AN: Thank you so much for all your reviews! You guys are truly amazing! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
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Thanks to my beta seastarr08 :D
Chapter 6: I'm Down On My Knees
Bill just got a bit more interesting. Weres. I returned to Fangtasia for close, leaning back in my seat, trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Weres had taken Bill. From the scent, they weren't any Weres from my area. Lost in thought, considering the outside force that would want something from Bill, I ignored Pam when she wandered in.
"Did things go with Sookie?" she raised a brow.
"After the stunt you pulled?" I glanced up at her. "It seems that Bill Compton is missing and was taken by Weres."
"I heard Ginger talking to one of the other waitresses, she thinks Chow got her pregnant," Pam rolled her eyes. I smiled at my child's complete lack of interest.
"I promised Sookie I would help."
"We should hire smarter waitresses."
"Are you volunteering?"
"What was that you said about Bill?"
"I'll see her tomorrow night, try and get more...information, for now, I am still figuring it out." I gestured to the seat and she crossed her legs into the chair. "My focus will be trying to figure out this situation with Bill," I mused.
"Sounds exciting," Pam said dryly. "Yvetta waited for you to return."
I made a snort of indignation, far more interested in what was going on in my area underneath my nose then another round with the human dancer.
I had more information now. Russell Edgington had Bill. I stopped off at Fangtasia after leaving Sookie's. I had to call Alcide Herveaux and...I landed in my parking lot. The bar had been closed but...I pulled out my phone and read the text from Pam. Great. I walked through the back and saw the Queen's guard. She must have found out about Bill. I nodded at the guard briskly and headed out into the bar. There she was in a full length fur coat. Sophie-Anne was anything but subtle.
"I've heard many good things about this bar, Eric," Sophie-Anne said. She turned around and I gave her a harsh look. I was getting closer to figuring out what she had planned, and I was losing respect for my Queen as each day passed.
"I am a fair proprietor."
She arched a brow. "Except when it comes to your orders." In a flash she was on me, pinning me against the wall. Instantly, our fangs were out and we were growling lowly at one another. "I asked you to take care of Bill Compton," she hissed.
"With all due respect, your majesty, I wasn't aware of a threat to him," I said, strained. "Not so soon."
"This is on you. If you do not have him back in Bon Temps within three days, your fangs are mine," she growled, and let go of me, straightening her coat. "Don't treat this as an idle threat, Eric."
"I'm curious, your majesty," I found myself saying before I could stop. I was too furious, to not say it. "Why is Bill Compton in my area?"
Her mouth twisted into an unpleasant expression, her eyes narrow and sharp. She looked like a snake, coiled, ready to strike. "Remember your place, Viking. You're a beautiful man." She stroked my cheek and I hated her the more for touching me without my inviting it. "You're a strong vampire, but this alpha male posturing with William over a foolish girl is embarrassing." She brought her lips to mine and touched my fangs, a threat, one I had to remember. My Queen was right, as much as I hated her... "Remember what I said about her. She seems to cause nothing but trouble for vampires, doesn't she?" She brought her hand down the front of my chest and straightened my jacket. I nodded mutely.
She gave me a final look and she disappeared through the employee entrance to her awaiting guard. I stilled, listening carefully until I was sure the perimeter clear and I pulled out my cell phone. I waited a moment, until the phone on the other end was answered.
"Were, I am calling in that favour," I said briskly. I glanced around the bar to see that it was closed properly. Good, everything in working order. Alcide Herveaux sighed on the other line.
"When?" he asked gruffly. I was sure I had woken him up. I smirked, delighted that I could irritate a Were in any way. Really any form of shifter, for the matter.
"First thing in the morning, so, in two and a half hours I want you to head to..." I gave him Sookie's address and directions to her house. "You should bring your crew too. She has to have her whole house cleaned and repaired."
"Cleaned? We're not a cleaning service, Eric," he said shortly.
"There are other requirements, as you will see when you arrive. I will pay every last expense and you will not accept any money she may offer in exchange or however much she may complain – also, you'll be taking her to Jackson. You will treat her with the amount of respect she deserves and if I hear that you are untoward with her in any way I will own your skin."
"Who is she?"
"Sookie Stackhouse." I hated how fluidly that fell from my tongue, how easy it was and how much I thrilled at the sound of her name, even from my own lips. Sophie-Anne was right, Sookie caused nothing but trouble.
