"Sookie, I do not think it is wise for us to be doing this." Bill Compton said next to her as they walked up to Fangtasia. Bill did not like Eric. Even though he was the sheriff of the area, Bill knew that Eric had something up his sleeves. When Sookie had told him about what Eric had wanted her to do, he was happy to find out that she had decline. However, when she received a phone call from him, asking her to meet him at the bar and to bring Bill along, both of them grew a little weary. Bill knew that Eric wanted to take claim of Sookie and he would do anything possible to build a wedge between them.

"I know, but he asked you to come with me so it's probably important." Sookie replied. They quickly entered the bar, which was empty for once. Neither Bill nor Sookie had ever seen Fangtasia when it was empty, so it was somewhat strange to hear silence and see no vampires dancing or feeding on humans. It almost seemed less hostile, but only a little. Both looked around and immediately saw Eric at the bar. Sookie's breath caught in her throat as she saw him in front of a woman, his body between her legs and hands wresting on the counter, leaning toward her. Their torsos were strangely close together and their faces barely touched. Sookie felt a sudden pain in her body and her heart thumped uncontrollably in her chest. She couldn't describe what she was feeling . . . jealousy maybe? Anger? Frustration?

Sookie cleared her throat loudly to get their attention. Eric looked in their direction and smirked. He stood erect and gestured for Sookie and Bill to come to him. She watched him intently. She watched Eric let out a hand to the woman on the stool and carefully set her on her feet. He let go and instead placed his hand behind her back. Sookie zoned in on the woman, opening her mind so that she could hear her thoughts. But she was shocked to find that there was nothing. Sookie pushed harder to listen to the woman, but to no avail.

"Sookie. Bill." Eric acknowledged them. "I would like you to meet a . . . acquaintance of mine." He looked down at the woman from the corner of his eye and grinned. "This is Celeste Monroe. Celeste this is Sookie Stackhouse and Bill Compton."

"It's nice to meet you." Bill said in a monotone. He let out a hand for her to shake and she did so quickly.

"Hi." Celeste said with a smile.

"It's nice to meet you." Sookie said, shaking her hand as well. "Strange though, I haven't seen you before. And I know almost everyone in Bon Temps."

"Well I'm kinda new here, moved out here a few months ago." Celeste replied, slapping Eric's hand from behind her back. Apparently he was doing something he shouldn't have.

"You've been out here that long; I really should know you by now."

"I like to keep to myself." Sookie looked at Bill from the corner of her eye. He gave her a reassuring glace, feeling her distress through the bond. Right at that moment, Sookie knew she would have a lot of difficulty getting along with Celeste.

"All of you are aware of what I have grown weary with my other business and wish to seek out any that may be betraying me. Sookie you have done this with me before."

"And Bill was with me last time, so he will be again." She cut in.

"No. I cannot have another incident occurring like that. However, I am willing to negotiate." Eric looked down at Celeste. "I have thought about it for a while. Bill will be able to travel with us, but he will not be allowed to attend the meetings."

"And you expect me to let her go with just you and no protection what so ever?" Bill said.

"Sookie is always safe with me. But Celeste will also be attending these meetings with us as well. Aside from myself; she will also protect Sookie." Sookie stifled a laugh behind her hand and Bill gave Eric and Celeste a puzzled look.

"I'm sorry, but that is just ridiculous. How is she going to protect me from a room full of vampires? No offense." Sookie said with a grin. Celeste stepped forward, her arms crossed over her chest. As she walked, one leg crossed the other and her head hung fairly low. She stepped a few feet away from Sookie and quickly gave her an once-over.

"Ms. Stackhouse. You will find that I am more than capable of protecting someone like you."

"Why don't you show her Celeste." Eric said in a challenging tone. She looked at him over her shoulder.

"My pleasure." Celeste stepped over to Bill and looked at him wickedly. And without hesitation or a second though, Celeste put the field up over her hand and carelessly flicked his chest with her finger, sending him fly across the room. Bill's back hit the entrance wall and fell to the ground with a THUMP. An imprint was left where his body hit it and a large crack started to form. Sookie was a loss for words. Bill grunted as he lifted himself up and dusted his faded pants off. Before Sookie could go to her lover's side, he had returned himself next to her. Celeste stood next to Eric and grinned.

