"Are you sure you are ready for this?"
Sitting in Pam's small but tastefully decorated office, I nodded my head slowly to her blunt question. Thankfully, Eric's progeny was on the door when I arrived at Fangtasia and waved me in immediately. I had been torn between standing in the line-up and going to the door. I was very afraid of getting to the door only to be told to join the queue; the line-up was starting to win out when Pam spotted me. She'd ushered me directly to her office.
"I think so," I replied. "I hope so."
"I don't know why he asked you here," Pam stated coolly. "He refused to tell me."
"I guess it really doesn't matter. I'll find out soon enough." I swallowed before looking her in the eyes. "I do have a favor to ask."
"What can I do for you?"
"Would you mind terribly if I met with Eric here, in your office?" I glanced away before turning my attention back to her. "It's just – that office – I don't know if I could go in there."
"Of course," she quickly confirmed. I think she was happy to be able to anything for me. "I will bring him to you when you are ready."
"No point putting it off anymore." I would rather have stuck needles through my eyeballs, but I knew I had to get this over with. "Give me a couple of minutes, and then tell him I'm waiting, will you?"
As she exited the office, I did something I'd been avoiding doing. Very carefully and cautiously, I checked the bond. I'd been avoiding it for days now, keeping it all but closed off in my head. The last time I had been weak enough to check in on him, I'd been utterly crushed by the lust I'd felt pulsing through his blood. He was clearly with another fangbanger. I tried to console myself with the idea it was only lust and none of the other feelings I always picked up from him when we'd made love. It didn't help much at all and I never checked the bond again.
I opened it now only because I'd been assured he could not feel me through the blood magic we shared. I intended to keep it open during our meeting. I hoped to at least get some insight into how he felt, even as I worried whether it might backfire on me.
I moved into the other chair so I could easily watch the door. I laid my purse and coat on the one I'd vacated. I didn't think he would try to sit next to me, but I was taking no chances. I calmed my heartbeat as best I could and counted to ten in my head. I could feel him getting closer. The door opened on eight and Eric walked in on the count of ten.
It was the blasted count of nine which destroyed all my preparation and rationality. Nestled snugly between the eight and the ten, the nine gave me an opportunity to not think, but just feel. I felt every cell of my body come alive when I knew he was right there, hidden barely out of sight by the wooden door.
The nine gave my heart time to swell with love; a love which was difficult to tamp down when the count of ten sounded in my head and the object of my currently unrequited love walked through the door. My eyes opened wide as I looked at him.
He didn't look particularly good. Oh, he was handsome as always, his beautiful face flawless. His clothing was simple, his normal fitted jeans and t-shirt, paired with black Blundstone's on his long feet, but he looked as sexy as always. It was more the tightness around his eyes, the paleness of his skin. His blue eyes blazed as he looked me over and I couldn't help my body's instinctual reaction.
My body may have wanted one thing, but my mind was still pissed off with him and my heart was still torn to shreds. It didn't take long for my treacherous hormones to back down in the face of my angry, wounded self.
"Eric," I greeted curtly. I nodded my head awkwardly.
"Sookie," he nodded back, but then paused. He looked unsure how to begin. I wasn't going to help him any. "Thank you for coming tonight."
"It was pretty short notice," I pointed out in a friendly tone. I was proud my voice remained even and calm. "But you are welcome."
The silence lengthened as Eric took a seat in Pam's chair. It was really too small for a man of his size. Any other point in time, I would have laughed at the absurdity of it, but I wasn't in the mood right now.
"Are you going to tell me what you want?" I asked when he did nothing but sit and stare at me. The bond told me nothing useful. He was attracted to me, I was sure, but beyond that there were so many swirling, conflicting, colliding emotions raging through him. I dialed up the hold I had on the bond. He was starting to overwhelm me and we were only just beginning.
"There are matters we need to discuss," he finally replied in a husky voice. I wondered if he, too, was becoming overwhelmed by the maelstrom going on inside him. He'd once told me how he didn't like having feelings. He was chin deep in them now.
"I'm sure there are," I replied pleasantly. It was my current game plan – remain calm, cool, collected and business-like at all costs. "What would you like to discuss first?"
His eyes narrowed as he looked at me. I'm sure he was expecting me to be angry and difficult. I took a small amount of perverse pleasure in knowing I was throwing him off.
"Your contract, for starters," he replied coolly. "We need to discuss the terms of your employment."
"Fine." I stared at him, waiting for him to continue. It was starting to feel like pulling teeth.