"Right," I heard him sigh. "So, you want me to have a crew at her house while I take her to Jackson. Is she in need of a vacation?"
"Were, I am putting her life in your hands. If any harm comes to her, there will be serious consequences." I growled, needing to get my point across. "I will be nearby at night, I expect nothing but your protection and your debt owed." I finished. I didn't want any...funny business transpiring between him and Sookie. He was an attractive man, if you liked the smell of dog, and I would not have him thinking he could pursue my telepath in anyway.
My telepath. I rolled my eyes at myself and finished up with Alcide, ending the call and heading back home.
This was the situation I laid out in my head as I flew through the night. Bill was working for the Queen and from what I gathered it had to do with Sookie. The Queen discouraged me from pursuing her. She told me not to have her blood, and I had. She warned me against getting close with her. She seemed to treasure Bill a lot more than a man of his rank should be valued. She wanted me to look out for him, so he was in my area, under my protection and my responsibility. Sophie-Anne did not want me to know of her, now obvious, edict. Why? I was still unsure. Sookie's telepathy – at the moment – was at my disposal, and I saw it as always being mine, since it was part of her package. With our new attachment, it seemed I was drifting too close for the Queen and Bill's comfort. He was sent to seduce her, perhaps?
I felt a flash of fury at what this would do to Sookie and I wondered – why should I care? A smart vampire, a vampire that's survived a thousand years would back out now, retrieve Bill and stay out of his Queen's way. And in that moment, that's what I decided to do.
Russell Edgington. That smarmy bastard. What in the hell would he want with Bill? As much as I didn't care why, I was curious. Lorena was no doubt involved. Perhaps Bill's relationship with the Queen, which is suspicious as is, was the reason for Russell's investigation? He must be wondering why Bill left his area abruptly to work for another Queen and perhaps he came across Sookie while researching.
Sookie. It all seemed to come back to her.
Was this all one ridiculous struggle for the small-town waitress?
Bill was being used as collateral for the Queen, to lure Sookie? Was I setting the telepath up, unknowingly, leading her to a trap?
I would definitely be close by throughout this trip. I found myself unable to trust the Were to keep her safe. She was rather volatile and illogical in...tense situations, I had noticed. Too emotional. She really needed to properly learn a thing or two about the supernatural world. Obviously, Bill had purposely kept her in the dark in important matters and it would lead to her incapacitation if she wasn't careful – which would explain his overbearing, ridiculous possessiveness. What a joke. Bill Compton was a sorry excuse for a man, an alright vampire, but truly pathetic.
He was keeping secrets from Sookie, he was hiding his true personality and –
I stopped myself from thinking about Sookie: she sucked me into a deeper spiral of twisted discrepancies that would probably lead me into situations I had no reason to be in. She wasn't much of my concern. I could release her from my retinue, let go and she could be the Queen's just like she was always intended to be.
And yet, despite all of that, I found myself wondering about her needs and wants. I had used humans to my advantage for centuries and now all of a sudden I was fretting over that of a Southern girl. I let out a string of curses as I slowly admitted my defeat.
How much longer could I fight this?
I had to warn her – of what? Of who? I reminded myself that she had to know about Bill's initial betrayal. If she knew I knew and I didn't tell her – it doesn't matter what I know. My opinion, my reveal would hardly do her any good. Perhaps, she would think better of me. Perhaps, it would manoeuvre her closer, be more mine than Bill or the Queen could ever hope for. She already wanted me – she denied it, ignoring her doubt of Bill and her suspicion of his absence – I felt it in her blood as it was a part of me just as I was a part of her.
Our sex was unforgettable. I was inside her and there were no more questions. She kissed me and my attachment made sense...
I shuddered when I touched down in front of my home. I was becoming a worrisome, irrational fool for Sookie Stackhouse.
And I left her for one day. I returned to her blood, which called to me. I spent the early night scouring Jackson, circling Russell's estate for her Bill, all while she was in the arms of a wolf. A lowly, smelly Were who was slightly taller and bigger than I – darker than Bill, warmer than her fiancée or me. I hovered outside Herveaux's apartment, unprepared for this scenario before me. He held her tight and she was just as enthusiastic with her response. Her feelings were of passion, confusion and comfort – what she wouldn't surrender to me.
