You can be a sweet dream
Or a beautiful nightmare
Either way I
Don't wanna wake up from you
-Beyoncé, Sweet Dreams
AN: A few days ago I was like what about another Taralijah fic? And I came up with this lol
In the modern-day world, select vampires are preparing to come out of the coffin and go public with the mainstreaming agenda, thanks to a miracle elixir that would help them survive without feeding on humans.
"Sweet dreams, baby," Jason said after he kissed her forehead. Tara was glad when he turned the other way instead of spooning her. It was harder to fall asleep in his arms and it delayed the Magic Man from making his debut. It wasn't that she didn't love Jason, Tara certainly did, it just wasn't the same way he loved her. He'd pursued her on and off for years and she couldn't blame him for his off times. After all, why should he continue chasing when he wasn't getting anywhere with her?
The circumstances that led to them being together were just convenient, he had to have guessed that by now. Growing up with Jason and Sookie Stackhouse made them family first, no matter if Jason spent his teenage years with a boner for her. It was six months since she'd given in to his chronic requests to be his girl and she was going to be eighteen in the morning. She still wasn't ready to sleep with him. In fact, she rather enjoyed their somewhat asexual relationship aside from his sly advances, since most of the time he wasn't bad company.
She felt Jason turn back towards her and stifled a sigh. She should have known he'd want to fool around since her birthday was coming. He'd use any event as an excuse to let the hormones roll.
"Tara," he whispered in a gravelly voice as his arm slipped around her waist. "Can we-"
"Jason, no. I'm really not in the mood," she scooted away from him and heard a soft sigh before he laid back down.
He knew by now she never was before bed. He had a far greater chance of catching her in the mood when she woke up in the mornings. She still wasn't ready to go all the way but she let him fondle her most mornings. It helped resolve the tension her dreams had built up. Tara knew she wouldn't be ready anytime soon, as much as she adored Jason, he was nothing compared to her Magic Man.
Tara wasn't certain if he was real or just a fantasy, but she clung to the idea of him that her dreams gave her.
He only came to her at night. Always in dark clothing, always silent, always eyeing her with a hypnotic, smoldering blue-eyed stare that threatened to steal her soul with how deep he gazed. The pale of his alabaster complexion gave him a fluorescent glow, and he stood tall with jet black curls cascading over his shoulders that were decorated in a blood red, crushed velvet blazer. It had golden embroidery along the shoulders and chest as well as its long coat tails. He dressed like an aristocrat at the turn of the twentieth century. He was beautiful and he was literally magic.
He could manipulate the dreamscape to anywhere in the world and transform it to her liking, anything she could think of. He always seemed to read her mind when she had an idea, he would make it a reality, at least within the confines of her dream. He conjured animals, rare and extinct, solely for her enjoyment and on occasions he conjured monsters just to slay them in her honor. He danced with her on the moon which nearly culminated in her first kiss, they explored the rings of Saturn, and traveled through the sands of time. Every night with him was an adventure, and it was always night and it was always magical.
Tonight, they kept their adventure close to home, in what was the Bon Temps Cemetery, one of their usual haunts. Only on this night, it was decorated with a pond and smooth stones to lounge on instead of gravestones. A wooden swing hung over the pond and Tara leisurely swayed back and forth in it while he conjured and set up a buffet fit for royalty next to the pond. The Magic Man once again manipulated the position of the moon and stars to cast a luminescent glow on Tara's skin, bathing her buttery melanin vellum in sparkling moonlight. As he finished setting the feast, he came to stand at the edge of the pond. She felt his energy commanding her nearer and in the blink of an eye, she was standing before him. He guided her towards one end of the table.
Tara beamed with excitement when she saw exotic fruit and flowers, a turkey dinner, with sides and dessert such as sweet potato pie and peach cobbler. Even cornbread, which smelled just the way Lettie Mae used to make it. She reached for it until the beignets caught her eye. The Magic Man plucked one from its pile on its dish and placed it in front of her patient lips. He fed it to her gently and as always, it tasted delightful. She'd never tasted anything as exquisite as the foods he gifted her in her dreams. She savored it with her eyes closed, swiping her tongue across her lips, before opening her eyes.
