A/N: First and foremost I am so sorry that it has taken so long for me to update. My computer crashed and I had to go get it fixed, I am just now getting it back , so please enjoy this chapter and I'm sorry if it kinda sucks, my head has been all over the place recently and I've been really busy. But please enjoy, review and I hope you like it.
Chapter 7: Fights and Saying No
Celeste pulled out her black and white striped suitcase and set it on her bed. She couldn't get what Sam and Lafayette has said to her earlier that evening out of her head for some reason and it started to bother her. She couldn't understand why they were so protective of her. She hadn't known them that long but liked them a lot. She understood why Sookie was so fond and protective of them. They all brought something to the table. Lafayette and Tara were smart and wise, but did a lot of stupid shit. Terry was always a gentleman and tried to make her laugh when she was feeling a little down. And Sam . . . well he was like all three combined. He had a good head on his shoulders and thought about a lot of things. He did some stupid stuff but learned from his mistakes and offered wisdom to others. Not to mention he was always kind to Celeste and was always there for her most of the time. As Celeste thought about this, she figured there was some truth to what they said. She didn't know much about Eric, and the stuff she did know wasn't so good. He didn't know much about her, which was a good thing. Celeste knew that he would have Pam digging in her past, but hopefully she wouldn't dig too much out.
Celeste was in very deep thought as she folded some of her clothes and put them in her suitcase. She thought about what happened last night. For some reason it pissed her off. Things weren't suppose to go that far that fast. The idea was to take things slowly and not to get too far ahead of each other, so that both would be on equal playing fields. But Eric was a head of her, which was a good thing and a bad thing. The bad part was that Celeste had to find a way to get back at him without giving him anything; to punish him in a way. She would have to find a way to give him a fraction of what he gave her, and make it unbearable for him. But on the flip side, there were a few things that played in her favor. Eric had received a lot more than he deserved, so naturally he would want more. He would try to make what happened the night before a regular thing until he was ready for the main event. But that also meant that he would desire her more. He saw how she reacted and felt only a small portion of what she could be like in bed; he would want to see more of that.
Celeste laughed at the fact that Eric screwed himself over. Yeah he got a leap on her, but he was worse off because of it. Celeste would use this to her advantage until she felt like having or not having her way with him. From her bedroom she heard the front door open and close. Perfect timing, she thought. She pretended not to notice his presence as he leaned against the threshold, his arms crossed over his chest and his weight on one leg.
"I was expecting you at Fangtasia." He said.
"I know." Celeste said nonchalantly. She continued to fold the clothes next to her.
"I don't want you conversing with Sam Merlotte."
"Why? Don't you like Sam?"
"Not particularly." He said in a semi-harsh tone.
"I think he's adorable. He doesn't take advantage of me like some people."
"Do you consider last night as me taking advantage of you?" Celeste could hear him smirking as he spoke.
"Of course."
"Really? It seemed to me that you were enjoying it very much." Celeste could still hear his smirk.
"I never denied it." Celeste placed the clothes in the suitcase and closed it, zipping it shut. "But you took it too far."
Celeste finally turned around and looked at him. After last night she thought the sight of him would repulse her with how angry she was, however, it did the exact opposite. She was almost immediately aroused and Eric could feel it through the bond that Celeste was still unaware of. "I hardly think so." He replied.
"Like I said." Celeste kept her ground. "You took it too far."
"I don't recall you trying to stop me from doing so."
"Who's to say I didn't? You were all over me I could barely get anything out." She stated.
"Celeste we both know that if you really wanted to stop me you would have." Eric said with a smirk. Celeste tapped her foot on the ground in aggravation.
"What are you really getting out of this Eric? Why are you trying so hard to get me when there are so many others that throw themselves at you willingly?" Eric brought his finger to his lips and lightly tapped them, pretended to think.
"You interest me."
"I believe that has already been established." She said, pressing him for a more elaborate answer.
"Fine." He said. "I cannot glamour you and you can physically keep me at a distance. I can't glamour Sookie either, but she can't push me away like you can. Not only that you resist me, taunt me and please me all at once. Your mere presence is enough to get me going." He said the last part with a smirk while attentively eyeing Celeste.
"Well, I'm so glad to hear that." She replied sarcastically.