I waited.
Until she told him to stop. Until he left. Until it was just her and sleep.
I tapped on the window pane. She screeched and tumbled out of bed. At least the Were was on guard, he pounded on her door urgent for her reply of safety. She looked at me from her spot on the floor, alarmed and confused.
"Eric?" she asked.
"Let me in," I told her. Alcide Herveaux burst through the door and saw Sookie on the ground and me at the window. I smirked at him, for it was all I could do. He had kissed her and I did not care for it.
"What in the heck are you doing?" she flummoxed, scrambling to her feet, she lifted the window open. "Eric?"
"Invite me in," I said again. The blush in her cheeks, the blood informed me of her guilt for kissing the Were.
"This isn't my place, Eric," she said, looking away, unable to look me in the eye. Disgruntled, I flashed my gaze to Alcide's.
"You." I lowered my voice and Sookie gasped. "Invite me in."
Alcide was almost susceptible to my control, he flinched, looking indifferent. "Can I uninvite him?"
"Yes," Sookie said clearly. He allowed me entry and I slithered full height next to my telepath.
"I see you two have gotten to know each other. I won't have to replace him with someone more agreeable, Sookie?" I asked her, trying to keep my calm as I stepped further into the room, eyeing the bed she would be staying in.
She realized she was in quite the revealing gown and pulled on the house coat at the end of the bed, to hide her nipples from my view. It was too late for the visual of me sucking her perfect breasts and holding her warm tan body close to my lithe cool one, my weight on her as she moaned at the pressure building, the friction consuming us till I was deep inside her. I licked my lips and she looked away, pulling the useless fabric closer to her body. I had already been there, I knew what it felt like, smelt like and tasted like – I would not forget. I could not
"What do you want, Northman?" Alcide interrupted my vivid imagination.
I tried once again to will Sookie to see me, aware that my glamour had no affect on her. "Look at me, my lover," I rasped. The words my lover brought my deep need to fuck and bite to the surface and it was all I wanted, I forgot my reason for being at the Were's apartment. Upon my order, she looked up and I felt the jolt and her flinch informed me she felt it too, deep in her bones.
"Get to the point before I disinvite you," Alcide grumbled, displeased with my words for Sookie. I smiled slightly and pulled my gaze from her, leaving the warm-blooded woman flustered, like I had with so many, only, Sookie was more. I appreciated it in a way I hadn't with others.
"After, I watched your little..." I glanced between the two of them. "...tryst, I waited until she was alone for the sole purpose of speaking with Sookie, you, dear one, and only you. Your orders, as of right now, Were are to let us be," I warned him, firmly, at the end. He blinked, leaning away from me. He checked to see if Sookie was okay with this and she nodded.
"It'll be fine, Alcide," she said with such warmth that it burned a hole in my gut and the instinct to smash his head through the window I was invited into was so irrationally extreme, I forgot myself. I had spent years of building self-control and it was all shot to hell with Sookie. I rolled my eyes and waited for him to pout and leave.
"You're still wearing the ring, I see."
"Eric," she rubbed her forehead. "I'm exhausted. I just spent the night at some gross supe bar with equally disgusting company. Can you get to the point? Did you find Bill?"
"Did you?" I inched closer to the bed and she turned to face me and it.
"I heard something more about Lorena, but nothing about Bill. Russell was there tonight."
"Indeed?" I already knew this, but I let her tell me.
"Yeah, he wanted me to come again tomorrow night," she frowned. "He seems...sweet."
"You're fooled by any man with a Southern accent, aren't you?" I found myself saying out loud. I watched her face for her reaction. Her expression scrunched up.
"What is that supposed to mean, Eric? I don't want to play games," she spat. Uh, uh. She was defensive – her blood told me of her frustration, confusion, lust and doubt. I smiled broadly.
"Would you like to know? I have been doing some digging and I have found some information, most interesting. Of course, it's not verified..."
"I don't want to hear your lies, Eric," she said. She kept saying my name tonight and it was not helping with my restraint in throwing her on the bed and fucking her until she forgot about any other vampire or Were or shifter that ever crossed her mind. I gritted my teeth to keep my fangs at bay.
"So quick to assume they're lies," I tutted. "Your avoidance will do you no good, Sookie. I will wait until you are ready, until I know more, just remember this moment."
