I do not own any True Blood characters, just my own messes. And this chapter…well, it got a bit away from me. But oh well. Here it is.
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Carli woke up the next morning, slowly stretching as she moaned. She felt the hand resting against her hip, and it gripped her tighter as she moved. She felt the ache of her muscles as she stretched, and she winced with a small smile. She felt the arm pulling her closer to the body, and she was pressed against Eric shortly. "Morning." Carli said softly, feeling the hint of guilt that was always there. She wanted to stay away from Eric, but he seemed to draw her to him with some power and she always ended up in bed with him.
"Good morning." Eric said softly into her ear, before kissing the nape of her neck below it. She shuddered and he laughed softly. It went through her body and she took a deep breath. He slid his hand gently over her stomach and up to her breasts and she moaned as her nipples hardened against his fingers. "I think I like you're not working anymore." Eric suggested, pinching slowly as she arched against him. He hardened behind her and she slid her hand behind her to cup him with it. He pinched harder and she cried out as she felt the heat spreading over her body and inside of her, and he nipped at her neck gently. "We went at it pretty hard last night. Are you up to this?"
"Yes. I want you.' Carli breathed through her words, and found herself on her back with him between her legs and his mouth on her nipples. She slid her hands through his hair and pulled him closer as she cried out with the rough bites and sucking, feeling the ache still from the night before. He slid further between her legs as he entered her, lifting himself above her enough to make her look. She watched the line of his body as he thrust in and out of her, and she lifted her eyes to his gaze that was hard on her face. She moaned as he went deeper and harder and soon he was pulling her legs up against his torso as he slammed against her damp thighs, and she screamed weakly as the orgasm hit her and flooded over him. He followed as her muscles contracted and she watched as he fell to his knees and over her stomach, stroking his hair again. Her desire for him seemed endless, and the fought the idea that it was ending very soon. She didn't know anything but him right now and the idea of it being nonexistent made her heart beat faster, and he lifted his head to look at her curiously.
"Shouldn't your heart be slowing?" Eric asked her, and she smiled wanly. "Are you hungry, Carli? I could make something or we could go get something."
"You don't work?" Carli asked, and he kissed her flat stomach gently.
"I took it off, being that it is the last one together." Eric told her, and she looked at him with big eyes.
"Oh." Carli replied, and turned her head to the side. She dropped her hands to the mattress and felt him turn her face towards him. "We can do whatever."
Eric seemed to search her face, and then got up. "I am going to take a shower. Want to join me?" He smiled a very seductive smile and she laughed softly. She did, and he washed her hair slowly and using deep massage, and she pressed against the shower wall and leaned back with a sigh. Once she had conditioner in, she also washed his and then his back. Carli took in his perfect body and traced it with her nails as the soap ran down it. He winced and shot her a look over his shoulder. They finished up somehow without sex and he remained in the bathroom longer than she did, and Carli pulled on the dress from the day before and walked out to her purse. Her phone was ringing and she pulled it out to glance at it curiously. She saw Ryan's name and her heart sank, and she walked out onto the balcony before answering it. The noise of the city soothed her and she stared down as she hit the button. "Hey, you. You're up early."
"Promo stuff, as always." Ryan told her, and she bit her lip. "hey, did you buy your ticket home yet?"
The question hit her hard, and she struggled to speak. "I was actually going to try and find something today. We finished the album yesterday."
"I heard, and I also heard it is going to be really good." Ryan told her, and she thanked him. "I had an alternative option for you before you get that flight."
"What might that be?" Carli asked him, taking a deep breath.
"We'll be there in three days, maybe four. Hang out and come to our show, and then just cruise home on the bus with us. It would give us some time together and the guys said that you don't have anything going on to rush home to." Ryan suggested, and the idea hit her from every angle that it could/ She glanced behind her to see Eric standing silently in the doorway, and she stared at his face for a long moment.
"Yeah. Why not?" Carli agreed, and closed her eyes. She would have a handful of nights left with him, but she would be leaving after that. Was it worth it to drag it out?
"Good, baby. I miss you so much and I want to see you. Hold onto the hotel room and I will take care of that when I get there. I want to have one night alone with you so we can catch up." The idea made her stomach turn and she clutched the railing. How could she pretend that all was normal? She managed a short conversation before he was off to do more radio press, and she hung up and stared out at the city for a long moment.
"I think I have good news, at least a little." Carli told Eric behind her, without even turning around. She knew that he had heard her tell Ryan that she loved him and that she would see him soon.
"And that would be?" Eric asked her, coming up and standing next to her. She could not look at him as she slid her hand nervously along the railing.