He tossed a fallen curl out of his eyes with a light jerk of his head and smiled down at her. He needn't speak any words to convey how beautiful he thought she looked tonight, it was all in his eyes. Taking her chin between the tender caress of his fingertips, he stepped closer, breathing harder, leaning in with a lick to his lips. Suddenly the sound of water crashing then falling, as if someone drove a pitcher into the pond to scoop up water then poured it out, struck their audio senses.
The pond lit up then, with a bright glow. The Magic Man smiled and turned towards the pond, instead of moving his lips closer to Tara. He beckoned her to the water as well, pausing to await her advanc. When her eyes had adjusted enough to the pond's glow, everything felt and looked twice as beautiful she stepped forward, taking his patiently extended hand. The glow of the pond blazed once again.
Suddenly, he drew her in closer, pressing her against his rock-hard form. A chocolate brown gaze collided with ocean eyes and time all but stopped in that moment. She didn't know whether she'd been sucked into his orbit, or him hers, the only thing that was clear was that she couldn't go the rest of her life without the dive. Diving into him and everything he was was now a need, a part of her being. No matter where he'd been or the things he'd done, Hell would have to freeze over ten times before she let anything come between her and this person, who was reserved in her heart. Tara never wanted to wake up if it meant leaving his presence, she'd never felt something more authenitic than being with him in her dreams; real life could fade away if only she could stay forever with him. If loving him was to be the death of her, then so be it!
His eyes reciprocated the emotion she was feeling, captivated in his hold and gaze. Nothing was as clear as it was in that wordless moment, and still, words were neither desired nor required. His lips parted as his breath bated and hand traveled up her neck to gently clutch behind her ear. He sucked in a hiss before he leaned down and pulled her in simultaneously to meet his lips. He pressed them against her, eagerly as he enveloped her in his embrace.
Getting lost in his lips damn near weakened her knees and Tara swayed, high off the energy and touch that was her mysterious prime time devotee. She looked up at him with pleading eyes to do it again, to which he issued a knowing grin before catching her lips once more. This time, he slipped his tongue in after a moment and Tara moaned when his oral muscle massaged all around hers. She'd never been kissed with his level of desire before, only pure and unadulterated lust. But this, this was different. Whatever intentions this man had for her was bred in pure and affectionate desire, a deep yearning inside of him, reaching for her. It was something she could inherently feel in her soul.
How was this possible? Five years since his visits had become their routine and she still didn't know his name, had no idea if he even knew hers. But she dared not ask, not to interrupt whatever his plans for the night were. It was always something different, something to impress her. And he did, each time. It was a strange sort of quiet domestic comfort she felt with him, whenever they got together. She trusted him completely, so much she never questioned him after the first few months. Tara just learned to be silent and still with him as he was with her. All she knew about him was that he adored her and he aimed to please her.
She kissed him back with eager force, hoping her kiss conveyed everything she felt. She knew she was in love and they were part of each other. This moment was five years in the making, dammit! When they broke for a breath, his blue eyes shone with gratitude and adoration. Then his face turned more serious and forlorn before he leaned close to her ear.
"Stay with me," he finally spoke in a hushed tone, masking the timber of his true voice.
Unfazed, Tara nodded in utter and complete devotion. She'd never leave this place, she'd sleep longer than Sleeping Beauty if it meant basking in the glory that was his perpetually silent company. His eyes appeared to well up with tears, only they were terribly reddened until he blinked it away. He shook it off and pulled her hand, leading her into the pond, waiting as she stepped past him. She waded into the glowing water with her gown clinging to her legs with moisture. The water felt heavenly and pleasantly cool. It was the perfect temperature.
She turned to beckon him into the pond, only he was already in the pond, frowning at the black ring that rippled around his form. Mouth gaping open in surprise, she cast her eyes back to his conflicted expression. Tara waded closer and stretched her arms out to welcome his embrace in a comforting hold. She needed to let him know that it was okay and she would ensure he could share the light and the bliss with her. This was her dream, dammit! Only upon floating closer into the black ring, an eerily cold sensation crept over her. Though it was perpetual night, it was always warm and delightful here, as if the fall or winter wouldn't ever come. The cold was rattling her psyche, she needed to be wrapped in his warm embrace.
