Chapter twenty-one:
I get ready for the Banquet and text Eric that I wish he was here now. Pam and Sam are driving up in the morning. My boys are flying up later tonight. When I get out of the Banquet, I am driving down to pick them up.
I pick at my food and deal with the idiots halfheartedly all night long, missing Eric like crazy. Finally, they call for the last dance; I turn down a half a dozen guys as I walk out of the room. I take the elevator to my room and grab my purse and keys.
I am walking out through the lobby, when I hear someone clear their throat. I turn to see my cowboy walking toward me, his brother in tow. I run to Eric. He catches me and swings me around. 'Yes! I now have her forever.'
"I missed this; I am not letting you go for the rest of our lives. You belong in my arms, baby. You will be by my side in everything." He croons into my ear. He nuzzles my neck and kisses my throat as people start streaming by and saying goodbye to me. I look up when I hear Alcide emit a growl. He is glaring at Hoyt and Jason. They are openly pissed off at Eric and him. I place a hand on his arm.
"I can do this." I tell him. Turning in Eric's arms, I address the two boys. "Eric was right three months ago, You don't stand a chance against him when it comes to my affections. Northmans fight hard for their spouses and family. Go find someone else." Before I even get the whole thing out, Eric is scooping me up and carrying me to the elevators. We laugh at the catcalls from behind us. Alcide says goodnight and we disappear into our room.
He doesn't set me down until we are by the bed. My husband strips my dress off me and turns me away from him. He runs his hands down my body, as if rememorizing it. He turns me around again.
"How come every time I see you, you are more beautiful?" He swears, raising his hands to my face. "I missed you baby. Our bed is so lonely. Every time I take a shower, I remember what has happened in that bathroom. Your scent lingers in my truck. I've been going crazy without you darling." His lips swoop down in a kiss.
That kiss doesn't seem to end until the next morning. We wake up, tangled up with each other and the sheets. I laugh and kiss his nose.
"Morning baby, Let's get ready for breakfast. Alcide will be hungry by now."
He chuckles, "You're right, he will." He raises an eyebrow at the chair that his tux is draped over. Pam made the three guys identical "tuxes". Black long cutaway greatcoats over white dress shirts, open to the third button. Black jeans, boots and hats. They are going to look hot!
I head for the bathroom, to shower and dress. The area has been having a heat wave, so I pull on some small denim shorts and a skimpy tank top that shows off my shoulders and is cut low. It is short enough that it shows off my tattoo. When I come out, Eric's eyes bug out and he makes a whining noise when I lean down to put on my sneakers. 'I want, I want, I want. Oh god, everything that I cherish is right there in front of me. All she did was get dressed and I am panting after her like a she's a dog in heat. Damnit, I want her so bad.'
"You are going to walk and drive around this town dressed like that? How do you expect me not to drag you off into the shadows and ravage you? You are far too tempting to me." He pulls me into his arms and runs his hands down my sides, ending at my hips. He presses against me and kisses my neck. I moan and lean into him some more. 'Oh sweet Lord, I need you now.'
Eric quickly takes off my shorts and drops his pants to his knees. "No underwear, you dirty girl." He presses me against the wall and lifts me into his arms. I groan as he thrusts into me to the hilt. I come as he does, but he keeps going. "Damn, you are so tight around me. I know I mention it every time, but it feels so damned good." He mutters against my neck as he sucks on my skin and hammers into me. I feel myself building back up and my control snaps as he kisses me, our moans are swallowed by each other. Eric grunts as he falls over the edge with me, emptying into me.
"Sorry, I just could not take not being inside you." He tells me as he presses little kisses all over my face and neck. He assists in straightening my clothing. "It's alright, I am not complaining. You might want to fix your zipper though. I doubt that Alcide would want to see that, and I don't want you advertising." He zips his pants with a smirk on his face.
The three of us walk to the little place; I found it while walking around, for breakfast. We walk in and find a seat. Alcide gets a laugh out of the decor. It's a throwback to the fifties mixed with humor. The tables are covered with comics.
Eric keeps his arm around me the whole time we are there, like he was afraid I would disappear if he didn't.
We walk back for my car, and drive down to the Old Port to walk around for a while, then down to Old Orchard and walk on the beach, talking about what happened down home since I left. Many people are looking at me, Eric has a clamp like grip on my hand. When I wince, Alcide punches him in the shoulder. "Hey man, you're hurting her." Eric looks our hands and how my fingers are turning purple. He gasps. "Honey, I'm sorry." I nod and let him rub my hand to get the circulation back.
Hadley has broken out of her shell; Sophie is being seen for her stalking tendencies; Debbie and Calvin are an item. The Bellefluers are moving away, Hadley, in the opposite direction.
We are driving back when my phone goes off. It's Pam saying they are stopping for lunch, in Mass. I tell her we will see them soon and hang up. I drive to the back of the lake. I can't wait to see someone's face when I pull in the parking lot.