"Your contract is rather open ended pertaining to regular duties," he began. "There are no hours of employment detailed."
"We agreed, as did Mr. Cataliades, that it would be best to maintain a per-assignment schedule. If there is something you need me to do, you can give me the particulars, and the required notice period, and I will let you know if it is something I would do."
You know how people talk about having Kodak moments? This was one for me. The look on Eric's face was priceless, so incredulous. He looked like I had spoken in Swahili or something. It deserved to be captured on film. I wished I had a camera, and then thought better as I pictured this Eric's reaction.
"The wording of this contract favors you in almost every conceivable way," he remarked almost casually, even though I could feel the burning curiosity in his very veins. Did he know I could still feel him? I wondered idly. He couldn't feel it at all, which suggested he couldn't control his end, either.
"Yes, it does." I smiled briefly as the memory engulfed me. Another Eric, one who loved me, had remarked how wickedly inventive the final contract was in protecting me from every angle. He'd said Mr. Cataliades was a genius.
"Would you care to explain why I would sign a contract which keeps one of Area Five's most valuable assets mostly inaccessible?" I noticed he referred to me as an Area asset. It stung.
"You wanted to make sure I was as safe and protected as possible," I answered honestly. I kept my chin up and my head held high. "This contract does that, as best it can. Obviously, any work for the Queen would be considered a priority request. I trust I can still assume you are going to hold up your end of the contract when it comes to my safety?"
His wide shoulders twitched almost imperceptibly. He remained still and quiet for a moment before he answered. I think he may have been offended by my questioning his word.
"Your safety remains a paramount concern," he eventually stated. He still looked pissed off. "I will abide by the terms of your contact."
"Since that's settled, is there anything else?" I made a production of checking the time on my small gold watch. It had been Gran's watch, one she'd rarely worn, but had loved.
"I don't think it is quite settled. Would you be open to renegotiating terms?"
"I don't know what you have in mind, but I see no reason to alter it," I shrugged. I trusted Mr. Cataliades. I wasn't so sure I could trust this Eric.
"Pam tells me the intention was for you to work here a couple of evenings a week." His expression was inscrutable.
"It was something we'd spoken of," I admitted softly. "But it is not something I would be interested in anymore."
"Why not?" He questioned with a frown. "It seems an ideal use of your talents. Having you read the customers and human staff regularly would be useful."
"I am sure it would be," I remarked dryly. His pragmatic vampire side was emerging strongly. "I would consider reading the staff for you, and the customers occasionally, but I am not interested in making Fangtasia a regular part of my routine."
He stared at me for a couple of long, uncomfortable minutes. I refused to break the silence, nor did I break contact with his steely, determined gaze. I was not going to let him see me cower in any way. If I had any intention of one day reconciling with this vampire – and that was still up in the air at the moment – I was going to have to show him I was worth the effort.
"Because of me, correct?" His question was spoken shortly, but held a slippery, treacherous mountain of truth behind those few words.
"Yes." I chose not to elaborate. The question was simply too open-ended to answer concisely and not get bogged down with emotion. If he wanted specifics, he could damn well work for them.
"This situation is filled with landmines, isn't it?" he asked eventually, his words soft enough to possibly be meant for his ears only. It wasn't my fault his blood made it possible for me to hear them. I didn't respond either way and waited for him to continue. "The history we had does not need to interfere with a working relationship. I can stay out of your way while you work."
I laughed. I couldn't help it. The entire situation was ludicrous. All I could do was sit and laugh at the vampire before me. It was weird. He felt like a virtual stranger to me.
"It's not as simple as that. 'The history we had', as you say, does indeed play a role in my decision. Whether you remember it or not, we loved each other," I spoke proudly, but defiantly. "That may not matter to you, but it does to me. I'd have to be a masochistic fool to want to watch you move on without me night after night."
I said my piece and quieted myself again. If I said anymore, who knew what might come pouring out. I watched him carefully, though. His eyes were trained on the wall as he thought, presumably about what I'd meant. This was so much harder than I thought it would be.
"What you walked in on was unfortunate," he stupidly began with, "but it's not likely that situation will occur again."
"You really aren't thinking on your feet tonight, are you?" I muttered, earning me a cross glare from the vampire. "I'm a telepath. I see everything."
His surprise registered in his eyes as the widened at my words. I guess it wasn't something he'd bothered to think about. If I had my shields down to read the crowd, I would inevitably pick up far more than I cared to see or hear from his current and past conquests. The pain of knowing he was having sex with other women was nearly crippling. Knowing the specifics would be enough to drive me over the edge.