***
The Following Evening
"Lafayette calm down. You're gonna scare all our customers away." Sam said as he cleaned a beer mug with a cloth. Lafayette was anxious about the fact that Celeste was leaving, and hoped that she would come in before she left like she said. He wanted to change her mind and find a way to make her stay, but Lafayette knew that once Celeste set her mind on something nothing could change it. It was the one thing he hated about her at the moment.
"I don't give a fuck, these people gonna be back here tomorrow night just like yesterday and the day before that." He replied, his eyes fixed on the door.
"Don't count on her comin' in." Sam said beneath his breath.
"She's gonna be here damnit. Cici said she would be and she will be." After a few minutes of searching for an MIA Celeste, Lafayette turned to the bar and took a shot of a clear liquid that scorched his throat as it slithered down to his stomach. "That bitch better get here soon. Do you know when her flight is?"
"Eleven I think." Said Sam.
"How's the fuck you know when she's leavin'?" He snapped.
"Because I asked her." Sam rolled his eyes at the chef and wiped down the counter.
"How are you so calm about Cici leavin' Sam? I know you gotta little somethin' somethin' going on with her." Lafayette smirked before taking another shot.
"Cici can take care of herself Lafayette. And she's coming back," He said with a shrug of the shoulder. "Besides, Bill and Sookie will be there so we don't have anything to worry about."
"You mean YOU ain't got nothin' to worry about. Cici can take care of herself but she does some stupid shit. The only reason why she's leavin' is because she's in stupid shit!" He yelled.
"Damnit Lafayette calm down! And don't be sayin' shit like that about Cici."
"You know I'm right Sam." Lafayette said once he finally calmed down. "Everybody and de mama know how you feel about that girl. I'm surprised you haven't gotten down on your knees and begged her to stay." He said with a tip of his head.
"Cici leaving has nothing to do with me."
"Shit. You may be able to fool yourself into thinking that none of this got anything to do with you, but the truth is that you got it bad for Cici, and everyone seems to know that except her. So don't try to tell me that you don't give a fuck whether or not she's leavin', because I know you do."
"Well what do you want me to do Lafayette?" Sam nearly yelled, throwing that dirty cloth under the counter. "Cici isn't like all the other girls. She does what she wants and is quick to be brutally honest with you. I'm not settin' myself up for more rejection."
"You talkin' about Sookie?" Lafayette asked. He always did have a keen way of reading between the lines. Sam had been rejected by Sookie many times, and even Lafayette was starting to get tired of it. That was one thing that he was worried about. He was concerned that Sam would just use Cici as a rebound after being constantly put down from Sookie, but he also knew that Cici brought out the better side of Sam and that if they tried hard enough, they could work out and be quite the couple. They were good for each other, they made each other human. Lafayette recalled the countless times Cici almost beat the shit out of a bunch of hillbilly's for grabbing her ass and saying things that even Lafayette wouldn't dare to say to her. However, Sam was always there to calm her down and keep her from breaking a few "packages", so to say.
"No, I'm not." Sam replied after a long moment.
"Sam," Lafayette leaned against the bar and gave him the serious lecture face that everyone became familiar with. "Cici is leaving in a few hours, and we don't know when she's going to be back. Sookie is going with Bill and Cici is going with Eric. Don't tell me that don't make you uncomfortable even a little." Sam let out a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"It does. But I have no claim on her, so it doesn't matter.
"Don't have a claim on who?" Someone suddenly said. Lafayette turned around and Sam looked up. Their eyes met Celeste immediately, her standing figure only a few feet away from them. Lafayette gave a quick glance at Sam, then looked back at Celeste. "Hey guys." She said with a smile as she looked at both of them.
"Hey Cici." Lafayette looked back at Sam then at her. "I have to go cook some shit so I'll talk to you later." He said, making an excuse for him to leave and get Sam and Celeste alone. Sam knew immediately what Lafayette was up to and was half ready to yell at him, but was unable to. Celeste said that she would go see him before she left and turned her attention to Sam.
"See." She started. "I told you I would come by before I left." Celeste smiled and Sam felt a tinge of guilt for some reason. He had no idea when she would be coming back, or if she would be. Eric could keep her by him for months, even years if he wanted to.
"Good. Come on," He gestured for her to follow him. "Let's go talk in my office."