"A small push would have sufficed." Eric whispered down to her.

"Really? I thought it was just enough."

"You have quite a gift." Bill said once he collected himself. Sookie had been in a fit of rage the entire time, but kept her mouth shut so if not to betray herself.

"Thank you. I'm sorry for the push. I hope you are not hurt." Celeste sounded completely concerned. But Sookie wasn't buying it. She intertwined her fingers with Bills and glared at Celeste.

* * *

Within the hour, Eric had convinced Bill and Sookie to agree with him. After the little display Celeste gave, he was certain that they would see things clearly. He noticed that Sookie was uncomfortable. Whether if it was because of his presence or Celeste's he didn't know, but he started to like it. However, Celeste's presence never left his mind. He was almost too aware that she was next to him. Before Sookie and Bill had arrived, things started to heat up. He wished that they had been at least five minutes late; that would have been enough time for him to fulfill his desire to taste her sweet lips again. Too many times had he imagined ravaging her body on the counter bar, tearing her clothes to shreds and licking, biting, sucking at her skin. His eyes rolled behind closed lids as he pushed away the image of her clinging to him as he thrust into her relentlessly on the counter, moaning his name in ecstasy.

They all agreed to depart for Las Vegas, the first of many destinations on his list, in a week. That would give them more than enough time to make the necessary arrangements to prepare. Bill and Sookie left Fangtasia on sweet terms, almost too sweet for Eric. Celeste didn't believe that Bill was okay; so she asked him countless times if he was alright or if he needed anything. This sparked something in Eric, something that wasn't good. Sookie noticed as well and didn't like it a bit as much as Eric did. Celeste waved goodbye to them until they were out of sight and let out a deep breath of relief.

"That was fun." She said with a smile.

"Indeed it was." Eric said, soaking in her body while she wasn't looking. She wore a white summer dress with a deep V neck that showed the part in her breasts. It was loose fitting, but tight around her torso, sticking to her with every move she made. He leaned against one of the tables. Eric imagined setting her atop his waist, slowly and teasingly pulling the knee length dress up to her hips. Eric's eyes glazed over with lust and yearning.

"Well I guess I better get going." Celeste turned around and saw Eric staring at her like he was going to pounce then and there. "What?" She asked. It was a stupid question, but she had to ask. She knew what he wanted; whether she would give it him was the question. Then there was also the question that he would take it by force, which Celeste found strangely appealing. Eric only stared at her with the same deep hunger that he had shown her earlier. At the moment, she was thankful that Sookie and Bill showed up on time, because if they didn't, who knew what would have happened.

However, strangely, almost instantaneously the look in Eric's eyes disappeared. He stood up and went to Celeste. "You did very well today." He said. For some odd reason, they were very far apart from each other. Celeste was used to feeling his body pressed against hers, or only having a few inches of space between them. But Eric seemed very far away from her, even though he was only five feet from her.

"Thank you." She said hesitantly. Celeste stood more erect as she felt Eric's fixed gaze on her. He was looking unmercifully in her eyes, and when she could bear it no longer, she forced herself to break eye contact. "I believe you owe me something." She said after an extremely long moment of silence.

"What is that exactly?"

"You know very well what I'm talking about. Or have you already forgotten the little deal we made so that I would work for you?" Eric smirked at her remark and crossed his arms over his chest.

"You know I could always give you something else. You can get money anywhere. Me . . . not so much." He said with a promiscuous smile.

"As appealing as that sounds, I still pick the money. Now are you going to hand it over or not?" Eric bit his bottom lip and within a fraction of a second he was gone, only to return right in front of Celeste. He held five grand in cold-hard-cash and held it out for her to get. Celeste looked from Eric's scrutinizing face to the stack of money in his hand. She grabbed it and started to pull it away, but Eric's grip on it was stronger than it looked.

"What are you using it for? I will not allow you to buy drugs with my money." His face was earnest and Celeste struggled to stifle a laugh.

"You don't trust me at all do you?" She asked.

"No. I don't trust anyway."

"Well maybe you should start. Trust is the foundation of every relationship. Even the one between you and me." She pocked his chest with his hand.

