A/N: Hope you're enjoying the new book! I can't wait until new stories start to pop up, integrating D&G.
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Hmmm, apprehension again. What did he do now? Giving me the other box, I tear the paper off and I freeze in my tracks.
"Eric, this looks a lot like something that would be bought at Tiffany's."
"Oh, really? How strange…"
I hold the pretty blue box in my hands, reluctant to open it. I look at Eric, and he seems to be waiting.
"I told you I won't apologize for buying you something that you deserve and should have. But I know how it makes you feel, so in the future we will work something out when I'd like to give you a gift like this. But this one is non-negotiable. It's the first gift you've received from me that doesn't contain weapons of some sort. Now open it, or I will."
Now I'm nervous. Eric is very rich, but is he smart enough not to buy me the Hope diamond?
With trembling fingers I open the box and I'm surprised again. Sure, it must have cost a fortune, but it's very pretty and discreet. Damn, I love it.
"It's so beautiful, Eric! But you know I can't accept this."
"You can, and you will. I chose something small and discreet so you'd feel more comfortable. I really want you to have this Sookie, and I won't take it back."
"Oh, god. I don't know… Please don't tell me those are real…"
"You won't freak out on me if I tell you? I won't tell you what it costs at least. That would be bad form, but just so you know, it didn't even make a dent on my finances."
"Tell me… I should at least know what I'll be wearing if someone asks. Which I'm sure someone will. "
"Alright. The chain is platinum…"
"Ohhh…"
"That's a round sapphire in the middle…"
"Ohhh no…"
"And around the sapphire are round brilliant and marquise-cut diamonds."
"Eric… You're killing me."
"Oh, stop being such a baby. Here, I'll help you put it on."
He took out the necklace from its box and put it around my neck, and I held up my hair so he could close the clasp for me. I was still in shock.
"Eric, this one time I will accept this insane gift, because it's stunning and I want it. But don't do it again! Learn to say it with flowers. This falls under the kept woman clause. I can't afford these things myself and I will not prance around wearing expensive things that everyone will know that you gave me and I accepted. There are plenty of fakes out there that looks just as pretty without costing a fortune. But, thank you so much, really. It's incredibly beautiful and I love that you bought something discreet."
"You're welcome, dear one. I knew I'd get yelled at eventually, but I'm glad you like it."
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Eric's POV
Good thing I didn't mention the matching earrings I bought. I knew it'd be overkill if I brought them. Maybe I'll bring it up if we ever need to attend a formal event. She can at least lend them from me, right? I don't have to tell her they're hers…
And twice as expensive…
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Sookie's POV
I get up and walk to the mirror on the wall in the hallway. It's such a beautiful and pricey necklace, I'm not sure I dare wear it in public. Eric comes up to stand behind me. I never thought I'd stand in front of a mirror and see the reflection of a vampire, and myself wearing diamonds.
You are so beautiful…
"So are you."
"What?"
"Beautiful."
"Sookie, I didn't say anything."
Fuck…
Can you hear me?
I can't hide it this time. I already blew it.
"Yes."
"Can you hear anything now?"
.
.
.
"Uh, no?"
This is an interesting development. You can only hear thoughts I send to you. It has to be a conscious effort. Can you send something to me?
Is this a bad thing? Please, don't tell anyone…
"I don't hear anything. I just feel your apprehension. Are you sure you are sending your thoughts to me? This is your ability, not mine."
"I'm sure. Eric…"
"Don't worry, lover. This has to be kept secret of course, but this doesn't have to be a bad thing. And it might even just be me, as a result of the bond. And we exchanged blood again at my house. It could be that. We will need to test that. Pam can be trusted with this, but no one else. It's not like we go around deliberately broadcasting our thoughts, but you never know. I wonder why you can't send to me though."
We walk over to the couch again and I'm not feeling very steady.
"I've never been able to send to anyone. I'm just the receiver apparently. Eric, have you sent thoughts like that to me before? And why did you now?"
"It wasn't intentional. I was going to say it out loud but for some reason, I didn't. I've only deliberately sent thoughts to you once before and you didn't react, which was a good thing at the time."
"And you don't think this is a bad thing now?"
"No, I don't."
"I didn't react. That day in your office, because I knew it would have put me in danger if I had. But I heard you and I saw the memories and pictures you sent. So it's not because of the blood-bond, even if you're the only vampire I've ever heard."
"So you've heard me before. And only me. That's quite an amazing poker face you have, especially with the things I tested you with. Tell me what I sent to you."
"Ah, I saw you on the battle field, killing wolves and vamps and bears with a big sword. I saw you in the snow leading your men, and I heard the sounds of war. It was quite a grisly test. I also saw all the kinky things you wanted to do with me…"
"I wanted to make sure you would be visibly shocked if you had picked up anything. Clearly, I underestimated you. I'm impressed. And I still want to do those things with you."