"I apologize," he said stiffly. "I did not think."
"Well, now you know. Any plans for me to spend that much time here were based on the idea it would give you and I more time together. That's not going to happen, so I see no reason to spend all my time here."
"Pam tells me you have quit your job. Were you relying on this one for an income?"
I laughed again. I was so incredibly relieved to be able to answer that one honestly. "No. My finances are fine."
He gave me a puzzled look. We never got around to telling Pam about my inheritance. Since she didn't know, it wasn't something she could have told him about me now.
"Is there anything else you needed to discuss?" He was just staring off into space again. This Eric was different from the others I'd known.
"Where were you last night?"
His question took me off guard. I didn't think he'd care, if truth were told. "I was out," I replied simply.
"That much I know," he retorted sharply. "What I asked was where you were."
"Out, like I said. With friends." My eyes narrowed as I looked at him. "Why do you care?"
His eyes met mine again. "You are an asset. Need I remind you that my Queen believes you are mine? If I need you, I need to be able to find you."
"As soon as I get a new cell phone, I will make sure you have the number." I got angry one night and my phone had an unfortunate accident. If you could call being thrown full force at a stone fireplace an accident, that is.
"What happened to your phone?"
"That is none of your business, just like where I was and what I do is your business. You have given up your right to know anything about me." I held my chin high and took a deep, steadying breath. I didn't want to fall apart now. "I will replace the phone tomorrow and forward you the number."
"Make sure you do," he replied somewhat irritably. I was irrationally pleased to be getting under his skin.
"Is there anything else?" I asked. Reaching out, I picked up my purse and held it expectantly as I looked at him. It was pretty clear I was done and wanting to leave.
"Pam is arranging to get the employees together. I would like you to read them and make sure we have nothing to worry about. Eventually we will arrange for the same with all of my businesses."
"Fine. I will set something up with Pam." I waited to see if he would say anything else, but when he remained silent, I stood and retrieved my coat from the chair. Folding it over one arm, I looked at the vampire I still thought I might love. "If that's all, it's getting late for me. I need to get home." I was still feeling the effects of the liquor from the night before. My hangover was still hanging around, it seemed.
"You wish to deal with Pam?" He sounded surprised.
"I would rather deal with Pam," I confirmed. "It would be easier for everyone. She's my friend."
"Yes, my child appears to be quite…fond of you." I smiled. I was fond of her, too. It was an unlikely friendship we were building, but it seemed to work for us.
I shrugged at him. I wasn't going to explain my relationship with her, Like so many other things, it wasn't his business anymore. "Like I said, we're friends."
"And my maker?"
"Godric? What about him?"
"He is also attached to you."
"Your point?" I asked tartly. I didn't understand what he was getting at.
"It's a curious situation to have so many vampires enamored of a human," he stated. "Even one with Fae blood."
"Then I guess I'm just lucky," I replied.
"Lucky?" He snorted. "You're lucky none ever drained you."
I could only gape at him. "How dare you! Pam and Godric are my friends. Neither has asked for, nor received my blood. You're the only one who ever drank from me."
"Then you're lucky I didn't drain you," he all but growled back at me. Before I could blink, Eric moved at vampire speed to stand before me. A strangely unsettled look floated around his blue eyes. I thought randomly about how I always loved the color of his eyes. My attention snapped to when he leaned menacingly over me. "Maybe I should bite you know and end it all. I would never have to think of you again. Thinking of you is an annoying habit, and one I want to be rid of."
My heart was near to thudding straight out of my chest. I stood motionlessly, letting him work through whatever the hell was in his head. It's not like I had a choice. Running from a vampire is never a good idea. As I mulled my scant options, I was aware of the distant part of my brain registering the fact that he thought of me. He might be annoyed by it, but he still thought about me enough to call it a habit.
"Or maybe I should just fuck you and find out for myself what's so special about you. We've fucked before, haven't we?"
He was out of his mind, but then again, so was I. It's the only explanation I can give for goading him the way I did.
"Eric," I said, "we had sex in every position I could imagine, and some I couldn't. We had sex in every room in the house, and we had sex outdoors. You said it was the best you've ever had. Too bad you can't remember it," I concluded with a modest smile.
Eric looked like I'd hit him in the forehead with a mallet. For all of thirty seconds his reaction was completely gratifying.
Then it all just went to hell.
Fans of the series will recognize that last scene from the books, twisted just enough to fit here.
Hope you liked it!