"What are you going to use the money for?"

"You don't need to know."

"It's my money. I am giving it to you because we made a deal. Now I want to know what you are going to use it for." Celeste could feel Eric's grip tighten on the money. She knew he wouldn't let go, not for the life of him, if it could be called that. She carefully moved closer to him, there body close together but still separated by the money.

"I don't think you want to know Eric Northman." She said, her lips barely touching his. Eric could feel her warm breath against his lips and cheeks. He was more than ready to finished what had been started earlier that evening. He moved forward to press his lips against hers; however, Celeste diverted him easily. His lips collided with the corner of her mouth, just centimeters away from the original target. Eric gently bit down on the soft skin, his fangs completely exposed. He grazed them across her cheek slowly, happy to hear a shudder make its way through her. He carefully and gently made his way up her jaw line only to descend to her throat.

At the smell of her skin the money fell to the ground with a SMACK that filled the room. The hand that once held the money moved to the back of her waist, while the other slithered up her neck, grabbing a fist full of hair and pressing Celeste closer to him. Eric's face was completely hidden in Celeste's neck. He could feel her blood flowing and her veins pulsing against the lips that touched her skin. He took in a deep breath, inhaling her irresistible scent. A faint groan erupted through the closed lips that touched Celeste's skin. Her hand slowly slid up his back only to rest behind his neck, clutching the hair at the nape of it. Eric took in another deep breath and his fangs ran against her skin again. A shiver ran down her spine and at that moment, Celeste wanted him to do it. She wanted Eric to bite her. She didn't know what it was, but he had a power over her. One that made it more and more difficult to fight back and resist him every evening she saw him.

"Do you want me to do it?" Eric said, his lips still pressed against her skin. Celeste didn't answer right away. She was hesitant. Her mind was clouded and her thoughts irrational. Did she want Eric to bite her? Did Celeste really want him to do it? She wasn't sure, but she knew that he was ready to decide for her.

* * *

"I don't care what you say Bill, I don't like her." Sookie made it quite clear she did not like Celeste Monroe. She sat down on Bill's mostly unused bed and leaned back on her elbows. Bill sat down next to her and rested his hand on top of hers. Sookie didn't like the way Celeste looked at Bill, or the fact the she attacked him. She started to feel like an idiot for not pouncing on her and shoving her fist down her throat for hurting her boyfriend. Sookie was very bothered by Celeste, but the one thing that bugged her most was the sight of her and Eric. While they talked, she couldn't help but notice how Eric leaned toward her and sneaked quick glances at her from the corner of his eye. She also noticed how every now and then he would become very tense, and his usually relaxed and loose hands would slowly ball into large fists over the arm rests of his leather seat. Sookie noticed a lot of things about Eric that night, and none of it pleased her. But then again, when did anything about him ever?

"I know Sookie. But Eric has made it very clear that he does not want me there when you go to the meetings. I believe that Ms. Monroe is completely capable to protect you while I am not there."

"She flung you against a wall Bill." Sookie turned to him, her face written with disdain. "With the flick of her finger for goodness sake!"

"Yes, but it was only to display her abilities Sookie. Ms. Monroe brought no harm to me."

"Will you stop calling her that!" Sookie shot up from the bed, her hands clenched into small fists at her sides. "Stop calling her Ms. Monroe like she's a lady!" Bill was perturbed by Sookie's attitude. Bill didn't exactly like Celeste, he tolerated her. The only reason why he did was because he knew that his beloved would be safe with her. Not only that, he felt better knowing that it wasn't going to be just Sookie and Eric that attended the meetings. He was thankful to Celeste for this.

"I am sorry Sookie. But I will not debase Ms. Monroe as a woman. I understand that you are having conflicting emotions over her, but-"

"Bill Compton. I will not have that . . . thing be defended by you!" Sookie spat.

"Sookie why do you detest her so? She has done nothing to you or me for that matter?"

"She threw you against a wall! How is that not doing anything?" Bill looked away for a moment and looked back at Sookie.

"If this is about what we saw between Ms. Monroe and Eric then-"

"This is not about them!" Sookie protested.