"I am here for a few more days, if it means anything." Carli said slowly, and she felt him slide his hand through her damp hair. "Maybe it shouldn't?"
"So we have more time?" Eric asked, and she nodded. "Then what?"
"I leave for home with the band on their bus." Carli said after a long moment, and finally glanced at him. His gaze was steady on her, and she searched his face.
"Is that when you will tell him?" Eric asked her, and she frowned at him. "Perhaps you will just go and pretend this never happened."
"How do I tell him all of this?" Carli asked, and he pulled her close to him. "I have no idea how to hide it." She felt him tilt her head up and he kissed her hard, and she slid her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. "We need to hide this. We need to hide this as best we can. It would destroy him."
"I always promised you discretion." Eric reminded her, and she leaned against his chest and took a deep breath. They ended up leaving soon, keeping their appearance casual and carefree as she dashed into the hotel to change into something and meet him at a diner for breakfast. She always sat across from him at meals, and had from the start. She would often kick her foot across his if she could without anyone noticing, and he would caress her as they talked. She never touched him although it grew harder as the days went on. The nights were when she made up for that, and they would spend hours in his bed making love and touching each other. She was counting the moments until they would part, and the last day was there all too soon. She woke up in his room, realizing that one more night would be it. She moved over to hold him and he slid a hand into her hair as she kissed his bare chest.
"Good morning." Carli told him, and closed her eyes. She didn't know what to say to him beyond that, wanting to hide her feelings.
"Hey, beautiful." Eric greeted her, and she inhaled his scent as she tried to memorize it. "What would you like to do today?"
"I don't know." Carli replied, trying to sound casual. She slid her hand down his body and stroked him, meeting his eyes as he gazed at her. "Just hang out anywhere."
He pulled her close to him and kissed her with lingering lips, and she felt the jolt go through her. "I could spend all day here with you. I want to memorize every curve of your body and your taste on my lips."
"Eric." Carli said weakly, and blinked her eyes.
"I am being honest, Carli." Eric told her, and she stared at him as he pressed his body against her. "But we will play this your way. How about lunch today?"
"Okay." Carli agreed, and he dipped his head down to kiss her again. They took a shower and made love as he pressed her against the wall, and she found herself memorizing the feel of him inside of her. She cried out as he thrust deeply and felt herself releasing as she tried to grip his wet skin. He thrust one more time deeply, and she felt him shudder as he came.
"I am doing that many more times today." Eric murmured into her ear, and she slid her arms around him as he kissed her neck. They finished cleaning up and got dressed, and walked separately outside to take separate cabs to a place on the water. She was pleased with the corner table outside alone and they sipped a pitcher of fruity sangria as they nibbled on Mexican food. They chatted casually, but the way she slid her feet into his lap and they way their eyes met showed more. He stroked the tops of her bare feet slowly, and she sipped her drink. She as scared to leave him, and also scared to stay. Her real life was so calm and comfortable, and she knew where she was in it. She laughed at his jokes and nibbled on her food, but she was actually living every moment with him over inside of her mind. They left a few hours later when the pitcher was finished and she was wobbly, and he went inside to pay as she got her things together. When he came back, she stood and slid her feet back into her sandals and stood up on her toes to kiss him firmly on the lips. Carli pulled away to see the curious stare he was giving her, and frowned. "You have never done that before in public. You didn't even think about it. You just did it."
Carli took a quick glance around and blushed. "I suppose I did." She had forgotten herself for just a moment, and it could not happen again. She walked ahead of him, and they went to the street and walked side by side without touching, as always. Eric's phone chimed, and he picked it up and read the text and laughed. "Hmmmm?"
"Pamela is ordering us over for a dinner party tonight." Eric told her, and she bit her lip.
"Maybe you should take a real date, Eric." Carli suggested, and felt his gaze on her. "You deserve to be with someone that can be free with you and actually touch you."
"You did just that back there." Eric told her, and she glanced up at him. "I want to take you. I am sleeping with you right now, and I want to spend the evening with you and do just that at the end of it."
"I don't know if it is a good idea." Carli told him, and looked back down. "Maybe we should just end this early."
"I don't want to end it at all." Eric muttered, and she stopped and stared at him. "I love you, Carli. I want you to stay in this city with me." They were on a semi busy street facing each other, and they looked like any other non involved pair on the street. They didn't look like he was saying what he was saying. Tears filled her eyes and she blinked as she glanced down. She started to walk away by herself and he followed after a moment. "Carli?"
"No. You can't talk like that." She struggled with her words, and refused to look at him. "It was just sex, Eric."
