Eric Northman was aside himself with frustration. In the darkness of his bedroom, over the satin and silk of his smooth sheets, he could not find peace of mind. He was restless for some reason. Countless times he closed his eyes, hoping to find the pleasurable release of slumber, only to open them again to be consumed by the same badgering and invisible force that nagged at his mind. He had been restless for the past few days and had not seen or heard from Celeste since the evening he almost bit her. He relished at the thought of piercing her luscious flesh and engorging himself with her taste. However, like all good things that got started with her, it quickly came to an end when she decided to put her field up and leave him unsatisfied and in frenzy once again. Eric didn't realize the affect Celeste had on him. Every moment that he was awake he was thinking about her. The thought of warm skin against his and her long wavy hair collected in his hands, breathing in her scent with an intensity that scared him, drove him into complete and utter madness.

But for some reason, that day, something was pulling at him. If his heart hadn't stopped beating, it would be pounding against the cage in his chest uncontrollably. Eric got up from his bed and went to the bathroom connected to his bedroom. He was nearly blinded by the light when he flicked it on, but nonetheless, looked at himself in the mirror. He was paler than usual and he felt restless. He quickly turned the shower on and disrobed. He felt dirty and haggard. Once in, he took his time; resting his head against the tile wall, breathing in the steam. At that moment, nothing could have prevented him from remembering the day at Celeste's bedroom, when he almost had her and started the little game. His arousal immediately became erect and he let out a pathetic laugh. Even the mere thought of her had a major effect on him.

As he stood under the water, steam quickly filling the bathroom, his thoughts wandered to possible solutions for his complicated problem. Eric knew he couldn't touch Celeste unless she wanted him to. But it was taking much longer than he thought for her to become . . . intimate with him. Unlike most situations, he didn't have to try hard to get what he wanted; however, Celeste was proving to be quite the challenge. Any other woman would have easily been wooed by his charm and simple tricks of seduction without him even trying. Then again, Celeste wasn't like other women. She was keen and precise, innovative and reserved, and most importantly, or so Eric thought, she wielded a strange and intense power of sexiness that she could draw forth at her will. This fact fascinated Eric, but it also gave him a disadvantage. Celeste would always pull him in and bring him closer every time, as a result she would push him away even farther. Nights felt like empty years that went by painfully slow when Eric didn't see her.

Celeste undeniably had a hand over Eric, and he wasn't afraid to admit it. Every day he met her, he would watch her carefully, learning as much about her as possible. Eric was starting to understand how she played and had to find a way to counter it. However, because of the pending arousal twitching against his abdomen, his mind went ravenous with Celeste's name alone, the image of her body only making it worse.

Eric put his head under the water, trying to control his thoughts. It frustrated him that he had to actively stop his mind from thinking about her, which was nearly impossible to do. Even when he spoke to other people he would be thinking about her. It was a skill he had mastered over his one thousand years. He closed his eyes and bit down on his lower lip, his mind wandering to all the times where he had her in his grasp; imagining what might have happened if she didn't resist him, if they weren't interrupted, if she wasn't with someone else. His eyes rolled behind closed lids in the wishful ecstasy of his mind. His moans of forbidden pleasure filled the room and echoed in his ears. His hisses and inaudible whispers of his imagination led him to a high that was insurmountable to any before. And, without even touching himself for the slightest moment, came to his climax. His body tensed and hands clenched into fists, punching into the tile wall hard enough to make a few cracks. Eric recovered violently, his body slumped and his head hung low, his breathing in long deep breaths.

A wave of fatigue consumed him suddenly and he lazily got out and wrapped a towel around his waist. Eric collapsed on the bed and dragged himself to the mountain of pillows by the headboard. After a few seconds of imagining Celeste's sleeping body next to his, her head resting on his chest and fingers intertwined, Eric Northman quickly drifted off into a deep slumber.

* * *

Sookie's excitement grew by the second as her shift at Merlottes came to a conclusion. She quickly waved goodbye to Sam and Tara before dashing off to her car. It was dark out and she knew that Bill would be over very soon. Once she arrived at her house, she was surprised to see the living room lights on. Is Jason still here? She thought. Sookie made her way up the steps and unlocked the door. She heard voices from the living room and was about to scold her bone-headed brother for not leaving already, until she saw that here was a woman with him. Jason sat at the table with a beer in hand and the woman who Sookie was even doubly surprised to see was Celeste, leaned against the kitchen sink, a beer bottle rim close to her lips. Jason was the first to notice her.