"Yes, okay, fine. Anything else?"
"Would you like to cuddle?"
I almost laughed at the small increment of time where she considered it. "No. Bye."
"I will keep my hands and fangs to myself."
Her face turned red. "Your invitation is rescinded, Eric." I shrugged and left her be, watching her climb into bed. I moved to the Were's window and made sure he was securely away from her before continuing on in our annoying and inconvenient search for Bill Compton.
I hadn't told Sookie yet that I knew exactly where Bill was. Instead I watched her flirt with Alcide in Club Dead the following night. I remained in the shadows and I was becoming increasingly aware of how oddly I was behaving as the seconds ticked by and she still hadn't noticed me. I had several people eye me disdainfully and suggestively, but I found myself only aware of Sookie.
My cell phone buzzed in my pocket and I reluctantly tore my undivided attention from my telepath. I answered curtly.
"Eric, your child tells me you are not in Shreveport," the Queen's voice chilled me to the bone and I hated her for it. I was her elder. Her attempt at being authoritative was irritating.
"I am out at the moment, yes." I wished that she wouldn't ask where I was. If she knew of Edgington's involvement, it could mean some serious consequences for Louisiana and Mississippi. That was the last thing the poor states needed.
"How about Bill?" Instead of countering that question with, "What about Bill?" I smartly held my tongue.
"You have nothing to worry about, your majesty," I said, watching a woman approach Sookie and Alcide. Her heartbeat picked up and I felt her wariness. I was immediately on alert.
"Indeed. You, however, my Viking, have much to worry about," she stated, hanging up abruptly afterward. I closed the phone, hardly concerned about my punishment if Bill wasn't returned tomorrow night. The woman was causing anger in Sookie and distress. I saw Alcide try to get a word in but the woman promptly put him down, I inched forward, listening carefully.
"You know what Alcide, it's one thing to date another woman, but it's a whole lot of desperate when she's human and some cheap-perfumed hick from the back-water," the woman spit. A rage filled me at her addressing Sookie that way and I stepped forward, just as Sookie stood up and slapped the woman across the face. My cock stirred in my pants.
"You don't know what you're talking about, Debbie," Sookie snarled. Vicious, I found I liked it. She was so much better without Bill lurking around, trying to shut her up all the time. "If anyone's desperate it's you, trying to cause a scene and upset Alcide. You can back off now, from what I can tell, no one wants you here, and I think you know why." Sookie gave the woman a pointed look and someone attempted to nudge Debbie away. She was spitting nails as she focused a harsh look at Sookie before disappearing among the crowd.
"Good job sitting there, Alcide." I leaned against the back of the seat and spoke into Alcide's ear. He jumped about a foot and whipped around to face me. He wasn't a very good wolf. Sookie turned around and her body relaxed at my appearance. Interesting. I raised a brow at her. "I find myself incredibly aroused by that display, Sookie." I purred, rounding the seat and stepping closer to her. I could feel Alcide's irritation and that only made me smile more. "You don't seem to respond well to women advancing on the men your with. Perhaps round two with Lorena shortly will end favourably for you this time," I winked. "I hope you don't attempt to attack Pam next time you see her." Although, I would love nothing more than to bear witness to that exchange. My child would kick her ass.
"Did you find Bill?" she said instantly and optimistically.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at that. My gaze found their way onto her hand. "So eager," I murmured. "Where's your ring, Sookie?"
She immediately hid her hand behind her back. "I need a drink," she said, leaving us to go to the bar.
"Are you going to be breathing down my neck the whole time she's here, Eric?" Alcide started right away. He was trying to get an upper hand around me after jumping at my sneak up. "I've had a rough day and I'm in no mood to deal with you."
I hated that he was taller than me. Not by much, but I was used to being the tallest. "Hiding something, Alcide?" I sniffed the air around him and caught an interesting scent. "A body?" I raised a brow when I heard the scream of, "STAKE!" And I was reminded of when Sookie had shouted that out to me at the Fellowship of the Sun church. I felt her panic. My fangs dropped and I whipped around to see that fucking Fellowship Reverend drive a stake right into Sookie's stomach.