He felt it too and took her in his arms and the blackness surrounding him shrouded Tara in its icy cold fury, but it wasn't solely cold covering her. It was despair and agony, this must be a step next to oblivion. The feeling wretched a hole in her heart, reached into its depths, and ripped out a piercing scream from her. She squeezed her eyes shut, sinking into the despair in the man's arms. The ache was unbearable and it couldn't be soothed.
Suddenly it was gone and she realized he'd released her. Blood stained his face and as Tara looked for signs that something had harmed him, as the black of the ring inked into him, seeping into his apparel and alabaster skin until he was only a shadow in the night, reaching out to her. He slowly crumbled away like dust as the blackness consumed him.
Tara cried out, helpless to stop it as he reached longingly for her. Before his face was gone he opened his mouth to say, "Tara, wake up!"
Opening her eyes, the early hours of daylight flooded her vision. More accurately, the sunlight bouncing off of Jason Stackhouse's face flooded her vision. He appeared concerned as he peered down at her. "Baby, you were having a nightmare,"
"No I wasn't,"
He frowned and so did Tara. "Really? You're still shaking. And sweating," he ran his hands down the side of her stomach. She realized her shirt was off and she was only in a sports bra. Fuckin' Jason.
"I'm fine, Jason, get off me. And where the hell is my shirt?"
He scoffed and sat up. "So what were you dreaming of?"
"You," she sat up too, looking around the room for her shirt.
Jason pulled her into his arms with her back to his chest. "Baby, you don't have to waste time in dreams if you just give it up to me," he pressed a kiss to the side of her neck while his hand splayed across her stomach. He perched it just below her belly and Tara silently dared him to go further so she could rip him a new one about the lines of consent. She wished she could change his mind, unfortunately, she never had that ability when it came to him. She was uncertain of why, since it worked with Sookie.
"Jason stop pressurin' me for something I'm not ready for,"
He sighed and caressed her abs. "It's been six months, you know how long I've been waitin on you? Since you were thirteen wearing them tight-ass jeans every time you came over. I've been fuckin since I was twelve and you ain't touched my dick once-"
Tara turned around and grabbed a fistful off his cock through his jersey shorts. "You know I'm not ready, and your naggin ain't getting me anywhere close to ready. Calm the fuck down, Jason. If we're meant to fuck, we will eventually,"
"Oh fuck, Tara," he rocked his package against her palm. Tara pulled her hand away, mentally kicking herself for getting him started. He would want to stimulate her while he relieved his own pressure, he always said it made him feel closer to her if they couldn't take it where he truly wanted, they could at least come together.
He laid her down and spread her legs apart, settling between them. Wide eyes stared at his half-closed ones.
"What are you doing?" She asked quietly.
"I just wanna feel you,"
He covered her body and rubbed his crotch against hers, putting pressure and friction on the spot that was going to ruin the thong she wore underneath her booty shorts.
"So tell me about this dream, baby," he murmured in her ear.
"You really wanna talk now?"
Tara could hardly make sense of the dream, only that it felt so vividly real. It always did. The dreams started when she was only thirteen years of age. They aged with her, only the man in the dreams was ageless. He always looked the same. She'd known Jason her whole life but within a few months of this mysterious man guest starring in her dreams, she'd come to trust him more than anyone, especially Jason, whom she couldn't trust as far as she could throw, with him always in hyper sex drive. He'd come to be a constant sort of comfort in her life as she did for him, since six months prior when his whole relationship with Hoyt and Daph blew up. He confided in her and was a gentleman at the time, so much so that she told him about the dreams she'd never even told Sookie about. This mystery man with long onyx S curls, gleaming alabaster skin, and hypnotic crystal blue eyes.
At the time she thought he'd understand that her heart was already captivated by someone else. She soon realized persistent was practically Jason's middle name. The knowledge might have been what fueled his charm since he began his courtship of her the next day. It worked, evidently since she decided to give him a chance.
Only Jason was in silent competition with the literal man of her dreams and Jason hated it so much that shortly after they became official, Tara resorted to telling him her dreams of him had long ago shifted from an every night to occasional occurrence in order to assuage his jealousy. She even pretended to have a bad memory.