"Hey Sookie. I didn't know you got off early?" He glanced at the invisible watch on his wrist. Sookie looked at her brother than at Celeste. What did she want? And what had she been doing with her brother?

"It's nine o'clock." She retorted.

"Really?" He asked in disbelief. He looked at the clock behind him and she was right, it was pass nine. "Damn. Times goes by fast when you're having fun." He gave a stupid smirk to Celeste, who giggled against the rim of the bottle.

"Hey Sookie." She finally said.

"What are you doing in my house?" Sookie tried not to sound disgusted, but it couldn't be helped.

"I was waiting for you. I though since I'm gonna be protecting you and all that I should at least get to know you. The same vice versa."

"Well I'm sorry, but tonight is not a good night." She lied. There wasn't much planned for the evening, except that Bill was coming over. Most likely they would talk and if Sookie got really lucky, make love.

"She's been waitin' for you since four Sook." Jason said standing up. He was defending her. Jason Stackhouse who only saw women as a good way to relieve stress and improve his sexual stamina was protecting a girl he didn't even know! Sookie was beyond flabbergasted. She couldn't believe the extent Celeste had gone. Sookie scowled at Jason, preferring not to make a scene and gestured for Celeste to follow her.

Sookie entered her bedroom and immediately went to the bathroom. She patted her face with cold water to reduce the redness that was beginning to build. She gave herself a pep talk: "Don't be mean Sookie. Try to understand her. Bill was right. I should be thankful to her for doing this or else Bill wouldn't be coming at all. Right. Be nice. Let her speak." Sookie dried her face and came back to see Celeste looking at a few pictures on Sookie's dresser. She held one of Sookie and Tara from when they were younger.

"You have a very nice house." Celeste said, still looking at the picture.

"Thank you." Sookie went over and looked at the picture with her. She could vaguely remember the day that she took the picture with her friend, but knew she must have been very happy because of the broad smile on her face. For a moment she wished that she was a child again; life would seem less complicated. Kids didn't understand the world around them. They didn't know what vampires were except for that spokes-lady that appeared on the news a lot arguing how good vampires were. They didn't know about shifters or werewolves or any of that. It was just them for all they knew. Celeste carefully set the picture down and turned to Sookie.

"I hope I'm not being too impersonal when I ask this, but, how long have you been dating Bill?" She asked. Sookie wasn't surprised. She knew sooner or later her new protector would ask. However, she was surprised that Celeste was being so care-free about it. As if she had a serious curiosity. Then again, that's how she was whenever she asked questions.

"Um, would you like to sit down?" She asked. Celeste nodded and both took a seat on the edge of the bed. "Not that long actually, probably a little less than a year."

"Really? I thought it would have been much longer with how you guys act around each other."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. You guys kinda remind me of an old married couple." Sookie giggled at the comment. Yes, Bill was very old, but Sookie didn't mind. "When I see you together it's like you just know 'those two are in love'. You're both tentative to the others needs and when you look into each other's eyes it's like a ring of fire is around you two. It's pretty intense stuff."

"Do you love Eric?" Sookie said before could take it back. It was one of those moments when you think about something and then without realizing it, you said it out loud. Sookie felt like smacking herself then and there. Yes she wanted to know about Eric and Celeste's relationship, but she didn't want to seem so abrupt or hasty about it.

Celeste stifled a laugh and stood up, crossing her arms over her chest. She looked at Sookie with a scrutinizing but gentle expression.

"What is your relationship with Eric?" She asked nonchalantly.

"What's yours?" Sookie was on the defensive now. Celeste knew where this was going. It was one of those "my dick is bigger than yours" situations. And in all honesty, Celeste didn't like it.

"He is a friend."

"With benefits?" Sookie said in an acrimonious tone. Celeste thought for a moment. Where they friends with benefits? Aside from the make-out and heavy touching from time to time, they never did anything. That was the entire point, but still, they never took things a step further. Celeste digested this information slowly and started to think about how to take their relationship up a notch or two.

"I wouldn't say that . . . yet, anyway."