She froze, backing from the bar as a rush of supernaturals began moving. Some ran out of the bar and some went after the humans hiding in the bar for an attack who divided up in hysteria. Alcide changed beside me and raced out of the bar. A few stayed behind to circle Sookie. I thought about tracking down that Steve Newlin but was overwhelmed with the desire not to leave Sookie alone with these strangers. Fucking Alcide. Useless.
I wandered over, watching these people stare at the stake in her gut, wondering if they should pull it out. The vampires stared at the blood that was seeping over her clothes, their fangs down. Her blood was truly a delight. I shuddered and watched them carefully. Sookie was blinking, the pain muddling her brain. Her eyes found mine, wide, desperate.
"Eric," she gasped, pleading. The few vampires looked at me and I found myself dropping to my knee beside her head.
"It seems I should have been the one warning you about a stake, Sookie," I said gently, touching the top of her head. She smiled. When did I become all tender and concerned vampire? When Sookie let me bite her, I reasoned. Sophie-Anne warned me against having her blood, even though at that point I already had, but she was right.
"Miss Stackhouse," said a voice behind us. I knew that voice from anywhere. I looked over my shoulder to see Russell Edgington staring down at her. "You saved my lover," he said. Talbot was behind him, looking blood-thirsty. I bared my fangs at him, in warning. No one would get her blood, except, hopefully me. Sookie certainly knew how to make friends in high places. "I invite you back to my estate, where I will take care of you as a sign of my gratitude."
"Eric too." She breathed, uneven, her heart fast one moment, then slow the next.
"Eric Northman." He raised a brow. "What are you doing here?" I turned back to Sookie and lifted her carefully into my arms. She winced at the movement. I turned us to Russell.
"I'm here to escort Miss Stackhouse to yours, if you do not mind," I said stiffly. He was suspicious of my presence. He knew Bill lived in my retinue. I could see on his face that he would very much prefer I did not follow Sookie, but he had offered his service and he was a man of his word.
Russell and I had never gotten along.
I slipped into his limo carefully, holding Sookie close while she drifted in and out of consciousness. She was losing a lot of blood. I couldn't give her any of mine to make things better, not when Russell was staring a hole right through me.
"You know about Bill, I take it?" Russell spoke. I glanced up at him, away from Sookie's contorted face, her pain drifting into me.
I smiled slightly. "I could care less about Bill Compton."
Russell's eyes moved to Sookie. "I can see that. But she does."
My grin broadened. "For now."
Russell couldn't help but smile. "Her blood...it's exquisite. Perhaps a taste?" his eyes darkened and I growled low, instinctually on guard, my fangs cautioning him. "Is she not Bill's?" the King of Mississippi asked, his eyebrows rose, questioning my position. "From what I hear, William proposed marriage."
I let the low rumble in my chest, a threat, do the talking for me.
"Interesting. I've never known you to be this way, Eric. Love can make a vampire crazy," Russell leaned back and his hand wound through Talbot's hair. I watched the small gesture, and the love waft between them. It was rare to see two vampires together, in love. Quickly, I had to come up with a plan. As soon as Sookie was healed, there was no telling what Russell felt he was entitled to do. Obviously, stealing Sookie was part of whatever plan Russell had and now he had invited her into his home, vulnerable and bleeding.
"I have to return Sookie to Bon Temps, tonight." I found myself saying. To hell with Bill, I'd accept the punishment of the Queen if it meant Sookie and I were out of this God forsaken mansion. Russell was over twice my age and fighting with him would be a challenge if it resulted in that...not to say I wouldn't do my best to win, in fact, I was confident enough with my abilities that it was possible I could win. I had skill with a sword, skill in hand-to-hand, I had participated in my fair share of battles before.
"Convenient. She is wounded. You may not know too much about humans, Eric, but she would do well to rest after we remove the stake. Although, I can see you plan on giving her your blood, she already has some in her system," he let out a short laugh. "What have you been doing with Bill's human, Eric? You should know better."
"I did nothing against her will, I assure you," I said. I would smash us through the sun-roof and take her to the hospital if I had to. We stopped and I could only assume we were at the gate.
"Who could resist the Northman's charm?" Russell smiled and Talbot laughed. "Perhaps you'll join us tonight, Eric?" He held a hand to the two of them.
I hesitated, wondering the best way to respond. Nobody ever refused an invite by Russell, he was legendary in the area of sex. My only interest was Sookie. "Sookie's recovery is my priority, your majesty."
