Thanks for everyone who follows and for those who review. Please review and let me know if you are still with me on this story. I hope everyone is still interested. It's time for some Viking romance and an island!
I own nothing of the Sookie Stackhouse novels. Don't sue!
Chapter 29
Sookie's POV
We stepped off the plane and Oh! boy, Toto we're not in Kansas anymore. I've never seen any place this beautiful. And… we haven't even left the airport yet. I can see palm trees and sand around everything. The ocean air smells so good! I can't wait to play on the beach. I feel like a little kid on Christmas. I start jumping up and down. I wonder if I can convince Eric to move here permanently. I really couldn't do that to him. Our nights will be short but that is what late afternoon naps are for. I can play at the beach, nap in the afternoon and spend the moonlight hours with him. I jump up in his arms and begin to plant kisses all over his face.
"Lover, am I to assume you are happy to be here?"
"Eric this place is so awesome. I've never been anywhere like it before!"
"I'm glad to see that you are not disappointed but can I ask 'where' we are?
"Oh my God! I'm sorry. We're in the Bahamas. I'm not sure where exactly. Claude, where are we staying?"
"Cousin, the house I have here is in Marsh Harbour. It's the largest settlement in Abaco. It's located in the Bahamas obviously and has its own airfield. Therefore we were able to fly directly in. It also is the largest protected deep-water harbor in the area. You can arrive by plane or boat only. I can see our driver waiting. We are only a 5 minute ride to the house. It's in a very secluded area of the island. After we are settled I can tell you about of the shopping and dining available."
"Claude, why would you have a house here? Why would it have light tight rooms?"
"I bought that land many years ago before it was what it is today. I had a house built there quite a few years later. I purchased and built for investment. I wanted to rent to Supes. At the time many humans wouldn't be able to afford to rent the house. I knew if I had it prepared for Supes it would bring the money I would need to get for the place. I never resided here. It was always an investment. I just recently had it updated that is why it wasn't rented. We have as much time here as you want. Wait until you see the place Cousin. We are right on the beach!"
Oh now I'm excited. We all head off towards the car. Eric and Bubba get everything loaded up with the help of our driver. Claude tried to help but Eric shooed him away.
"You girls go talk shopping and let us men do the work!"
I had to laugh. I enjoy his carefree attitude so much. I have never seen Eric smile as much as I have the last two nights. He is so full of life. I know that sounds strange when talking about someone who is by all rights is supposedly 'dead' but Eric has always had a zest for living life to the fullest.
I'm watching out the window ignoring the others are we drive to the house. Everything is so breath taking. There are palm trees and foliage everywhere. It's so green and lush. I hate that Eric isn't going to be able to see it in the sunlight. I just had the best idea! I have to talk to Claude alone and soon! Eric, Claude and Bubba are chatting about the layout of the house as I get lost into my own world when I feel Eric snake his arm around my waist and rest his head on my shoulder. He begins to place small kisses along my neckline and whispers to me.
"Have I told you today how much I love you? I can't wait to rise tomorrow night and smell the sunlight on your skin. I am so happy Lover. Thank you."
"I love you too. I'm sorry our nights will be shorter. I'll make sure to rest in the evening so I can be awake with you longer."
"Don't worry about me lover. I am content to watch you sleep if need be. I want you to play on the beach, enjoy the sun and rest whenever you need. This trip is for you to heal. I will savor each moment we have."
I turn and he adjusts so that our lips can reach one another's. We continue to kiss for a few minutes until Claude clears his throat in an effort to get our attention. Eric chuckles but then resumes his passionate assault on my lips. Myself, I am happy and content to stay right where I am therefore I ignore him as well.
"Hello….. Lovebirds! We are here. Can you come up for air please? You two have your own room that you can continue this in. Bubba and I are feeling nauseous right about now."
I have to laugh at him and remove my lips from Eric. As soon as we step out of the car he grabs me again and begins to kiss me passionately. He pulls away and looks over to Claude and waggles his eyebrows at him and then looks to me.
"Lover we WILL continue this later. I'll get our bags, go ahead up with Claude and find out where our room will be. I will meet the two of you there."
Eric nudges Bubba and they begin to gather the luggage. I grab Claude and demand the tour.
"Claude I'm sorry we keep getting carried away. I promise I won't ignore you."
"Nonsense Cousin. I'm only teasing you two. Eric is right. This is your time to heal. I want you to do whatever you like. If you need anything just ask."
I glance around and see that we have walked away enough for some privacy. I want Claude pick something up for me but I need to make sure there are no Vampire ears around. I lean over and whisper to Claude.
"Do you think Eric and Bubba can hear us?"
Claude begin to whisper back and is talking like a 14 year old girl on her first sleepover.
"No they are far enough away if you whisper. What do you need? Is he too much man for you? Don't worry Cousin I will help. You can take round one and I'll take round two. We can switch off and on."