"What's that suppose to mean?" Sookie said, now standing up, replicating Celeste's stance. Celeste didn't reply, instead she decided to change the subject. She didn't like that Sookie was trying to pry her way into her personal life, especially when it involved Eric. She knew Sookie wouldn't understand and decided to save her some unwarranted confusion.

"So, you can read minds. That's pretty cool. Can you read Bill's?" Celeste noticed Sookie's eye twitched at the mention of his name. Maybe it was the fact that it came from her lips that she didn't like.

"No. I can't read yours either."

"Oh. Well my fields to blame for that. It's protecting me 24/7, even when I sleep. It's kinda funny because vampires try to glamour me and they freak out when it doesn't work. Does that ever happen to you?"

"No. Vampires don't try to glamour me."

"Well aren't you special." Celeste's voice was somewhat mocking, but Sookie didn't seem to notice. There was a long moment of silence. Sookie wanted to know more about Celeste's relationship with Eric, she knew they were having sex. She felt it to the core. Sookie felt something towards Celeste . . . jealousy? Anger? All she knew was that it wasn't good. Sookie was ready to ask, or state rather, but before she could, the bedroom door open and Bill stood in the threshold. He didn't seem surprised to see Celeste. Both immediately greeted each other.

"Hey Bill." Celeste said in a warm tone that Sookie didn't buy for a second.

"Hello Celeste."

"How's your back?" She placed her hand on his shoulder. Sookie was on the verge of pouncing on her, but held her ground.

"It is fine. I assure you." He brushed her hand off and went to Sookie. A smile was immediately replaced on her face.

"I was just talking to your girlfriend. I thought we should get to know each other better since we're going to be leaving in a couple of days."

"How nice of you. I not only came to see you Sookie," Bill said looking down at his beloved. "I ran into Eric on my way over here.

"Eric? What is he doing in Bon Temps?" Sookie asked with a disgusted look.

"I assume that he was looking for you Celeste. He asked me to tell you to meet him at your place if I saw you by chance."

"Oh. Well that's a pisser-offer. I was just about to go home, but I think I'll stop by a couple of places before I go. Just to make him wait." They said their goodbye's and Celeste went outside and headed for Merlottes.

* * *

"I do not know why you insist on waiting for this bloodbag." Pam leaned against the door and looked at Eric, whom sat in the same white recliner as last time. They were in Celeste's house. Since earlier that day Eric couldn't get his mind off of her. He couldn't focus and realized that it had been what seemed like weeks since the last time he tasted her lips or any part of her for that matter.

" I don't see why you bothered to come." He replied.

"I want to see why you are making a huge fuss over her. She is causing you to lose focus."

"No she is not. There have been a lot of things on my mind."

"I can get rid of her if you want." Pam suggested. Eric death glared her so intensely that it caused Pam to sink deeper into the door.

"You will not touch her." He said in a caustic and acrimonious tone. Pam said nothing else, knowing that if she did her head would be ripped off. Hours passed and nothing happened. Eric was going impatient and anxious. He had to see her. He had to feel her, taste her, breath her intoxicating scent. Celeste was a drug and Eric was undeniably hooked. He looked at his watch and paced around the room. Where could she be? He though. It was nearly three, which meant he only had a few hours before he would have to go back to Fangtasia and return to his bed. Pam grew tired of waiting and decided to leave her Maker with his pet, if she ever would arrive. But, she was also amused. Pam had never seen Eric go so far for anyone, let alone a human. She smirked as she jumped out a window and headed back to the bar.

Eric constantly looked from his watch to the door. He would sit down only to get out of the seat and look at his watch then the door. He sat back down in the recliner, tapping his fingers against the armrest. What is taking her so long? But, Eric being Eric, he decided to seize the moment. He was alone in Celeste's house; which meant that he could do anything he wanted. He quickly went to the bedroom and immediately started opening and rummaging through drawers. At first he didn't find anything interesting; at least anything that would interest him. But once he went to the dresser adjacent to the closet, he found more than what he was looking for. Eric slowly and carefully pulled out a piece of lingerie that he couldn't help but imagine Celeste in. It was a peach corset with black stripes running down it. There was also a black G-string and leggings that went up to mid-thigh. Eric put it back and looked at another piece next to it. It was a black translucent bra with matching panties with ribbons tied on the side.

"She is going to where this for me one night. And when that night comes, I am going to rip it to shreds." Eric closed the drawer and laid down on the bed, locking his hands behind his head and closing his eyes.