His face hardened slightly before the easiness returned. "Perhaps afterward."
"Perhaps."
"Eric," Sookie breathed. I looked down at her and tears were falling from her eyes. "Are you going to remove the stake, or do I have to learn to live with it?" A huge smile spread across my features.
"It shouldn't be too bad."
"Living with a stick in my gut?"
"I'm sure you could find use of it."
"I could hang things. Like an extra hand," she tried to laugh but it hurt. Apparently near death made Miss Stackhouse into a joker. It was nice to see this side of her, despite the fact that this side of her was bleeding to death.
The car stopped and she passed out when I carried her out and we entered the mansion. Her head lolled back and she brought it up slightly.
"Nice stairs," she murmured as I began carrying her up. "I'm Scarlett."
It took me a moment to realize what she was talking about. I flashed her teeth. "Am I your Rhett?"
"I don't see anybody else," she said, breathlessly. I was very satisfied with that response.
Talbot led us into an empty room and I lay Sookie gently onto the bed. Russell stood at the end and soon the room was full of a few others. I held onto Sookie's hand, since I knew humans liked to squeeze something when they were in pain or nervous.
She lifted her head to inspect her wound and she breathed loudly through her nose. "Oh God." She flopped back and a man came to her side, attending to the stake. She held onto my hand tightly and I was thankful to be here with her. "Eric, don't leave me," she muttered, glancing at me.
"Look at me only, my lover," I said lowly. Her eyes fixed on mine. "Let go," I said. She tried to pull her hand away but I held on. "Not on me. Don't let go of me. Relax," she nodded slowly and I pulled her into my mind just when the vampire yanked the stake out of her stomach, she moaned softly and I willed her to sleep.
The man got to work, healing her body, stopping the bleeding. For now, there was a large gaping hole in her stomach and I couldn't help but peek. My blood would heal her.
"William is a romantic, I never thought you to be one, Eric." Russell spoke up. "Human women love the lines you just spoke."
"I know," I said, not in the mood to carry on a cryptic conversation with the King. I wanted to be left alone with her.
"We will speak of this...intrusion tomorrow night, Eric. I expect you here," he said. I didn't look back when I heard him and Talbot exit with everyone else, Sookie slowly healing. I stripped off my clothes and crawled into bed with her. Fuck I wanted her. I'd wake her soon. I needed a moment to plan.
With Sookie here, Russell now had the telepath he wanted. And Bill...what was it with Bill? Was it to appease Lorena? I sighed. I was sure I had to get Compton and Sookie out of this compound in one piece. Sookie, strangely, was my main concern. Not my own skin, which was in danger with the Queen, or Bill, not to mention Russell, but Sookie, surviving, away from anyone who wanted to get a piece of her. Surely, however, Sookie was just an added bonus and she wasn't what Russell wanted completely. Russell and I had had run-ins over the centuries, including from the beginning, when I was still new and learning.
I decided to take off Sookie's blood stained clothes. I didn't want to move her and pulling her pink dress over her head would do so. I ripped it, since it was already ruined, and she was just in her under clothes. I found myself licking up the blood on her exposed skin, not hiding under the bandages. Even dried and cold, it was fantastic. She tasted of other. It was undeniable.
I moved to my side staring down at her body, even when she was injured, my thoughts were overwhelmed with the desire to fuck. I stroked the top of her bandages, hoping to soother her slightly.
The only thing that made sense, was something that happened between Russell and Bill in their past. So in the past one hundred and fifty years or so, they must have encountered each other. Bill came to live in Mississippi, out of debt? Out of loyalty? How did Lorena factor into all of this? Sookie's telepathic abilities obviously came into play and Russell was interested in that. I could see the look of hunger in his eyes when he stared at her.
We also had to work around daytime...
Sookie stirred and I looked down at her. She groaned in pain. I watched her carefully as she slowly opened her eyes. "Is it gone?"
"Yes. You must have my blood," I said.
"Give me a minute," she mumbled. She tried to move, but winced in pain. "Help me up." I carefully pulled her into a sitting position. She let out a sharp cry. She looked up at me then swiftly looked away.
"Sookie," I said. "Bill is here, and you need your strength, you have to heal fast. We can't stay through the night."