She did not. And she knew something had definitely shifted when she turned thirteen, with her dreams, Jason's eye, and her unique ability.
In Jason's eyes, the fact that he'd begun noticing her when she was thirteen, around the same time she'd begun dreaming of the stranger meant that them finally getting together was fate. Jason was his own brand of dumbass with his wild theories, but it was clear he genuinely loved her. Or maybe he loved the fact that she was one of the only virgins left in their high school and he was dying to be her first.
Truth be told, Tara adored Jason because he was a piece of home for her. She'd only let him get as far as kissing and light touching up until this point. Still, he couldn't see herself going all the way with him. Whenever her hormones raged, it wasn't him driving her mad. She often thought of her dream man when she kissed Jason and wondered what it would be like to truly kiss him for years. Now that she'd gotten a taste of his lips, nothing would ever compare. Despair seized her heart when she remembered how the dream ended.
"Tara, where are you right now?"
"Huh?" She noticed he'd stopped grinding on her and was hovering over her again.
"You checked out halfway through our little grinding sesh,"
"Did I?" She smiled sheepishly. "I guess I'm not in the-"
"Yeah, I asked about your dream and your eyes glazed over," his eyes narrowed in frustration. "You were dreaming about that mother fucker again, weren't you?" He hoisted himself up and glared at her as he sat back on his side of the bed. "You think of him when I touch you, Tara?"
She hopped up from his bed and snatched her shirt off the floor. "Jason, please. You act like I actually let you touch me. You're just pissed because your boner died due to your insecurities. And I told you those dreams are gone, my dream probably consisted of your ass crying over Hoyt again,"
"Then why were you moaning? Oh, oh, I will! The fuck, will what?"
"I don't even remember but I wish I could. It sounds real kinky. But that doesn't give you the right to take off my shirt while I'm literally sleeping. That shit made me cold,"
Tara hugged her shoulders and moved to walk past him to slip into the bathroom as Jason caught her arm and pulled her between his legs, settling at the edge of the bed. "Baby, I don't wanna fight. It's your eighteenth birthday and we're gonna do something special tonight. I was hoping I could start your morning off real sexy. You sure you ain't dreaming about him?"
"Yes, Jason." She rolled her eyes.
"Then what's with your fucking attitude? Tara, I love you and you keep holding back from me,"
She sighed and silenced him by pressing a kiss to his lips. Then she turned his face to look up at her. "What we gon do tonight? I told you I had plans with Sookie and Lafayette since you'll be working,"
"I'm taking off work early to come pick you up after your little high school get together. Then we can do some full grown things,"
Tara smirked. "Now you're the one who's dreaming,"
His hands went from her waist to her ass. "I mean it. Tonight's the night," he squeezed it as he pressed her lips into her stomach. "But right now, you don't have to do anything you don't wanna do, this is all about you,"
He flipped her onto the bed and pulled off her booty shorts.
Letting Jason kiss her lips between the hips was a new level of intimacy Tara wasn't certain she'd been prepared for, but she was certain she wanted that to happen again. The way he made her body quiver with need before he shattered her world in the sweetest way was almost enough to take her mind off of the dream still lingering in the back of her mind. At this point she would welcome almost anything to take her mind off of the cold, despairing torment of her sweet dream turned nightmare.
A gift from Lettie Mae helped as well. It was the deed to her former childhood home, where she grew up. Her cousin Lafayette delivered it to her, along with a handwritten note in her mother's signature penmanship.
Tara Mae,
I know I've failed you time and time again. But you gonna see it one way or another, I have always loved you and I will make sure you're good for life, baby girl. Everything I've worked for is for you. I only hope we can share it one day, if you can ever find it in your heart to forgive me and let me be your mother. The Lord will forgive my sins, and I will answer to him. There's still time for you too, baby girl, all you have to do is forgive and repent. I love you no matter what, you were always the best part of me and I'm sorry it took me so long to realize it.
Love, Mama
Of all things to receive on her birthday, she wasn't expecting to cry, again. She didn't even know Lettie Mae had something prepared for her. Her best friend Sookie Stackhouse wrapped her arm around and rested her head against hers in consolation.