"Claude, will you stop trying to sleep with him. Can you get me a camcorder? Before you even say it, no I am not recording us having sex for you, or him in the shower or any perverted idea you may have."
"Oh Cousin please? Pretty please with sugar on top? Seriously I think I know what you have planned and he will love it. Has he ever seen a photo of you in the sun?"
"No, I don't think he has. So, you don't think it's a dumb idea?"
"No! It's an awesome idea. I bet it brings him to tears actually, that you would think to do something like that for him. We can make sure he doesn't miss anything."
"Thanks Claude. I love it here and I can't tell you how much it means to me that you're here with me too."
Claude has unlocked the front door and we enter. This is not a house it's a freaking mini mansion. There are glass windows everywhere. The whole floor plan is open. There are two sitting areas and a large dining area at the back of the house. Oh, I can see the beach. I run over to look out the sliding glass door. We are right on the beach. I can't even see any other houses near us. I turn to my left and see a huge kitchen. Everything is done in a soft white color and the accent colors are light earth tones. The house looks like the beach. All the colors are corals, off white and various shades of tan. Claude has excellent taste in decorating. I feel like I'm in paradise. He is in the corner laughing at me as I buzz from area to area.
"I'm glad you like it. Let me tell you about all you have at your disposal. Out back there is of course, a private beach. The desk wraps around the entire back of the house. There's a hot tub and pool off to the right. There are 4 large bedrooms and 2 smaller ones. Each large bed room has an en-suite bathroom and shower. The only powder rooms in the house are down here by the living room to your left with the fireplace and on the second floor in the middle of the hall way. We will all have our privacy. I want you and Eric to take the master suite. It's on the third floor and is almost as large as the width of the house. Come with me and I will show it to you. Eric will meet us there."
We walk over to the most beautiful staircase I have seen since Gone with the Wind. It completely open and can been seen from anywhere on the first floor. We continue up passing the second level. When we reach the top I can see that there is only a small hallway that has two doorways.
"The second doorway is for storage and linens. You will find everything from shampoo to towels in there. I had the cleaning service I use get everything ready for us. All of our linens are fresh and we have a ton of food and bottled blood. I know that Eric and Bubba are fine with regular synthetic but I also got them some Royalty for dinner time. I've been told it's much more preferable."
"Claude! You are the best. Thank you! Thank You!"
I grab him and hug him. I can't believe he has thought about them and what they would prefer.
"Let me show you around I can hear Eric coming with your things."
We enter the room and I'm shocked! It screams romance at you. It looks more like a honeymoon suite. All the furniture is a light colored wood. There are windows along the whole back of the room. I see that there is also a small private deck on the far side as well. It's not large but enough room for 2 chaise lounge chairs and a table. The bed is covered in white flowing mosquito netting. There are large pillar candles and various smaller ones all around the room. I make my way towards the bathroom room. There is a shower and Jacuzzi tub that is both large enough for 2 people. Oh this is definitely a 'love suite'.
"Claude this room is a romance novel. I can't believe you have never ever lived here?"
"Nope, actually this is only the third time I have ever stayed here."
I continue to walk around the room taking in all its beauty until 'beauty' itself walks in the room with his arms full of luggage. He still takes my breath away every time I see him. Others may not think a man to be beautiful but I don't know how else to describe him. The words attractive and handsome do no justice to portray him.
Claude show Eric around the room and begins to tell us of the security and light proof amenities.
"The switch here will activate the light tight shutters should you chose to use them. There are no curtains but the glass is UV proof. Sookie you can enjoy the day light without harm to Eric. If you prefer to have the room dark during the day simply hit this button and the shutters will close. Eric I will show you how to set the access code so that only you and Sookie can enter the suite. I will make sure that Bubba's room is set up as well. Do you guys have any questions?"
Eric addresses him and I'm surprised at his response.
"Claude I do not need to have security to our room. I trust you totally. I appreciate your offer but this is your home. If you wish to wake Sookie during the day you should not be locked from our room."
"I have an intercom I can use to talk to her if needed. I'm honored that you have so much trust in me Eric. I still would prefer if you set up the codes. What if Sookie or I were out and someone was to get into the house. I assure you that we have no enemies here and this particular part of the island is a safe as you can get. It's totally private and only those with access can enter the area. I would still feel better knowing that while you rest you and Bubba are secure."
"As you wish, Claude and I thank you for your concern. Your home is very beautiful. Lover would you like to put some of your things away and we can try to see the beach before dawn comes?"
"Yes I would like that. Is Bubba getting settled? Do you think he needs anything?"
"He is fine dear one. He is in his room watching re- runs of the love boat. He said to tell you goodnight."
Claude speaks up and I see him give a strange look to Eric. What is going on there?
