed his thumb over her lower lip, delighting in the way it dropped so invitingly. "Are you ready to accept your punishment?"
"Punishment?" Her brows climbed a mile high. "Eric…you can't…" Sookie sputtered, even as he turned her over his lap, her lush bottom presented to him as a gift.
"If you are going to act like a child, I must discipline you like one Sookie. You know how dangerous it is for you to be wandering around during the day in a strange city." He brought his hand down on her bottom with enough force enough to sting but not enough to really hurt her. Definitely hard enough to get her attention though.
"Eric!" Sookie squealed, trying to wriggle free, which ended up being all the more enjoyable for him on his lap.
His hand caressed the firm globe of her ass before he brought it up for another swat, enjoying the way her skin turned pink. "You could have been hurt or killed if I hadn't asked Alcide to guard you."
Sookie stop trying to escape, knowing it to be impossible. "Okay, okay, I know but… let me up Eric. For the love of god…"
"God has nothing to do with it." Eric said gently, his long fingers tracing the swell of her backside. Sookie stiffened in his arms again at the touch and he continued his exploration. "You will promise me to never take such risks with your life." He demanded, dipping lower to her womanly core to stroke the delicate folds.
A ragged moan tore from her lips at the intimate caress, given with her still in such a helpless position.
"I will have your promise." He withdrew his fingers and gave her rump another smack.
"I promise!" Sookie yelped, but she made no effort to escape him.
To reward her, his clever hand returned to her slick folds, slipping inside of her, seeking that special spot that drove her mad with pleasure. "You are mine Sookie Stackhouse." He murmured possessively, stoking her need, bringing her closer and closer. "Say it."
"Eric… I…" Sookie gasped, breath coming in little pants and gasps.
He withdrew his hand, landing another slap to her heated derriere. "Say it, you are mine."
"I'm yours." The broken cry came from her lips, "Yours…" and then her cries of pleasure overtook her as he rewarded her with the loving attention she craved, his fingers filling and stretching her, bringing her to the brink of ecstasy.
Already he was starting to learn the secrets of her body and when he felt her trembling on the edge of release, he pressed her down against the bed and buried himself in her tight sheath from behind, groaning as he felt her pulse and clench around his manhood. Driving into her again and again, Eric brought her to another shuddering climax on the tail of the first one. When he felt himself growing close, he sank his fangs into the smooth column of her neck where it met the shoulder, feeling something primal stir within him in taking her this way, as her essence flooded his senses. Spilling deep within her, he drank in her emotions as he drank in her blood, finding a deeper gratification in that bond that surpassed the physical. If only she would consent to take his blood again, that would surely strengthen the bond between them.
Sealing the wound at her neck with a final lave of his tongue, he lay against her back, pressing soft kisses against her smooth, tanned skin, taking care not to crush her beneath his weight. "Are you alright my beloved?" He asked softly, when she did not stir beyond the soft falls of her breath.
"More than fine." She sighed in deep satisfaction, voice slightly muffled by the bed.
"Then I was not too… rough with you?"
"You mean with that… punishment?" She turned to catch sight of his face and Eric withdrew so that they could face each other properly. "Hell no, you should have seen it when Pa used to take a switch to us when we were little."
"He beat you?" Anger rose within his chest, for a man who had been long dead.
"No, not beat really. Just a smack when it was needed. Jason a heck of a lot more than me. But he did it so we'd learn right from wrong."
Understanding soothed his anger. "Then your father was a wise man." His own actions seemed vindicated in his eyes. He had only sought to teach her the error of her ways in a manner that would form an impression upon her. Eric simply hadn't thought that he would enjoy it so much; he almost hoped that she disobeyed him again.
"Yeah you would think so." Sookie gave a snort at that. "I promise, I won't go running off anytime soon." She crossed her heart and he picked up her hand and brought her fingers to his lips for a kiss. "But when we get back to Bon Temps I'm gonna have to be able to live my life." She insisted.
"Sookie I don't want to chain you to my bed… although… that could be fun to explore sometime." His lips curved into a devilish smile. "I just ask that you defer to my judgment where your safety is concerned." He was less worried about her safety in her hometown. Rob was there to look after her if necessary.
Her brows rose a fraction, but she didn't respond to the bait. "I promise, I'll try to be more mindful of it and not take unnecessary risks."
"Good, I would hate to have to wring your pretty little neck." He chuckled.
A/N: So I tried something a little different in this chapter from Eric's POV. Let me know if you guys liked it or if you thought it was out of character or anything. I think we've seen he's got some darker tastes when it comes to making love sometimes, so I thought this method of disciplining her might appeal to him.
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