"Umm . . . okay." Celeste followed him hesitantly. Once they entered she sat down on top of his desk, her legs crossed. Sam closed the door and stood a few feet away from her. "So, what did you want to talk about?" She said while grabbing a picture frame of his desk; it was a picture of everyone, Sam, Tara, Sookie, Lafayette, and a few others in front of Merlottes on a very sunny day. Celeste smiled at the picture and set it back down, returning her attention to him. Sam combed his fingers through his hair and sucked in a breath.
"When are you coming back?" He asked. Sam knew Lafayette was right; he just didn't want to admit it. Sam cared deeply for Celeste and the idea of her traveling with Eric made it unbearably uncomfortable for him. He knew that Eric was going to try something on her; he had no doubt about that.
"I don't know. Whenever Eric decides." She said nonchalantly while twirling a number 2 pencil between her fingers.
"Can you trust this guy Cici?" Sam was trying to be as indifferent as possible. There was a long pause before she answered him.
"I don't know."
"Then what the hell are you doing with him?" Sam moved a few feet closer to her, but there was still a large gap between them.
"I don't know really. Maybe I'm waiting to figure that out." Celeste looked at Sam and smiled. "Sam. This is my last couple of hours in Bon Temps until gosh knows when. Do you really want to talk about this?" She said in a testing, but also teasing tone.
"Yeah I do, because I want to know that you are going to be safe and that Eric isn't going to try anything with you."
"I knew it," Celeste hopped down from the desk. "Lafayette put you up to this didn't he?"
"He ain't got anything to do with this. I just don't trust the guy that you're going to be spending 24 hours with for who know how long!"
"Sam, not now. I have to go soon so just tell me that you're gonna miss me and I'll be on my way."
"You know I'm gonna miss you. It just don't feel right that you're going to be spending so much time with a vampire you barely know." He said defensively.
"So it's okay for Sookie to spend all her time with her boyfriend Bill Compton then?"
"That is different." He said while pointing a finger at her.
"How is it different?" The conversation was starting to get heated by the second and it took a turn for the worst that Sam really wanted to prevent. But this was Celeste he was talking to; he had to remember that.
"Sookie and Bill have been dating for over a year and I know enough about both of them to trust them."
"So you're saying you can't trust me?" Celeste yelled. "So because you don't know Eric that well and you don't feel comfortable about me going on a business trip him that means you don't trust me? That does not make any sense at all!"
"Celeste, Eric is a dangerous vampire and I know what he is capable of doing! You should not be hanging around with him!"
"All vampires are dangerous Sam! All of them! That includes Bill Compton!" Celeste stamped her foot on the ground in frustration. Celeste waited for Sam to say something, instead he simply looked at her dumbfounded. Celeste knew that Sam was just looking out for her, but he didn't have to make up excuses to get her to stay. He should have just told her that he didn't want her to go, and most likely, she wouldn't have.
However, when Sam didn't respond whatsoever, Celeste turned on her heel and went for the door. Her hand reached the silver handle and pushed down, pulling it open slightly only for it to be closed shut before she could get her foot out. Sam leaned against the door, his body towering over hers, preventing the door from opening. He looked intently at her, wishing that she could read his thoughts or at least interpret his expression. He opened his mouth, but when nothing came out he closed it. He closed his eyes for the briefest moment then looked back at Celeste.
"I'm going to miss you." He said finally. The corners of her mouth turned up in a small faint smile, barely noticable.
"I'm going to miss you too." Celeste pulled the door open again, but it closed again before she stepped out. She looked up at Sam expectantly, waiting for him to say something else. Sam cursed himself internally and made a note to smack himself when he had the chance. He was ready to tell her, he wanted to tell her. However, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He pissed her off and he said some things he shouldn't have. Sam would only get cut in two by her biting words if he said anything else. He slowly stepped back from the door and let Celeste open it. She waved good-bye to him with the smile she always had on her face whenever he saw her and closed the door just before looking back at him for the briefest moment.
***
"Hey bitch." Celeste said, tapping on the tin counter in front of the kitchen. Lafayette stood a few feet away from her on the other side, platting a cheeseburger and fries.
"So did Sam tell you my skankalicous friend?" He said while he set the plate next to her.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Celeste replied innocently.