"I'm kinda overwhelmed right now, Eric. I was so scared the first time I heard your thoughts. It's not supposed to happen."
"You don't have to be afraid anymore, lover. You have nothing to fear from me and I will protect you against anyone who wishes to harm you, regardless of the reason. We don't have to think about this anymore tonight. This isn't the end of the world, Sookie. We will perform a small test with Pam to determine if you can hear other vampires, and if there are any problems then we will deal with them as they arise. Now, let's just enjoy the rest of the night together."
"Argh! I didn't want this to happen. I never wanted to be able to read anyone's thoughts. You showed me pictures of disembowelled and decapitated people, Eric!"
"And I very much apologize. Would you like to take out your frustrations on me, lover?"
"Yeah? What do you have in mind, Big Spender?"
"I'm thinking you need to practice control and dirty talk. Seems like a good night for it. I'll start talking dirty, and you can vent your frustration by doing anything you want with me. And I do mean anything. So, any idea of how you want to make me beg? Do you want to tie me to the bed and ride my hard cock while I'm not allowed to touch your hot little body? Or do you want to stroke my huge dick and then refuse to let me cum until I'm so ready it hurts? Perhaps you would like to touch your luscious breasts and finger your hot wet pussy while I'm blindfolded and desperate to watch you and taste you?"
"I do want you blindfolded. But I want to watch you touch yourself. I want to see you cum."
I cannot believe I just said that! I get bold when I'm frustrated. Uh oh, he's smiling.
"Anything to please you, lover… A good starting point."
He takes my hand and we get up from the couch to move to my bedroom. I'm still worried, but I will try to forget it and just trust Eric. Or worry tomorrow.
"Do you have something we can use as a blindfold?"
"Hmm…"
I look through my drawers and find a black scarf I looked horrible in but never threw away for some reason.
"Excellent. Now you just get comfortable on the bed and feast your eyes."
I get on the bed and lean back against the headboard as Eric puts on the blindfold and ties it at the back of his head. He kinda reminds me of a blond Axl Rose whose bandana slipped down a little too far. He stands a few feet away and starts to slowly unbutton his dark wine colored shirt, one button at a time.
"Describe what I'm doing, lover."
"You're unbuttoning your shirt."
"Be detailed. I'll help you."
"I don't…I've never…"
"Just describe what you see, as far as you dare and using any words you like. You can stop anytime you want. This won't be the last time we practice verbs and adjectives. What am I doing now?"
"Ahh, you're unbuttoning the fourth button of your shirt, and you are licking your lips. Fifth button…"
"What do you see?"
"I see part of your chest, and I can see your trademark smirk and your fangs. You are taking your shirt off and I see the muscles of your chest, arms, and abdomen move while you are…caressing yourself."
"How am I caressing myself? What is it doing to me?"
"Umm, your hands are traveling over your collarbones and shoulders. One hand moves down your chest and towards your stomach. The other hand… You are licking the fingers. Now you are putting your middle finger in your mouth and sucking on it. I can see your tongue moving around it. You are undoing the button on your pants with your other hand."
"What are you feeling through the bond?"
"Amusement, and desire."
"What am I doing now, lover?"
"You are caressing your chest and you are touching your nipples with your wet fingertips."
"What do you see?"
"Your nipples are hard and your lips are parted."
"And?"
"What do you mean?"
"You see something else too, lover. You can say it."
"I…see… You have an erection."
"You bet I do. What am I doing now?"
"You are slowly pulling the zipper down on your pants. And you are actually wearing underwear. This is new."
"Makes for better striptease."
"You planned this?"
"Just the striptease part. The rest is up to you. Continue."
"You are turning around…and you are sliding your pants down your gorgeous red silk covered ass, and you are bending over to take your pants completely off."
"What do you like about my ass?"
"It's firm and fit, and yours. And mine…"
"Mmm, my ass is yours, huh? Well, since you like it so much… What am I doing now, lover?"
"I can't see. You still have your yummy ass towards me."
"Watch my arms. What do you think I'm doing?"
Oh, I know exactly what he's doing. His head is slightly tilted backwards and his underarms are slowly moving up and down in front of his abdomen. I can tell his boxers are stretched out in front of him.
"You are stroking yourself… And now you are bending over to take your underwear off."
He then turns around, completely naked.
"Tell me what you see now."
"You. Naked you. Stroking yourself."
"How do I look?"
"Strong. Hard. Magnificent."