"You ready to go back to your mom's, Hookah?" Lafayette asked.
"Nah, I'm fine at Jason's for now,"
He gave her a sly side eye. "Mmhmm. That boy has been ready to dip into that cookie jar,"
Sookie gaped in surprise. "Lafayette!" She turned to Tara. "Are you even ready for that?"
"No. But I'm even less prepared to go back to Lettie Mae's crib," Sookie pulled her arm back and stared at Tara with an awkward concern. "What?"
"Nothing. It's just…"
"Sookie, spit it out,"
"She caught a biddy glimpse of what Jason has in mind for tonight. Based on y'alls eventful morning," Lafayette supplied, batting his false lashes.
Tara covered her eyes as Sookie and Laffy burst out laughing. "Oh my God, Sook, how'd you even-?"
"I wasn't trying, I swear! His mind was just pulsing with imagination, I suppose. I had to block out everyone and everything after that, so you can imagine what a mentally debilitating day I've had,"
She shook her head and pushed Sookie out of the door of Adele's home, grabbing her gift bags. In them contained the deed to her mother's home, sneakers, a hair bundle, and a home sweet home porcelain piggy bank that he and Sookie had each filled with fifty dollars. Sookie's gifts were a picture of them as girls with her Gran Adele, a luxury foot spa, and the YSL perfume Tara had admired a month prior at the only mall in Renard Parish. She had a damn good memory!
Jason claimed his tongue was her first gift, and he had more tangible gifts for the night.
"Let's just hit the dealership already, so we can hit the drive-in with my whip,"
After spending the day with her cousin Lafayette and Sookie, they went for a late lunch at Merlotte's before they hit the show. At the drive in movie theater, The Shining was showing that night, another great distraction from the shit day her birthday was. Once she finally found a vehicle she wanted to own, she was dismayed to find she would need a cosigner or have to put Lettie Mae's home up as collateral. It didn't matter that she was able to provide the cash on hand for a down payment, she had no established credit.
So no car, not that day at least.
At Merlotte's, Arlene snuck her a birthday shot after Lafayette, Sookie, and Tara expressed their woes. She tried to sneak her one more but her husband Renee entered the establishment. There was something about that man that rubbed her the wrong way, and that was aside from the fact that Sookie revealed in private that his inner monologue didn't have the Cajun accent he spoke with.
At least Tara had the shot that helped give the movie an edge to it. She didn't want to think of anything, not Lettie Mae, the house, the car situation, or even Jason. She especially didn't want to think of what would happen when she closed her eyes that night.
Dinner with Jason at Shreveport's finest, named Superior's for a blatant reason, included wine and a little black dress that Sookie had to have helped pick out because Lafayette would have definitely sexed it up, especially with the way he'd smoked out her eyes. He must have been trying to get Tara laid and live vicariously through her since he'd taken a vow of celibacy until further notice. He shipped them hard, but he just didn't understand. No one did.
Especially Jason, who had the audacity to propose at dinner. Staring into the mirror in the restroom, with tears streaming and her chest heaving, she knew she couldn't do it. A mundane life with Jason in the small town she'd hated her entire existence was only going to send her to an early self-inflicted grave. There was a reason she chose not to go back to Lettie Mae's. She adored him but she knew she'd never be in love with him, never felt the way he felt about her. He had read their entire relationship all wrong out of his own stubbornness but Tara had had enough. She had to get the hell out of dodge, right away. Wiping her tears away, she took one last look in the mirror and rushed to the door as someone was entering. She collided with the scent of White Diamonds and the aura of cold, and terror. The woman standing before her regarded her with a scrutinizing stare. She was pale with hazel eyes and hair that was born and bred of all things Sharon Osbourne with a deep maroon color and cut.
"Jesus Christ, you're real?" She snapped in part awe and disbelief while her eyes assessed Tara.
"Excuse me?"
Instead of elaborating, the woman hissed and she was gone in the blink of an eye. Tara didn't know what shook her more, the fact that the woman had disappeared so suddenly before her eyes, or the feeling she now recognized from her nightmare when he disappeared. It was death.