"Good night Cousin. I will talk to you in the morning. I have a few errands to run before I go to bed. Sleep as late as you like and come down to the kitchen and I will make us breakfast before we go play in the sand."
I walk over to kiss him on the cheek goodnight and I see a bag that's not mine on the floor. Eric must have grabbed it by mistake and it doesn't match his.
"Oh Claude this must be your bag. It's not mine and doesn't match Eric's luggage."
"No, that's your Cousin. I packed you a few extra things I thought you would need before you left. I have to run. Enjoy!"
And with a quick kiss goodbye he was gone. I grabbed the bag and began to unpack it. Why would he think I needed a new string bikini, flip flops, sunscreen, sunglasses and oh some new books. I am tossing all of this on to the chair and as I get to the bottom of the bag I scream.
"SWEET JESUS SHEPHERD OF JUDEA! I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!"
Eric walks over to see what I am in such a state about.
"Lover, what did Claude do now?"
"Eric, I can't even tell you. I am beyond embarrassed. He has no modesty and thinks that no one else does as well."
He walks over and takes the bag from my hands and begins taking the items out. What was Claude thinking when he packed me these things. Eric is laughing and I can feel how red my face is. A vibrator, a dildo, lube, soft porn for women, some other kind of rabbit looking vibrator and something I'm sure I don't even want to know what it is. Oh and of course, a brand new Fangtasia calendar. He is so going to pay for this.
"Eric I am going to get him for this! Damn perverted Fairy!"
"Lover perhaps he packed this before you decided to bring me along. He thought maybe you would be lonely."
I can see the smile playing on his lips! Damn them both! One is just as bad as the other.
"Don't you start on me too Viking! Put that stuff away! I feel like its staring at me. Oh! Please tell me there isn't anything else in there."
"I don't see anything my love but you may want to make sure he didn't replace your usual under things with vibrating panties."
Damn it. They are both going to get it for harassing me!
"Eric! Don't give him any ideas! You both are incorrigible."
He is laughing as he puts all of 'Claude's gifts' away. We finish up quickly and head back down to the first floor. We walk hand in hand to the deck area facing the ocean. I lean against the railing and look over the ocean. Eric is behind me with his arms wrapped around my waist. We have a little more than an hour or so before the sunrises. I feel so safe in his arms and there is nowhere else on earth I would rather be right now. I turn my head to his to claim his lips. We get caught in the moment and right now no one exists but us.
"Eric, tell me something I don't know about you. Something no one else would ever know, not even Pam."
"Come sit with me and I will tell you a story of my human life."
We settle into a large futon and I cuddle into his chest and he continues.
"I want to tell you of my parents. In my time people did not marry for love; they married for duty and to join the strongest clans together. My parents met when they were small children. My grandfather was the leader of our clan. He would have been considered a King today. He wanted my father to marry a woman that would be suited for his son, who would one day be King as well. He watched my parents over the years and knew that they were in love but he felt my mother's family wasn't wealthy enough for his son. One day my grandfather was out walking the grounds and he caught his foot in a trap set by his own men. He had wandered far enough from the village that his screams would be useless. It was my mother that came along and saved him. She helped to free him and got the others to help him back. It was then that he realized loyalty was worth far more than money. My mother knew that he did not care for her but helped him because she was loyal to him."
"My parents married and lived a very happy life for those times. My father adored her and doted on her constantly. They were always kissing and touching one another. Men at that time were not faithful to their wives. My father never strayed and never wanted another. He rarely called her by her name or addressed her privately as 'wife'. He had a specific name for her. When I was older I asked him why he addressed her as such. He explained to me that our lives were hard and that many would die young. He loved my mother very much but he knew that if she were to die young he would have to take another wife to help raise the children. He called her 'lover' because to him it was her and only her that would hold his heart and soul. It was possible that he might have to take another wife and bed another woman but he would never have another 'lover'. Until I met you I never fully understood what he meant by this. This, dear one is why I call you lover. It's the only way I can convey to you and myself what you mean to me. If I would have had to let you go, I would have but there would never be another to hold what you have; my heart and soul."
I cling to him tightly as I cry against his chest. I love him so much. The bond is flowing freely between us and I never thought I would feel his love so intensely.
"Thank you for sharing that with me. I love you so much"
He brushes my hair away from my face and carries me up to bed. He gently sets me down. He gathers a nightgown for me and starts to undress me. Surprisingly I don't feel uncomfortable being undressed by him after our long absence. He replaces my discarded clothes with my night gown and helps me settle into bed. He quickly undresses down to his silk boxers. We share a passionate kiss goodnight and his pulls me against him.
"Lover, always remember that no matter what has happened in our past or what is to come in our future that you and only you are my true 'lover'. I love you and will love you until I am no longer of this earth."
"I love you too."
I close my eyes to allow myself to drift off to sleep as he hums and strokes my cheek with his thumb.