"I see more than that in your eyes." Eric accused her, and she shot a cruel look at him. "I see what I feel." She stumbled as she walked, and he caught her as she nearly tumbled to the ground. He gathered her into his arms, their lips inches apart, and Carli stared at him. He moved to close the distance, and she pulled back roughly. "Fuck, Carli. Don't do this."
She regained her balance and stood up as she glanced around quickly. "I can't, Eric. I have a whole life there and I know that life."
"You don't need to give that up. You can live here and still do all of that, aside from him."
"He is a part of all of it. Don't you see? I have known him as long as the band has been together, and it could all fall apart if I just leave." Carli said, and he glared at her. "You can't love me. It's been….what? A week?"
"It is the beginning of that, then. It is more than just fucking." He stepped closer to her, and she fought the desire to throw herself into his arms and hide in the warmth and the strength of them. She knew that they were on a very public street and she dimly heard the noises around her, but he was the only thing that she could see, or focus on.
"I can't do what I want to do right now." Carli told him simply, and he stared at her. "I can't just be here, with you."
"I know you feel something." Eric told her, moving just in front of her.
"We cannot do this here." Carli told him and looked up at him.
"Always worried about appearances." Eric hissed at her, and she stared at him with wide eyes.
"You got into this knowing what it was all about. I gave you what I could." Carli said, and blinked with the tears that flooded her eyes. "Damn it!" She walked away and looked for a cab, needing to not see his face right now. She threw up her and and got into the cab before she could change her mind, and told him her hotel. Eric did not know here room number and she fled to the emptiness of it and slammed the door. Ryan would be there the next day. Safe Ryan. He had never made her scream the way Eric did, but he knew her inside and out and was there for her. She felt the tears threatening to fall, and she slid to the floor against the wall and cried into her hands. She cried for Eric, and she cried for Ryan, and lastly she cried for herself and her mistake. She knew that a part of her would never fully recover from what Eric had made her feel, but she needed to walk away. Carli felt the tears subsiding, and she got up and took a deep breath. She looked around the room and walked to the window to gaze down at the city, and her phone sang to her. She looked at her purse on the floor and slowly walked over to it. Eric's name flashed across the screen and she made a mental note to erase it by the following day. She made a mental note to cover all of her tracks so Ryan would never know that she had given herself to this affair so completely. She hit ignore and stared at it as it rang again. She texted him and asked him to please stop. He sent back a reply telling her what time the dinner started and the address, and that he really wanted her there. She didn't respond and set the phone on the bed and went to take a very hot shower, standing under the water until it ran cold. This hotel had great hot water. She stepped out and dried off, pulling on a robe and sitting on her bed with her guitar.
Carli strummed and sang, trying to work out her thoughts. She closed her eyes and felt the words as she sang them, and things began to shape in her head. She opened her eyes and looked at the window, and got up and slowly pulled on jeans and a shirt with the same sandals. Carli grabbed her purse and her phone and walked outside, looking around as she walked. She found the sign that she needed and walked in with a smile. Carli was pampered and massaged for a few hours, and also came out of the salon with a fresh pedicure and a manicure. She had her hair coloured a bright red and she shook it as she walked outside, enjoying the change. Blonde had been fun, but three months of any colour was enough. She grabbed a cab to another part of the city and left there with a couple of bags and went back to the hotel. Carli set them down and took a deep breath, pulling stuff out of bags and going into the bathroom.
Carli emerged a half hour later, her make up done in reds and corals and her hair straight against her head. She wore a strapless dress of deep orange that loosened just under her breasts and hung to her mid thigh, teaming it with black heels. She threw a black throw over her shoulders and grabbed a coat for later, and walked out of the hotel. Carli grabbed a cab and told him the address that was on her text and closed her eyes nervously as she drove. She almost did not know what she was doing, but she wanted to see him again. She wanted closure. Fighting on the streets of New York was no ending for anything, and she felt like she had to fix it. She felt the cab stop, and looked up at the big brownstone building that she was parked in front of before getting out and paying him. She stood on the sidewalk a moment before walking inside and informing the doorman her destination, and he pointed her the right way. Carli walked gracefully to the elevator and took it to the tenth floor, and got out as she glanced around. She found the door and stood there, suddenly feeling nervous and cold. The door opened and a couple walked out, and she looked up in surprise as she stood facing Pam. The blond took her in for a moment, her eyes roaming her body and then resting on her face. "New color?" Pam asked, her eyes on the hair.
"Mmmm hmmm." Carli replied, and Pam raised an eyebrow.