"Hoe, I know Sam talked to you about somethin'."
"I knew it!" Celeste slapped her hands on the counter, unintentionally calling all of the attention in the bar at them. "You did put Sam up to it!"
"I didn't do anything baby, I just gave him the tools and the opportunity."
"Lafayette why are you doing this? I already get enough from you trying to talk me out of it, and Sam isn't any better!"
"Well we all got our reasons for wanting you to stay honey. Some more than others." Lafayette looked over at Sam as he went back to the bar; Celeste was completely unaware of his sudden appearance.
"Okay. But my flight leaves in less than an hour so I have to go. So I'll see you when I get back."
"If you comin' back." He replied under his breath.
"I'm coming back." Celeste said sternly. She said her goodbye's and left in a hurry to get to the airport before she got her head bitten off by a certain someone.
***
Eric Northman was never one to wait on people, but lately he found himself doing much of it. It was nearly 10:30 and the private jet would take off in half an hour with or without Celeste. His arms crossed over his chest and his fingers tapped against his biceps impatiently. Even though he had grown tired of waiting for her while Bill and Sookie did the same only inside the jet, Eric thought about what would happen over the trip.
His plane was to bed Celeste before they returned to Bon Temps and have her be his new pet that was close to him at all times. He started to imagine what she would look like with a collar around her neck with a metal chain connected to it being clutched in his hand. Eric knew it was a farfetched idea, even for him, because Celeste would never allow such a degrading and immoral thing to happen. Eric thought about the night not to long ago where he had her in his grasp. He so desperately wanted to take her that night, but because of his desire to make the evening she does finally yield to him mind blowing and wonderful, he decided to bite his tongue and wait it out. Eric remembered that evening so vividly as he stood there, leaning against the jet, that he was not surprised when a growing bulge in his pants started to appear. He looked at it briefly and rolled his eyes; it surprised him and pissed him off that Celeste, a woman that he had only touched a few times, could have such a tremendous effect on him.
He knew that she would be amazing once he took her. The minor taste he had of her the other night only fueled his desire and drive more to get her in bed with him. Eric would be pulling out all of his tricks and slowly but surely move further in their sexual relationship.
Eric started to zone out as he imagined the previous night with Celeste again. Her body wrapped close around him, her arms digging into his bare shoulders, making growl in pleasure, the sweet sounds that fell from her irresistible lips were like the purest drug to him, driving him insane, her hooded eyes filled with lust and desire as she looked at him, and the one thing he absolutely loved most about her was the way she bit her bottom lip while he plunged his fingers inside her. His body shook at the thoughts and the small bulge turned into a full on erection, causing Eric to curse himself. Why must I do this to myself? He thought. His fingers tapped harder against his bicep as he waited impatiently for Celeste.
"Eric." Eric turned toward the jet door to see Bill Compton stepping out. "Is Celeste here yet?" He said while walking down the steps.
"Unfortunately no." He replied in aggravation. The last thing he need was Compton ranting on to him about what time Celeste should have arrived.
"Well, she does have a little time left I suppose." He said while glancing down at his watch. "Which gives me just enough time to converse with you." He looked at Eric, whom glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "If I may." Bill quickly added.
"What is it that you wish to talk to me about?" Eric said without turning his attention to him.
"About you and Celeste, unless it is something you do not desire to discuss."
"That is a topic you should refrain from bringing up." Eric stood up and shoved his hands into his jean pockets, giving Bill his full attention. "However, what is it that you wish to ask of Celeste and I? Out of curiosity."
"All I wanted to know is what your relationship with her is. Simply put. Unless it to delicate a matter than I understand." Eric stifled a smirk at his statement and thought about it. Their situation was a delicate one. It was a kind that others should not know about, however, Eric was very tempted to tell others just to see what Celeste would do . . . to him anyway.
"My relationship is not delicate it is . . . inappropriate." He said with a grin.
"How do you mean?" Bill asked with a baffled expression.