They trail me to the shack. I wait in line to order our lunch and Eric hands me money before the boys head to the bathroom. Quinn still hasn't looked up yet. Eric is back and has wrapped his arms around my waist. He is kissing his way up my neck, when Quinn does look up to greet us and take our order. 'I thought she looked good, when she was sick and all covered up. That is nothing to now. Short shorts and a skimpy tank top. Who's the guy? Oh, that must be the future husband. I wish I could do that to her. She would look so good in my bed. He looks familiar; I wonder where I've seen him before.' I can feel Eric tensing up with anger at the lascivious gleam in Quinn's eyes. The "she's mine" urge has been raging and will be all day. It doesn't help the guy's case because when I answer Eric's silent question of whom he is with a light kiss on the lips and raised eyebrow. "You mean that's the guy that almost had a chance of taking you from me?" He growls. I nod to Eric, thank Quinn for the slip and walk away with Eric looping his arm around my hip and kissing my ring. "You almost left me for that?"
"Eric cool down. If I had left you then, it would have been because of you. John Quinn lost his chance with me way back when I was in seventh grade. He was the one that I had the major crush on that played with my emotions then. There was only one guy that might have had a chance if he had coughed up the balls and got out of his best friend's shadow. That and got rid of his girlfriend. I don't condone cheating either way. He's had a crush on me for over two years, but never admitted it to me until after the Halloween dance. He was the one who confronted me on wearing your football jersey. I will not tell you his name, because I want to enjoy my night, instead of spending it, bailing my husband out of jail." Eric grumbles and pulls me closer. 'You are not going to be out of my arms the whole night unless our brothers want a dance.'
"Let's sit down and wait for them to call our number." I turn my car on and crank up my radio, so we can hear it from the picnic table.
Eric stands to go with me, when they call our number. I tell him to sit and cool off. "Alcide can you come with me? I don't want Mr. She's Mine to rear his ugly head again."
Eric smiles at the nickname. "Sorry baby." He says as his twin flips me over his shoulder.
Alcide walks up with me and I am glad when we get to the window. It's just my luck that every meat headed guy from school would choose today to come here. I get whistled at by a few guys, even with my large brother-in law carrying me to the shack.
Quinn is half falling out of the pick-up window, looking for me, when Alcide lets me down again, not without a swat on the butt. "That was for the three year old crack last month, Sis. Nice butt though." I shake my head at him. "It might have been yours, if you had stepped up to plate before you brother." I tell him. Quinn asks for my number and I hand him the slip of paper, knowing full well that he didn't mean that.
"That is the only one you'll get." I say when he starts to say so.
"I thought you were with a blonde cowboy, Sookie. Who's this?" He means do I have a chance?
"Oh, this is Alcide, Eric's brother. Alcide this is Quinn, his parents own this place." I introduce them. They shake hands and say Hello. You can tell that neither wants to. "Let's get these to our table before they cool off."
Eric stands and waits for me to sit by him. The three of us eat and chat companionably for a while. Alcide takes the trash to the cans and we leave to meet with Pam and Sam.
The guys get ready in Alcide's room, while we dress in my room. 'How in the blue blazes am I supposed to put this on? Pam made these, yet I still don't get this.' "Pam, I think your man is confused by the tuxedo." She heads over to the next room and helps the trio of idiots as she called them.
Pam called and invited my friends to get ready with us. The four of us giggle and carry on. Pam puts my hair up and helps me into my dress, zipping and buttoning me in. I do the same for her. We do our makeup and I spritz on my cologne. Jess answers the door when Sam knocks.
"Hey, weren't you the dj at the Valentine's dance?" She asks as she lets him in. He smiles and shakes her hand. To tell you the truth, he looks better in his dress uniform. Though the tux is hot too.
"Sam Merlotte, Girls are you coming? We have reservations, remember?"
We walk to the elevator and out to our cars. We drive to the restaurant.
"I didn't know we were going to dinner. I only brought enough money for a few drinks." Claudine murmurs from the back seat. I smile at Eric.
"Claudine, you don't need any more than that. Sook and I are paying tonight. It's a celebration and I don't mean the prom. We are having our reception tonight. Sookie didn't want to leave you two out of our wedding." He looks into the rearview mirror to speak to her.
"Wait? Don't you need to actually get married before you have a reception?" Jess asks holding up her hands.
"Surprise!" Both Eric and I hold up our left hands. They never noticed the second part to my bridal set. Then again, my engagement ring is huge, so you would have to look closely to notice a difference.
"OH MY GOD!" both girls scream.
Our ears are still ringing when we get out of the car. Claudine and Jess bounce around in a circle. "You remember when I sent you the picture of my dress, that's when we got married. Sam walked me down the aisle, Alcide was best man and Pam here was my maid of honor. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but we planned to rip those jerks a new one. So I have been biting my tongue for a month." We share a nice supper and drive back to the hotel for the dance.