"Okay, okay. Slow down," she said, closing her eyes tightly. When she looked up at me her eyes were leaky.
"What?" I asked, confused as to what could inspire tears.
"I've been thinking a lot," she said. "I don't think I want Bill back." There was a long pause where I was speechless. I knew this would happen eventually, but not until after I told her about what the Queen had planned for her with Bill.
"Alright. But I..." I didn't want Bill back, or need him back – I had to have him back. I supposed I needed him to save myself and my people...and Sookie. "We're retrieving Bill," I said firmly. "Then we'll return you to Bon Temps."
"He never told me anything," she blurted out, putting a hand to her bandages. She seemed to realize she was half-naked, and she ignored it. "He's been keeping secrets! And it's too fast! Who proposes after six weeks?" she cried, for real this time.
"Sookie," I lowered my voice, to get her attention, she looked at me through her tears. I had her attention while I bit into my wrist. "Take my blood. Forget Bill." Her eyes flashed and she saw the blood ooze out and without much hesitation, as if she'd done it a thousand times, she put her mouth to my wrist and sucked.
I groaned, wanting to be closer to her. I moved her forward and sat behind her, she leaned against my chest. I put my lips to her temple and kissed, whispering. She pulled my blood into her system and really, nothing had ever felt this heavenly. I pushed my hips into her back and the contact did wonders for my hardening length. I held onto her tight, wanting her to consume all of me. I moaned in her ear, and she made a noise of pleasure around my wrist, which closed up, to my great disappointment
"Sookie," I said again and she shivered, breathing heavily. To my surprise, she turned around and leaned against my body, between my legs. Her hands were on my chest and I stared at her in confusion...and a whole lot of hope. "My lover."
"Why do you call me that?" she whispered softly, her brown eyes full of emotion.
I put a hand to her hair, the back of her neck, my fangs down as I tried to convey my unadulterated need for her. "Because...I feel like saying it," was all I could utter. She pushed her lips to mine and I held her long, blond hair, wrapping my hand in it, urging her closer to me. Her hand rested on top of my erection, and the feel of her warmth through the material, had me buck against her. She reached in the waistband and touched me. I grunted and she smiled against my lips. She got up on her knees as if her injury no longer hurt her. Her skin against mine felt like fire, her warmth engulfing me. Her fingers circled around my length and she squeezed it slightly, like she had my hand earlier. I pulled away from her lips, pushing my head against the head board.
To make things even more perfect, she let go and pushed my boxers down further, putting her hands on my waist and swiftly taking my length into her mouth. I grunted in surprise, moving my hand into her hair again. She wasn't too sure on what to do, as she froze and tried to take in more of me. She stopped and pulled off, dragging her teeth on my length, as I gritted my own.
Her tongue swirled over the head and I wasn't sure how long I could last. I was hers and I could only show a way to convey it by bucking into her mouth. She gasped and glanced at me, a blush at her cheeks as she sucked on my erection and put her hand at the base, which she couldn't reach with her lips entirely. Her eyes on mine had me taking in unnecessary breaths like a human, for it was all I could think to do. She breathed through her nose and it felt amazing against my cock.
"If you keep...going..." was all I could say. She tightened her hold and sucked hard, her tongue and teeth and the perfect amount of pressure along with her backside and head bobbing, I released without warning. She swallowed it all and I groaned. She had taken my blood and my cum. Fuck.
She sat up, looking stunned at her wanton behaviour. I got myself to move closer to her, trapping her between my bent knees. I cradled her face and brought her lips to mine, tasting myself in her mouth, my tongue pushing forward, searching. Her nails dug into my shoulders and I wanted nothing more. My hands wandered down her sides and reached her thighs. I pulled down her panties and she kicked them away. I lifted her onto my lap and she straddled me, carefully wrapping her legs around my waist. She pushed her chest close to mine and I was reminded of her bra. I took it off, hating anything between us.
She took initiative. Apparently I was moving too slow for her because she put the head of my cock at her clit. I moved my hips and she gasped, holding onto my neck as she played with the feeling a while until we both had enough and I buried myself deep inside her. Our simultaneous groans were ones of relief and tension. She rocked back and forth and I closed my eyes, letting her do what she wanted. I brought my mouth to her neck and teased her with my fangs, she gasped and her hand at my shoulders moved down my arms.