"You would not understand. And you don't need to. I do suggest that you do not ask of anything from Celeste or tell her of our little conversation. She would not like me telling anyone about our relationship." Eric said in the same monotone voice that he always had when he talked to Bill. Bill though about this information for a moment and agreed with Eric before returning back to the jet. Eric wasn't sure if he had done the right thing. At that moment he wanted to tell Bill everything just to see what Celeste would do, but he thought that it would be best if he waited to tell the others once he had achieved his goal. He was about to lean against the jet again when he heard the familiar sound of high heels against gravel. He turned around toward the gate and saw Celeste, walking briskly over to the jet with the same boots she had worn the first night he saw her.
Eric took a few steps around the plane, his hands still in his pockets and looked at her. Her wavy hair was intricately pinned up the way a princess would wear it to a ball, the only thing she was missing was a crown around her head. He gave her a quick once over and immediately liked what he saw. She wore a jean skirt that went to her mid thigh, her boots covering the rest of her legs for the most part, a long white tank top with a green cardigan about the same length over it. He watched her breasts lightly move left and right as she made her way over to him. A few feet away from him, one of the workers took Celeste's suitcase and carried it to the jet.
"I am so sorry I'm late." Her face was flustered and red as she apologized to him, her chest heaving up and down as she caught her breath.
"Where have you been?"
"I had to take care of a few things, say goodbye to a few people. You know." She smiled and walked around him, only to stop suddenly when his hand clutched her wrist. Eric pulled her back to him, forcing Celeste to face him. "You seriously need to stop doing that." She said, shaking her hand away. Eric looked intently at her and imagined how easy it would be to repeat the same even from the night before.
"You look delicious right now, I could just eat you." He pulled her closer to him. Celeste could feel his erection through his jeans and looked down at it, then looked back at him.
"You're friend is poking me." She said with a smirk.
"Well he has been doing that quite often, but yet you insist on not doing anything about it." He replied with a matching smirk.
"I've been thinking," Celeste pressed her body closer to him, putting pressure against Eric's erection. Eric held back a groan in his throat and listened and watched her. "What happened a few nights ago . . . it was really wonderful."
"Every night could be just as wonderful if you yield to me." He challenged.
"I know. And I really want to." Celeste said while biting her bottom lip, causing Eric's erection to twitch.
"Just say it then." Eric wrapped his arms around her waist, one of his hands slowly sliding down to grasp her ass. "I'll make you never want another man in your life." He lightly squeezed and relished at the slight increase in pressure against his erection.
"I know. But again, I've been thinking. And I still think you took it too far."
"I can go much much farther little one, you soon shall see." He said with a sexy smirk that Celeste feel like jelly. Even though she was still unaware of the bond they had, she felt her arousal grow and her desire to feel him touching her and his lips against her flesh and his fingers deep inside her. Eric could sense it and knew that he wouldn't have to do much anymore to get her ready for him. Celeste wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down closer to her. She grazed her lips against his, sending the familiar sensations throughout her body that she loved to feel so much. Eric pressed his lips closer to her, but Celeste pulled back so that their lips faintly touched. "You enjoy teasing me?" He asked in a husky voice, filled with desire and lust. Celeste captured his bottom lip between her teeth and lightly pulled before letting go and brushing his lips again.
"Mmm, absolutely." She moaned for effect. Eric pushed himself against her completely, but , instead of getting the expected kiss that he had been waiting desperately for, he found his lips pressed against a smooth surface and the hand that had once been on her ass grasped nothing. Eric looked at Celeste and saw a large smile on her face. He took a step back and finally realized that she put her field back up again. Eric cursed himself. Her giggling figure pissed him off and he was ready to charge at her, but suddenly remembered what happened last time.
"You cannot have that field up forever." He said in a biting and bitter tone.
"No. But I can do as I please now." She said in a serious tone. "I hope you enjoyed your little taste of me. Because from this moment on, don't be expecting it or anything else again."
"What are you getting at?" He said in confusion.
"That little stunt you pulled pissed me off. And honestly, because of it, you're not getting anything. Not even a kiss. You are not going to touch me until you beg me to touch you." Celeste looked down at Eric's erection. "And make sure you tell your little friend that, I want to make sure he understand as well." Celeste turned on her heel and went up the steps to the jet. Eric was still registering what she had said. Celeste Monroe was not going to allow Eric Northman to touch her . . . at all? That sad part was was that Eric knew that Celeste could pull it off and that she would. He shoved his hands back into his pockets and muttered a few curses under his breath before entering the jet and finally departing to their first destination: Los Vegas.