He grins and continues his slow strokes with both of his hands, from the base of his shaft to the tip and sliding his thumb over it. Then he lets go with one hand while he holds onto the base of his shaft with the other. I see him use his thumb and forefinger to circle the sensitive tip of his cock, slowly and rhythmically. He touches the little bit of pre-cum on the head with his fingers and then continues to circle it.
"Are you watching, lover?"
"Huh? Yes."
He licks his lips and I can see that he has started to breathe by the rise and fall of his chest. His lips are parted and he holds his chin high.
Eric changes action again as the hand holding his shaft moves down to cup and massage his balls. He slides his cock on the web of skin between his thumb and forefinger.
"I can smell your arousal, my sweet. I hope you will let me taste it soon."
"You can if you're a good little Viking who does what he's told. You must obey your mate."
Yes, my breathing has picked up and I'm getting increasingly wet, which is a little disconcerting when you're not wearing any underwear to cover up all these signs.
Now I'm starting to hear low and deep rumblings coming from inside Eric's chest. He's getting closer to his release. He's a little rougher on his balls than I would have dared to do. Good to know, then. Massaging, cupping, squeezing, pulling, grazing…
"Sookie, I want you to start touching yourself too. Keep the dress on and just caress your soft skin wherever you can reach. Don't forget your perfect breasts and your hard nipples, or the inside of your thighs. Caress that soft skin with light fingers as you trail your hand further until you feel the wetness just begging to be played in."
Normally, I would not even consider pleasuring myself while someone else is anywhere near me. But Eric is blindfolded and seriously turning me on by touching himself like that. So I start to touch myself. I cup my eager breasts in my hands and pull on my very hard and erect nipples. My lips part as I start to pant and squirm on the bed.
"Good, Sookie."
"You know what I'm doing?"
"I can't see what you are doing, but I can hear you breathe and your movements on the bed."
"Oh."
But I can't stop. I trace my hands over the fabric of my dress and down to the inside of my thighs. Eric is stroking himself and groaning as my right hand reaches my damp folds. I watch him as he grabs his cock with his left hand and strokes upwards. Then he repeats the motion with his right hand, alternating between them. I'm starting to rub my clit just as Eric speeds up his tugging action and releases into his hand with a loud groan.
He keeps pumping through his orgasm while his other hand rests by his side. He looks so beautiful. So…
"Are you satisfied now, lover? Did you like to watch me cum?"
"Yes. That was intense. But I am in no way satisfied, so you may take off the blindfold now and help me out…"
Eric smiles wickedly and takes off the blindfold before reaching down to the floor for his shirt. He wipes himself off and stalks towards me where I sit on the bed.
"How would you like me to help you, Sookie? You seem to be doing quite well on your own."
"But it would take me a thousand years to do me as well as you could. I believe you wanted to fuck me in this dress."
He is such a bad influence on me! Or good, whatever.
"That I do. May I taste you now then?"
I scoot closer to the edge of the bed and part my legs wide.
"You may."
Eric goes down on his knees before me and lowers his head to my wet core.
I squirm under his touch and I cum in no time. He moves us up on the bed and enters me while I'm still riding out the waves of my climax and he soon has me coming again.
Then we shift position so that I'm riding him reversed cow-girl style while he sits on his knees. Holding onto my hips he helps me as I arch my back and rest my head on his shoulder, gyrating up and down his hard length until I feel him swell even further inside me. I contract my walls around him and rub my sensitive clit, and he yells out as we release together.
A while later we are lying in each other's arms, just talking and making love until I fall asleep.
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I had the night shift at the bar the next night. I didn't get to see Eric, but I got started on cleaning out the house and getting rid off some things that not even Jason could possibly want. There were a few of Gran's things that I wasn't sure I could throw out, so I gathered all of them together and selected my favorites. It worked out pretty well in the end.
Work went fine and Sam had gotten in contact with Sarah, who happily agreed to replace me as a waitress in two weeks. I was very relieved that she was still available to take the job and I was looking forward to meet her and make sure she was up to the task before I left.
The word that I was leaving town had also started to get around and I was getting all sorts of questions about where I would work and why I was leaving in the first place. It was very strange to hear people talk about me that had never seemed to be interested before. I even received bigger tips than usual. Part of me wondered if anyone would even start to miss the cow once the milk was gone, so to speak.
The next few days were filled with more work, and when I wasn't working I was either going through the house from top to bottom or seeing Eric while it was dark. I drove up to Shreveport when I had nights off and he came down to Bon Tempes on some nights.
Jason came by with his truck one day and took some things off my hands as well as drove some things away to the city dump for me.
One night, Eric and I went to the apartment he'd picked out for me so that I could take a look at it. He'd shown me pictures before now so I knew what to expect. It was very beautiful and though I'd miss the house, I knew it would be more convenient to live in an apartment as far as maintenance goes.
