A/N: It's 11:59, so I still posted the next day! Haha. I'm diabolical.

Thanks go to my lovely bff Steph and to aurora151989; please remember that Sooks and the Viking got engaged in chapter 7. Keep reading and reviewing! Remember, reviews and PMs are Shanny Crack and make me type faster. :D

*hugs*

On with it!

Chapter 25

Sookie's POV:

What the hell is going on? I stewed in my anger while the limo pulled smoothly away from the Wynn. Granted, Eric and I hadn't had a chance to talk since I was rescued, electrocuted, and subsequently rescued again, but STILL. If he's a King now and I'm a Queen, shouldn't he have maybe woken me up to let me know?

Maybe a, "Hi Honey! Just thought I'd tell ya' that we're royalty now!"

Really, would that have been so friggin' difficult?

No - instead he lets me be blindsided by fancy cars and people bowing to me and shit! Bowing! I'm a barmaid for Christ sake! Deep in my heart I knew this wasn't his fault, but I stubbornly felt the need to lash out at somebody. How on earth am I supposed to be a QUEEN?! Especially when, as far as I knew it, Felipe de Castro was still alive?

Emotionally drained, I let my eyes travel down to my stunning engagement ring. The three karat champagne diamond glowed under the bright lights of Vegas. The large stone shined like the sun, refracting the surrounding neon lights into pure white beams that danced across the interior of the car. I leaned heavily against the black leather seat, still gazing at my ring…

The platinum band was intricately carved with delicate leaves. Small white diamonds encrusted the band and each shone like a little star surrounding a sparkling yellow sun. I tilted my finger and the side of the band was illuminated by a streetlight. For the first time, I noticed letters etched into the platinum; the light caught on a tiny "E" carved in elegant script. A tiny "S" was carved on the opposite side, and directly in the center, beneath the yellow diamond, was an intricate and elaborate "N".

My breath hitched and my heart jumped into my throat. I couldn't believe my eyes. My heart was overcome by a warm tidal wave of pure love.

How could I have been so mean to Eric at the drop of a hat? Granted, it was one HELL of a hat, but that didn't mean that he wasn't… well, my entire world. Everything that he did, whether he pointed it out or not, had showed me that he loved me. Hot tears welled up in my eyes and trickled down my cheeks while I stared at my ring, dumbstruck. The tears fell on my hands, and I was surprised to see them shining with every color I could imagine.

I roughly shoved my stubbornness aside and blinked away my rainbow tears. I had to go back to him.

"Um, hi", I called up to the front, "I'm sorry, but can you please take me back to the Wynn?" I felt rude, but I simply HAD to go back.

"Of course, Miss", the driver replied. He pulled a swift U-turn back towards the northern end of the Strip.

*********

Maybe the limo had a neon sign on it that read "Sookie Stackhouse, Queen of Something" on the outside of the door, because quick as bunnies, six valets appeared beside the car once again. The manager, Antoine, opened my door once again and smiled at me. His debonair face was slightly bemused.

"Your Majesty", he said, bowing, "I am most pleased to have you return so soon."

"Thank you, Mr. Delgado", I replied. The manager offered to show me the way back to the "King", but I declined with a sincere smile. I shouldn't waste the man's time ushering me in and out of his hotel, after all.

I walked quickly towards the row of elevators. The doors slid open, and though there were other humans waiting to board a lift, none joined me. As the shiny doors closed, I could have sworn I saw a large black-suited security guard barring their passage.

Nervously, I checked my apperance in the reflective doors. The dress I'd chosen from the rack had truly been perfect: reminiscent of the dress I'd worn the evening we were summoned to Vegas, this silk number also had a rather high neckline and a very, very low back. I twirled to make sure that the royal-blue fabric hung properly over my butt. I had only made a short, bitchy appearance before and now I wanted to look perfect for my apologetic re-appearance.

The elevator doors slid open and I walked my gleaming black pumps back into Tryst. There was still a line at the door at this hour (that's Vegas for you), but I was waved through without a second glance. I heard the mental stirrings of jealousy from the queued humans and I reinforced my mental shields.

Tryst was still in full swing despite the lateness of the hour. I knew that it would be only about 3 hours before my vampires (well, every vampire) would have to hit the hay. I wove my way through the crowd very cautiously and made it back to the black curtain that hid the VIP booth from the floor.

I took a deep breath to steady myself… and suddenly an eager employee appeared beside me. Where'd this guy come from? I wondered. He swept aside the black curtain and announced, "My Lord, Her Majesty Miss Sookie Stackhouse!"

Oh, super.

Eric and Quinn both stood quickly at my unexpected reappearance as I stepped into the secluded space. Eric looked astonished and Quinn looked… pained. Pam smirked up at me from a white sofa. She gave me a sly wink.

Something came over me. I suddenly wanted nothing more than to grab my fiancé and fuck him wildly on the floor (witnesses be damned)… but I settled for sitting beside Eric… my Eric. His surprised and shimmering blue eyes never left my own as he sank his powerful body back into his white chair.

"I'm sorry", I said to him, sincerely. "I shouldn't have reacted so violently Honey, I was just taken off-guard." I let my eyes lock onto his while I poured every ounce of adoration I felt for him through our repaired Bond. "I love you", I whispered.

My gorgeous Viking vampire smiled down at me warmly. Eric seemed truly delighted with my apology, and his glacial blue eyes crinkled with a genuine smile.

"You are forgiven, my Dear One", he whispered back in his deliciously husky voice. Eric's eyes scanned my body from top to bottom; He had obviously just had the opportunity to appreciate my new (and quite revealing) blue outfit. If the straining bulge in his pants was any indication, I gathered that he liked what he saw.

Every inch of him exuded desire, love and total sex. In my mind's eye, I unbuttoned and eased the gray shirt off his sculpted shoulders then down his thickly muscled arms. I trailed my hot tongue across his rippling chest while my fingers flicked opened his pants… then I slipped the fine fabric down his yummy, defined hips. I imagined my fingers gripping and stroking his thick length while he moaned against my throat. His long and talented fingers stroked my most sensitive area between my legs, his large fingers readying my body for him. I moaned his name in anticipation…

We were no longer in a crowded Las Vegas club; there were no voices or minds to intrude upon my fantasy. I entirely forgot anything and everything around us that was not Eric. I felt my tiny silk panties become unbearably wet. My Eric's nostrils flared, smelling my intense arousal, and his beautiful blue eyes matched my burning passion.

I literally ached with frustration, deep down to my dripping core. I wanted to throw myself into my vampire's arms so desperately. Oh, to feel his hardness sliding into me, stretching me, filling me, plunging in and out of me faster and faster and faster…! Ungh!

A throat cleared nearby and my Love and I crashed back to Earth. Pam was smiling archly at the pair of us while Quinn's gaze clearly shot daggers into Eric's chest.

I looked away and attempted to shake off my lustful fantasy…

Yep, I'm in a nightclub with Eric, Pam and – horribly - Quinn. I cleared my throat and dragged myself back to reality.

"Ahem", I choked breathlessly, "Um, Quinn… why are you here?"