"Bite me," she begged. "Eric, please." My hands were on her back pulling her closer. I bit. I bucked against her as her delicious fairy blood – fairy. I practically exploded at the revelation. I growled, moving in her, pulling at the wound, her blood slipping down my throat smoothly. I was delirious, her core, contracting around my erection, her skin against mine, warming me, and her blood, giving me strength. She seemed to freeze for a moment and when I parted from her neck she licked the rest of her blood from my lips. I moaned and she mimicked the noise as we kissed hungrily, our pelvises, grinding, moving with one another, harder and faster. We pulled our mouths away and kept eye contact as we tried to make the other come faster. I reached between us and pressed my thumb against her clit. She let out a cry, holding onto me tight and I decided that she never looked more beautiful than when I was fucking her.
"Eric!" she cried out as I pushed a finger inside her along with my cock and she came hard, a bunch of swear words and my name escaping her lips as she shook in my arms, shivering. Her ecstasy pushed me over the edge and I was hit hard, my orgasm shattering my being as she fell back. I moved over her, needing to have our skin touching, craving the contact. I put my head into the crook of her neck and she wrapped her arms around me, her hand pushing through my hair. I shuddered. Her body was drenched with her sweat and I found myself licking a drop from her temple.
"Sookie," I said into her ear. She shivered. "This is right."
She made a noise and our lips found the other, kissing lazily, the urgent need for each other waning. I moved on top of her, my length already hardening again and she automatically spread her legs for me to settle between them. Fuck, this woman.
There was a knock.
I left her cold as I went to answer the door, furious at being interrupted. She gasped and darted under the covers. I knew modesty was big for her so I glanced back to see if she was decent before opening the door.
A small vampire eyed me appreciatively. Russell and his men. "His majesty King Russell Edgington has arranged a coffin for you during the day. Would you like me to show you where it is?"
"No," I said through my teeth. He saw my fangs and raised a brow.
"Looking for company?" he had the nerve to ask.
I put hand around his neck and shoved him out of the room, closing the door. I hated being away from Sookie. I was under the blankets with her faster than she was expecting. She gasped and I slanted my mouth over hers again, desperate for more.
"Eric," she said against our kiss. "We can't stay here."
Fuck. I pulled away, groaning. I urged my fangs away. "Do you want to hear my plan?" I asked her, though the only plan I knew of at the moment was having her writhing beneath me.
She nodded, looking just as out of sorts as I felt. I couldn't believe I forgot where we were and my plan.
"During the day," I said. "You'll have to get to Bill when the sun is up."
"By myself?" she looked shocked. "You're suggesting I do this alone?"
"You're stronger than Bill gives you credit for." I growled. "You can do this. You will do this. You'll get that sorry excuse for a vampire out of the basement he is being kept in. I'll draw you a map," I mumbled. "I'll get you a car." I realized. I got out of bed swiftly, getting changed. She sat up, looking alarmed. "We have to be back in Bon Temps with Bill before dusk tomorrow or the Queen will have my head." I smiled wryly and Sookie looked appalled. "I might have to stay here during the day," I mused. "I'll see you as soon as possible at first dark."
I explained the remainder of the plan and she seemed to be following it as much as she could.
"Will you be okay? If Russell wakes up and sees me and Bill are gone but you're still here."
"Think nothing of it," I said absently, making sure that her door was locked so no one could interrupt her while I was gone.
"I'll think of it, alright," she said indignantly. I raised a brow at her. "Eric. Will you be okay?" she said pointedly. I felt my pride swell at her concern.
I smiled slightly. "Sookie." I was going to reassure her that I would be perfectly alright. Instead I said, "Do you worry for me because you love me?"
Her face reddened and she glared. "Just go, you stupid, cocky vampire."
"Cocky is right, my lover," I winked. She reached beside her and picked up the stake that had been removed from her stomach and whipped it at me. I deflected it easily, laughing. "Be wary of your surroundings," I said seriously. "Kill if you have to."
Her eyes widened. "Kill! Kill who?"
"Whoever you have to. I must go." I hesitated realizing that she would be heading into a dangerous situation. I was worried for her, just like she was for me. A flash of this turning out wrong went through my head and I pushed it aside, along with the feeling of dread. "I don't like having feelings," I informed her and before I could say anymore, I left out the window and into the night.