Tara felt awful for leaving Jason at the restaurant without even letting him know she was leaving but she knew where his mind was headed. He'd try to convince her that becoming intimate would bring them closer and it would coincide with the special engagement night he had planned. Instead, she ended up next to Merlotte's, weeping her eyes out on Sam Merlotte's porch.
"Tara?"
She looked up to see Sam slowly approaching.
"Why are you-"
She wiped her eyes and stood up. "I'm sorry. I'll get off your porch, got no business being here in the first place but the bar just closed,"
"I don't mind you on my porch. But I'd rather you be not be crying. You wanna tell me what's wrong?"
She shook her head. "I'm just gonna go. Back to Shreveport I guess,"
"This late? Tara that's a long ride and an even longer wait for the cab to come all the way out here,"
"Give me a ride then, Sam because I can't stay here and I can't go home. Please, I'm tired and burnt as hell from a shit birthday,"
"You think I'm gonna go out there at this time of night? Damn you really are having a bad night," he chuckled. "Come on in. You can have my bed, I'll take the couch,"
Sam wouldn't let her refuse his offer, reiterating it was dangerous for a young girl to be out this late. When she looked into his gray blue eyes, a painful reminder of the mystery man from her dreams flashed in her mind. She knew she wouldn't see him tonight and that knowledge caused major bedtime dread. What was the point of sleeping if there was to be no peace found in it?
"Sam," she said when he turned to leave his bedroom. "Can you stay with me please? I had a really bad dream last night, I don't wanna sleep alone,"
"Tara, I don't wanna step on any toes here. You and Jason…"
"Broke up. On my birthday. And you aren't stepping on any toes Sam, I'm still a virgin. Jason will be fine, it's not like he'll get jealous since he's my first,"
"Well come on," he grabbed a pillow and placed it between them as he laid down behind her. "You really didn't sleep with Jason? He about slept with every pretty girl in Renard Parish,"
"Oh my God, did I do that?"
She was referring to the pillow he'd placed between them.
"It's just a precaution, I don't want to offend you,"
"Thanks, Sam. And no, you just said the reason why. I don't know if I can even trust that thing, to be honest. But after five years of him chasing me, I figured I'd give him a chance. I think I only succeeded in ruining our friendship. He's gonna hate me forever,"
Sam placed an arm over her and hugged her close. "Nah, I doubt it. He's a stand up guy, but he's too simple minded to hold a grudge,"
Tara turned halfway around to face him. "He proposed and instead of answering I left the restaurant. You wanna rethink your stance on Jason holding grudges?"
"Damn, girl, that's fucked up," There was playful look shining in his soft blue eyes. Again, she thought of him. It made Tara's heart ache to dream once again.
"Are you sure that pillow isn't there because of me?"
"I'm sure it wasn't intentional. I've always been able to sense when someone is aroused before they even can,"
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as she faced forward. "Oh my God. How?"
"I just know women. I also knew you were a virgin,"
"Am a virgin. As in, still am, still gonna be until I find someone either worth it. It'll be someone I love," she corrected.
"You didn't love Jason?"
"I wouldn't say that, I'd say I wasn't in love with him,"
"Then you did the right thing. No point in wasting time with someone when you know it ain't gonna last,"
"Exactly right, why should I just bide my time?" She turned around to face him again. "You are such a gentleman, you know that? You didn't have to let me stay here, I could have went to Lafayette's. Might have even tried Lettie Mae's," she chuckled.
"You know Sookie called a while ago, asking if I'd seen you,"
Tara stiffened until he assured her he didn't rat her out. Sookie would sniff out whatever was in Tara's head to try to convince her that she wasn't giving Jason enough of a chance. Of course she probably wouldn't agree that marriage wasn't the answer, she only shipped Tara and Jason so hard because he's the only girl he's never purposely lied to, the keyword being purposely. It was a well known fact around town, at least around Merlotte's that Sookie was telepathic. It wasn't a very well received fact. People who didn't know her very well had thinly veiled fear of her, while others thought she was rude and an extremely nosy freak. Middle school and high school was tough to get through and seeing Sookie go through it made Tara suppress her gift as well. She couldn't hear anyone but she could implant thoughts in people's minds. It made any adversary she came across one step behind her since she didn't have to speak to drive them away. They never knew it was Tara's influence, it was like an invisible compulsion settled in their mind.