"Well, well. Here he was fretting that you would not show. Not only did you show, but you came looking very good." Pam told her, and Carli stared at her. "He will be pleased." She opened the door and gestured for Carli to come in, and she did nervously. She glanced around the large apartment, and her eyes rested on Eric on the balcony far way talking with a woman as he slowly ate. He was listening to her, but seemed distracted in his face. Carli watched him, and Pam looked at her with a curious gaze. "Would you like a drink?"
The words shook Carli back into reality, and she followed Pam to the bar in the corner. She got a cosmo, and rested against the shiny wood for a moment as she took in the room. "This is really nice." Carli finally said, and turned her gaze to Pam. She saw the blond eyeing her breasts that were pressed tight against the material, and saw the hunger in them.
"Thank you. I call it home." Pam said, raising her eyes to Carli's after a moment. "I always have an urge to pull those dresses down just to have a look. I am sure you are lovely underneath. He does not kiss and tell, unfortunately."
"I will have to thank him for that." Carli remarked, gazing at him again. He was stunning in a casual black suit and a blue tie against the black shirt made his face pop. He still had not seen her and she bit her red glossed lip thoughtfully.
"Maybe I will find out for myself." Pam said suggestively, and Carli gazed at her. She has been hot on by women before, but Pam was very honest about it. Carli had never chosen to do it, but she smiled at Pam's effort.
"I suppose we shall see." Carli said, when Eric looked around the room and rested his gaze on her. He looked surprised and he murmured something to the woman and stood up.
"Carli?" Eric asked, his eyes taking in her hair and dress before resting on her face.
"Hello." Carli said softly, meeting his blue eyes as her heart pounded. She wished then that she had not come, and she glanced towards the door.
"Don't leave." Eric told her, and she glanced back at him. "You just look so different." He reached out to touch her hair, and then dropped his hand at the last moment. "Is this what you normally do after a fight on the street?"
"It is what I normally do anytime of the day. I get impulsive, and I was blond for a few months." Carli told him, her eyes hard as she spoke. She refused to give him the satisfaction of thinking she did anything for him.
"But the dress is for me? The nails?" Eric said softly, moving to the spot Pam had been standing in and standing close to her. She picked up on his heat and longed to move close to him, and she looked down. She did think of what he would say about the dress and she did know that he liked red nails from previous conversation, and she felt his eyes pass over her again. She looked up to see them on her breasts and the hungry look that passed through them made her breath catch in her throat. "I wonder if I should apologize for today, but I meant what I told you."
"I know." carli responded, sipping her drink. She finished it and got another, and she and Eric went to the balcony to talk as they looked over the city. She never touched him, but she felt the current between them. They talked of casual things as she sipped drinks and nibbled on a plate of food, and then mingled with other guests. The crowd was not really the kind to know her and she surprised a few of them with what she did for a living. She enjoyed herself as the drinks hit her and the tension eased, and soon the house was emptying out as she leaned back in a chair on the dim balcony. Her head was a bit dizzy and she felt someone sit in front of her as she looked up, and she met Eric's gaze. He pulled her to a cushioned seat and moved in front of her as he stroked her hair back and trailed his hand down her neck. She moaned and stared at him as she leaned into him, and their lips met eagerly. She tasted wine on his lips and she devoured them as she kissed him, and he slid his hands into her hair.
"You feel so good." Eric murmured to her, and she slid closer to him. One hand trailed down to her breasts and she gasped as he pinched one of her hard nipples. Her head spun again and she lost herself as his tongue met hers hungrily. She felt the breeze hit her as he slid down her top, and she opened her eyes widely. "We are all alone, aside from Pam who is inside." Eric assured her, lifting her to move his lips over her sensitive nipples. She cried out as she felt the dull pain of his teeth as he drew them into his mouth and he slid his hand down over her ass. "I was worried I would never touch you again, Carli." Eric murmured, before licking her throbbing nipple again as she moaned. She felt someone behind her, but she forgot to look as he bit her again and she cried out. A hand tugged on her hair and she felt lips on her neck as she struggled. The hand slid down and under her dress, trailing over her bare ass she felt him suck her hard into his mouth. It moved to the front and just over her damp thong, and she bucked against it despite her panic. She was throbbing and tight and she cried out with relief as the finger slid under the material and over her wet clit. Carli felt Eric hold her steady with one hand on her hip and he licked her nipple hard and slow as she cried out with the touch between her legs. The hand in her hair moved around to her free nipple and pinched hard, and she bucked down as she felt the first gush. The finger moved rapidly over her then and she leaned back against Pam as she felt the pressure building inside of her. She cried out hoarsely as she shuddered with her orgasm and the woman slid her finger easily around her wet folds. Eric pulled her close again and she breathed deeply as he kissed her lips and slid his tongue into her mouth. "I want to watch her lick you, and I want to watch you come." Carli shook her head and he kissed her harder. "I will fuck you hard afterwards, carli. You know I love the feeling of your pussy after oral sex." She still had Pam teasing her and she cried out as she slid a finger inside of her. She moved back and spread her legs and Eric spun her around and pulled her against him as Pam removed her thong. Pam let him stroke her and knead her breasts and she moved between her legs, and the first stroke of her tongue made Carli throw her head back and Eric covered her lips with his. He pinched and squeezed and she felt hands part her legs further as Pam sucked her clit into her mouth. Carli pushed against her and cried out as the woman expertly teased her and built up her orgasm. Carli moaned with every flick of her tongue and Eric kissed her as she began to writhe uncontrollably. She felt it hit her all at once, in every nerve ending that she had and flooding her as she cried out. Pam sucked her all the way in to lengthen the sensation and Carli gripped Eric as she slid her arms behind her. She felt one last long lick and she collapsed against him as she took several deep breaths. Pam moved at some point and she felt Eric's tip at her opening, and she cried out as he entered her slowly. He groaned at her tight spasms and she stared at him.