"Then what is this about Sookie?" Bill stood in front of her now. "I do not understand why you loathe Ms. Monroe so much. Yes, she threw me against a wall only to display her powers, but I am unharmed. She explained herself to both of us and told us about her history. Sookie, I cannot be there when you and Eric go to the meetings. I do not trust Eric being along with you and am thankful to this woman for giving her time to attend as well. I trust her to protect you with her life, and that is why I will not degrade her."

Sookie took a moment to digest his words. What was really getting to her? Was it the fact that Bill could not be with her or that she met someone that she just didn't like. Maybe, she thought in the far corners of her mind, it was the idea that Eric had a new woman in his life and that she, Sookie Stackhouse, would no longer be needed by him. No longer desired. Sookie shivered at the thought. She quickly went to Bill and wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm sorry Bill. I don't know what came over me." She said as she rested her head against his hard chest. He combed his fingers through her hair and kissed the top of her head.

"It's fine. I just hope you come to trust Ms. Monroe as I have." Sookie's hold on Bill tightened. She wasn't sure if she could trust Celeste. She wasn't sure if she wanted to.

* * *

A Few Days Later

Celeste looked down at the crumpled sheet of paper in her hand. She had gotten the address from Eric and started to wonder if he had given her the right one. She looked up at the white house and took a deep breath. She knew she was way in over her head. She counted to three in and made her way up the steps to the front door. She knocked on it twice, the sound reverberating throughout the house and in her ears. Celeste started to feel crass for waiting so long to do anything, and was about to turn away and leave but the door opened, calling her attention once again.

In the threshold, stood the person she did not expect. A man, most likely in his early twenties, with a black muscle shirt and tight fitting jeans answered. His face was chiseled and bone structure strong. Over all he looked like a stalwart construction worker or farmer. He was the first to speak.

"Hey. Who are you?" His voice was raspy and strained almost.

"Is this the Stackhouse residence?"

"Yeah. Who's askin'?"

"Hi. I'm Celeste Monroe. I'm looking for Sookie." Celeste stuffed the piece of paper in her pocket. The man stepped out of the house and closed the door behind him, giving Celeste a very slow once-over.

"Is she expecting you?"

"No. I thought I would just drop by to talk to her. You know she's going to be gone for a while."

"Yeah I know."

"I'm sorry, but what is your relation with Sookie?"

"I'm her brother." He said plainly. "Jason Stackhouse." Celeste immediately stifled a laugh and turned away to hide her crimson ridden face. "What? Have you heard stuff?" Jason asked in anxiety. Lately a lot of things had been surfacing around him. It was already bad the he had been accused of killing women, which everyone knew he was too stupid and didn't have the stomach to do. But somehow, word had gotten around that he was turning into a fangbanger.

"You're Jason Stackhouse? The one that is supposedly the best lay in all of Bon Temps? Or so I've heard." Jason grinned at this comment and relaxed a bit.

"Well what can I say? When you've got it, you've got it." Celeste rolled her eyes.

"Is your sister here Jason? I would really like it if I could speak with her." Celeste could clearly see that Sookie's brother was interested . His gaze never left hers for an instant, only to wander down the mysterious waves and curves of her body. However, she couldn't help but look at him. He obviously worked out and she liked it. His muscles were much more defined and prominent than any she had seen before. She could see the curves and veins in them which fascinated her. Through his thin shirt she could see a defined chest and the definite outlines of his abs. She started to wonder what his ass looked like and wished he would turn around so she could get a glance at it.

"She's at Merlottes. She'll be back later tonight. But you could stay and wait for her if you'd like." He said with a smirk. Celeste could tell Jason had no shame. She knew that if she went inside that she would be doing a lot more than waiting for Sookie. Celeste imagined the look on Sookie's face as she went down on her brother. She admitted it would be a hilarious and uncomfortable situation, but enjoyable nonetheless. However, Celeste was a one man woman. She still had to deal with Eric and his raging drives, not to mention forcing him into submission. She started to wonder what a stunt like that would do to Eric Northman. Would he go insane and try to kill Jason? Maybe take advantage of someone to let out his frustration? Or, most likely, find a way to punish Celeste that would be pleasurable but painful at the same time? Celeste started to feel rebellious and excited.

"Sure." She finally said. "I'll wait for her."