Like the time a pair of rednecks tried to rough her up outside of Merlotte's when she first got with Jason. They were clearly racist, sexist pigs. Sookie warned her not to go near them since they were by Jason's since they had rape on the brain when they spotted her at the booth with Jason. Instead of heeding Sookie's advice, she went to grab Jason's wallet from his truck. She was cornered but before anyone made a grab from her, damn I gotta piss, was implanted across one of their minds. He grabbed his friend and pulled him away. The thought of taking an afternoon swim after downing a case of beer floated from Tara's head into each of theirs. They could fucking drown for all Tara cared. Fuckers!
Tara tried not to abuse her ability, especially with Sookie hounding her about honesty and integrity, though it came in handy at times. It was also a way to get people to reveal what they really thought if she gave them the mindset to tell when they otherwise wouldn't. I
And it kept her from getting arrested more than once. Kenya was a sweetheart, she just wanted to give her fellow queen a chance, is what Tara told herself to justify that fact.
But in that moment, she wanted to know what was on Sam's mind. I should tell her how I feel.
For some reason a squawk came out of his mouth. She raised her brows and laughed. "You okay? Was that a sneeze or a cough?"
He coughed for real then and Tara wondered why he was fronting before he said, "I just really want to kiss you right now,"
She raised her brows again. "What's stopping you?"
"I don't know if you want me to,"
She shrugged. "Ion know if I want you to either," He lowered his eyes and sighed before she continued. "Only one way to find out,"
She bit her lip and hesitated for a moment before she leaned in and met his lips.
It felt as if Tara had laid down, closed her eyes and then sunlight was shining on her through the blinds. She woke from a dreamless sleep and such an empty feeling inside. He was really gone. It didn't matter who was next to her when she slept, if he wasn't there in her dreams, she was alone. The despair was great and Tara didn't understand how she could wake up feeling worse than before she went to bed. She then realized the bed was empty. Where the hell was Sam? As soon as she thought it, he stalked into the room, shirtless.
"Hey, sorry about that," he said as he climbed onto the bed. "Arlene's nosy ass told Jason she thought she seen you over here last night. He all but tore the door down, I told him I ain't seen you. We can fess up later, if you want, I just didn't want you to have to deal with this shit first thing in the morning. Especially with how you slept," he cupped her cheeks. "Do you always have night terrors?"
"What do you mean?"
"You tossed and turned all night, I think you were even crying in your sleep. What'd you dream about?"
"Nothing," Tara said in a monotone voice with a stupefied expression. She didn't dream a damn thing. She shrugged out of his hold.
"Are you feeling guilty about last night?"
"No, Sam. I think I needed that, actually,"
She had given him under the panties access and found out what manual stimulation was. All things Jason had tried before, only Tara never let him get that far. She'd heard about too many sexually active teenaged boys promising they just wanted to touch it, only to continue pressuring their girl into full on sex. It was different with Sam, she felt safe with him and not objectified, besides that, kissing him was so damn exhilarating, it sent tingles to her core. She knew she wanted to ride out the feeling to conclusion, and maybe it was the fact that Sam was a lot older and experienced. It didn't feel right to designate him to only over the clothes fondling as well. And she'd given her first hand job. With the reaction she'd elicited from Sam, she had him wondering if this was really her first rodeo.
Tara was just glad she'd pleased him a great deal and they didn't have to actually have sex. It also took her mind off the double loss that her birthday deigned to give her. The man of her dreams was gone, and she'd have to find somewhere else to live since it was over with Jason and she lived in his house. She couldn't live with Sookie since Jason spent half of his time there as well. Tara had a feeling if she asked to stay with Lafayette, he'd tell her to use the inheritance from Ruby Jean now that she was eighteen. Not that he didn't love his cousin or have her back, he just wanted her to find her way out of this town, knowing she wanted to separate herself rom Lettie Mae and all the bull that came with being a black woman in Bon Temps. Of course it wasn't feasible to just up and leave, not without a plan at least. She didn't exactly have a plan.
No better time to make one than when it was time to start fresh somewhere.