Everything looked very new and some things were already installed, such as a washer and dryer, microwave and dishwasher. The kitchen was very nice and fresh, painted in creamy whites and the living-room was spacious and homey. The main bedroom was also large and painted in a light blue color. The other bedroom was smaller and would make a great guestroom or whatever else I'd want to use it for. The bathroom was covered in deep lilac colored tile and Eric said the floor could be heated when it got cold.
I asked him if I would really be able to afford the rent, but he assured me that I would, especially with the extra income I will have for using my telepathic skills at the club.
Afterwards we went to Fangtasia for a while. I sat with him in his booth until Pam could take a break. Eric told her to come with us to the office.
"Alright. I'm here. What is so important that we couldn't discuss this in front of the blonde yoga instructor with the fabulous rack?"
"This won't take long, Pam. I just need you to project a thought to Sookie. With pictures. We need to test something."
I was sitting on the couch by now, feeling ill at ease, and Eric was sitting behind his desk with a look of focus on his face.
"She can read vampire minds now?"
"She can pick up thoughts that I deliberately send to her, but nothing else. We need to determine if it is only me. You, of course, are strictly forbidden to share any of this information with anyone. Even if this development only extends to me. Understood?"
"Yes, of course. Shall I begin?"
I nod to her and she smiles wickedly. She seems to contemplate something and then thoughts and images invade my mind once again. I burst out laughing hysterically.
"Oh my god!"
"Well, that worked."
"Pam, what on earth did you send to her?"
"You remember back in the powdered wig days, when you wore those green tights and fed off a drunk prostitute? And then you started dancing on the tables and singing folk songs in Russian?"
"I'll get you for this…"
"Well, gee, Eric. I apologize for fulfilling your request."
"What was wrong with sending a picture of a landscape and the sound of twittering birds? Look at her, she's having trouble breathing."
"Maybe you should have been more specific? So, this means I can send Sookie pictures and thoughts without you hearing them. Interesting…"
"But you will not impose your sordid thoughts on her unnecessarily. Especially if they involve me… Now that we have determined – Lover, get a hold of yourself, it's not that funny – now that we know she can hear projected thoughts from other vampires, this will be kept an absolute secret and not be used frivolously."
I was starting to get a hold of myself, tears streaming down my face, when I was sent pictures of Eric wearing embroidered Lederhosen. I started laughing again.
"Pam, what did you do now?!"
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Eric's POV
While Sookie was in Bon Tempes I continued to feed on the fangbangers. But it was not the same. Their blood was barely better than True Blood these days and even though I still got aroused from biting into their skin, which is always better than drinking from a bottle, I had little desire to fuck them. So I stopped that particular activity. I fed from the bangers sometimes, but some nights I actually just stuck to Royal Blended and the occasional jerk off. So I really do only want Sookie. And it's because of my feelings for her. Feelings can be so infuriating…
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Sookie's POV
Sam finally agreed to rent my house, saying it would be nice to have a little more privacy than what his trailer right next to the bar could offer.
I spotted Bill lurking around and watching me one night from a distance while I was getting home from work, but other than that, things were moving along quite smoothly.
Despite Eric's protests and various bribes and attempts at persuasion, I hired a crew of movers to help move some of my furniture and other things to the apartment. I just took the things I really needed and left the rest for Sam to use. I didn't want to ask Sam or Jason or Eric for help, so I used the latest increase in tips from the bar to hire the movers. There's a limit to how much help I'm willing to accept after all.
I'd gotten used to carrying around all the protection gear that Eric had bought me. I rarely even thought about them since they were barely noticeable on my keychain, and I did use the brush as an actual brush sometimes. I also received many compliments about my beautiful necklace, which of course led to questions as to who had bought it for me. I tried to limit the amount of information I gave to the people who had barely spoken to me before. I just said that I got the necklace from my boyfriend in Shreveport, and that no, I wasn't leaving Bon Tempes to move in with him. Exactly.
But pretty soon came my last shift at Merlotte's. I met Sarah and we worked side by side until it was time for me to go. I had already given Sam a key to the house and he had moved some of his things there from the trailer. I had promised to invite him and Jason to Shreveport to see my new place once I was properly settled in. We didn't say goodbye. I wasn't going that far away and it wasn't like we weren't going to see each other again. But I did get a coffee lover's gift basket from Sam and the rest of my colleagues as a house-warming gift.
Eventually I had to say 'see you later' to everyone and then I got in my car and drove towards my new home.
TBC
A/N: The necklace is from Tiffany's Victoria Collection if you want to check it out. And feel free to buy it for me…
Not many chapters left now…