"Eric." Carli moaned, and he stared at her as he thrust himself inside of her. She cried out as she spasmed around him and he thrust deeper and harder, and soon she was holding back from screaming his name. He grunted her name as he finally shuddered and came, and she leaned back as she took a deep breath. The alcohol hit her and she closed her eyes as the world spun and her body tensed and tightened. She held him close as she recovered, and he kissed her lips and her breasts as he moved over her body. She opened her eyes awhile later, and looked around at the sky around them over the tall balcony and she cried out as she sat up. Carli covered herself with the dress and grabbed her thong and Eric gazed curiously at her/ "I have to get out of here."
"What is it?" Eric asked her, and she stared around her. "It is very private here, and nobody saw anything." He stood with her as she stared around her. "Come to my place with me and let's talk." She stared silently at him as he took her hand and walked through the quiet apartment, happy not to have seen Pam. "She had someone ready and waiting, knowing Pam. Carli blinked her eyes and slid her underwear into her purse as she felt the horror hit her. She numbly walked to the car with him and got in, staring forward. Eric touched her face when he got into his side, and she looked at him. "Carli, what is it?"
"I don't know who I am anymore." Carli told him, and shook her head.
"It was just a moment, Carli. You enjoyed it, and you came. That was the real point of it all, and it turned me on more than you know." Eric simplified it for her, and she stared at him.
"I had a fucking threesome on a patio, Eric. More or less." Carli told him, and he gave her a surprised look.
"You seemed into it. You didn't fight it." Eric murmured and she sighed. "You came so hard."
"It felt fine, but it is so complicated and not me. Not me at all." Her voice was dim and she leaned back and curled her arms over her body. He gave up and drove quietly, pulling into his garage. He got out and went to her side, and pulled her out by the hand. She let him and walked slowly with her head down and he unlocked his door and led her in. Carli went to the couch and sat down, and he set his keys down and pulled her to him. She slid into his arms stiffly and he loved to look into her face.
"I love you, Carli. I thought it was turning you on." Eric explained to her, and she stared at him. "I'm losing you. I can see the distance in your eyes, and we were so on tonight."
"It is over anyway, Eric. Whether it is tonight or tomorrow does not matter too/ much." Carli said, and he gripped her face and stared at her.
"I love you. I do not want you to go." She glanced into his eyes and saw that they were shiny, just a little. They were deep blue and emotional and she gave him a puzzled look. Part of her felt passed off to Pam tonight by him, and she was not sure what to make of it.
"But you needed to watch me with someone else tonight." Carli spoke her thoughts slowly, and he stared at her as his eyes shifted to a lighter blue. "I might be acting stupid, but was I not enough?" She shook her head. "It is over anyway. It does not matter."
"Stay with me." Eric told her, and she looked away. He pulled her closer and leaned in to kiss her, and she tried to move away. "I will show you right now that you are enough." He pulled her onto his lap as she struggled, and kissed her again. She tried to struggle but the heat of the kiss got to her and she slid her arms around his neck and met his tongue with her own. She moved up on his lap to unbutton his pants and he slid her dress down her body, and they both moved to take everything off. Eric kissed her and she felt something other than lust in his lips, and he moved to her neck. They made love on the couch as she sat in his lap, but she felt a tenderness that she had not felt on that patio. She rested her head on his chest after, fighting sleep as she struggled to keep her eyelids open. Sleep overtook her and she slumped against him slowly as he stroked her back.