"I've never done any of that stuff before and I think it was mentally preparing me for the things I need to do today. Lot of adulting, for sure,"
Sam grinned. "You were adulting for sure last night. What exactly is on the agenda?"
"I need a shower, I'll fill you in after,"
Elijah's body ached. Muscles he didn't know he had felt as if they were going to break apart every time he moved. He leaned against the wall in his chair, fixing a glare on Mr. Gus, who was one of only two humans in the conference room. Why he chose to taunt was beyond Elijah. Rosalyn, Nan, the blond one and his right hand could have all easily torn Mr. Gus and his body guard apart, instead they were negotiating with him? Elijah had missed a lot over the years but his freedom was contingent on this meeting going well.
"You alright there, Mr. Stormer?" Mr. Gus asked.
Elijah sneered. "Is that what it looks like? Do I look peachy fucking keen to you?" Holy fucking shit it even hurt to clap back!
The human only laughed his abominable chortle again and pulled out another bottle of the deplorable synthetic drink. "You'll need to finish at least half the bottle if you want a real, live, warm-blooded donor,"
Somehow his chest was heaving, though there wasn't actually breath in Elijah. The pain of having gone without blood to sustain him for so long was becoming unbearable as his body remained in rigor mortis. If he could just stomach half the bottle…
Mr. Gus was testing him, undoubtedly. Testing his self control.
"The blood type," he rasped. "Get me O negative,"
The tall blond one placed a warmed bottle filled with crimson fluid in front of Elijah. "Be careful, sweetie, it's hot. You don't want to burn yourself?"
Blue eyes and a taunting smile beamed at him. Elijah snatched the bottle and sucked down all of it's shit tasting contents. He shuddered and let out a sigh as Mr. Gus clasped his hands together.
"Well, now, Mr. Stormer. How's about some real blood?"
A woman wearing a robe walked in. On her neck were visible bite marks that had scarred over. It seemed odd to drink from someone who wasn't his, but Elijah was in need of true sustenance. He yanked her into his lap and extended a set of fangs to sink into her neck, groaning with pleasure at the first taste of blood in over five hundred years.
"Aww, it's like having a baby vampire all over again, isn't it, Ros?" Blondie said.
"Fuck off," Elijah's Maker replied. "It's settled then, Mr. Gus?"
"Nan?" Mr. Gus prompted.
"Yes, it's settled, whoopty fuckin' do. Stormer will get the Natchitoches territory and Northman already found a lot in Shreveport," Nan had been ready to leave the moment she'd stepped inside the conference room. "I'll be back in two weeks to check their progress,"
One by one, everyone left the room, beginning with Nan, Mr. Gus and his guard, and finally Northman and his pet.
Rosalyn let him drain his donor and then shoved her aside, putting her hands on Elijah's cheeks. "How do you feel now?"
Elijah shook his head free and fixed a resolute gaze on her. "Tara. I need to go to her,"
Rosalyn scoffed. "For fuck's sake, Elijah, she's not real! She's a fucking hallucination that you dreamed up to get you through five hundred years of coffin time with silver. And don't let anyone catch you spewing that magical dream girl shit or your deluded ass will go right back in the coffin! You know how it was with the inquisition!"
Not real? Not real?! Every fiber of his being told him his counterpart was out there, awaiting his return. He'd find her in no time.
~~~
Two months later
There was still no sign of her and Elijah could no longer feel her when he lied down just before sunrise to dream. This wasn't possible, she had to be out there! Scouring the fields of Louisiana, and all her favorite places to visit and she still hadn't turned up. Not in his dreams, not in person. No more cascading locks down her back in the flowing white gown she wore so well, no more gleaming smiles and soft brushes against his skin, no more catching her staring out of the corner of his eye. No more colorful vocabulary. All the modern banter he'd learned from her, as she spoke a lot in the early days. Tara was gone, completely off his radar. His rage was coming back. He had to get it under control or he'd be coffin bound soon.
Visiting the construction site where the club was being built, he found a young couple lurking near the grounds, parked in a vehicle. He stalked them silently and when the young man stepped out of the car, Elijah rushed forward.
AN: I'm setting the scene for a lot, a whole different backstory here via Tara's mind abilities.
Let me know if you're enjoying my take on this pairing!
