A/N: This chapter is pretty much all lemons. Probably not well written lemons, but that's where my fingers took me on this chapter. If you are easily offended or under 18 please just skip this chapter.

Thank you everyone who has been leaving comments. I know I haven't responded to anyone, but I'm working on changing that as we move forward in the story. I've been dealing with on and off bouts of depression that have made writing and interacting with other humans very difficult, but I'm working on it. So thank you thank you thank you for continuing to read, support, and leave reviews.

I am participating in Nanowrimo this year and Forever Strong is my sole focus. Bodes well for chapter updates!

CHAPTER 18

Eric used his vampire speed to get me upstairs and into a room with only a bed and a lamp in it. The hardwood floor was covered in a thick rug, and I eyed it wondering if the ravishment would include rug burns. Eric sat down next to me in all of his glory, our naked thighs were flush together again. I shivered, but not from the cold.

I could feel hesitation from Eric and I turned my head to look at him. I felt silly for what I was about to say. "We don't have to do anything, Eric."

He laughed, "You are here next to me, open and finally yourself, completely free. I feel like this is some spell to make me fantasize about my greatest desires. It would be agony to not touch you." His eyes looked far away as he blatantly stared at my naked breasts. "But are you going to regret this? To have you and and then lose you again, would be the cruelest torture."

Funny how our most honest and vulnerable conversation would happen in the nude. I had spent a lot of time today thinking about Eric and what I wanted from him. Most of the time before I went to Faerie I had been weak and making bullheaded decisions due to lack of knowledge. I had often lashed out at Eric because I felt his high handedness was manipulation when in reality I just didn't want to understand or accept his world. Trying to fit all of the events into my cookie cutter view of humanity. But now, I was stronger and no longer ignorant to how things really were. Eric was a force to be reckoned with, intelligent and fighting skills. He was a worthy ally and partner. I couldn't ignore that it felt good to be called his wife again, if only because I felt like he'd seen me as an equal.

"I want you, Eric. But I don't know what I want after all of this is done." I shrugged. At least I was being honest.

"Do you remember when I lost my memory and was just running in the night?" He murmured quietly.

"Yes…?"

"I felt lost but for some reason when you found me I knew it was going to be okay. I will help you with this lost feeling, like you helped me." Eric was so certain.

I smiled at his kindness, "Eric you know it's not the same."

"How is it not? You do not know who you are, you do not know who to trust, you do not know where to go or where to exist. It is exactly the same. It is okay to rely on others, lover. Not everyone will betray you. I at least will not, especially since you could feel my deceit." He waggled his eyebrows at me.

We sat in silence again and I started laughing. "Now are we done talking?"

Eric ogled me, "Yes lover. Let me heal you so the ravishment can begin."

I giggled as Eric situated us quickly on the bed. My back was to his front as he leaned against the headboard, my legs in between his. I was completely surrounded by him, and by the nudging against my bottom I knew he deeply appreciated my nudity and the view this position gave him. Eric was dragging his nose along my neck as he brushed both of my nipples with his knuckles. I gasped at the sensation.

"I have wanted to hold you this close since I saw you sunbathing on the lawn. You are like my own personal sun goddess," Eric licked up the side of my neck.

I heard his fangs snap down and then his bleeding arm was in front of me. I didn't hesitate as I pulled his arm to my mouth and started to suck his blood. Eric groaned and put his forehead down on my shoulder, his free arm wrapped around my torso and pulled my body tightly to him. I had forgotten what it felt like to drink a vampire's blood, so intimate and intoxicating. I could feel him becoming harder beneath me, his hips thrusting up as the wound healed and I cleaned up any leftover blood. I let my body go lax against Eric as I felt his blood work through me and my wounds heal completely.

My head lolled back on his shoulder as he ran his hands all over my body. I was high as I felt the Eric stream grow bigger and the bond thrum. It was pulsating to the rhythm of my heart, all conscious thought leaving me as all of my focus went to the feel of Eric against my back and within my heart. I could feel his love for me. I took a ragged breath as I realized the magnitude of his feelings for me. I felt like a fire was igniting inside of me as Eric used one hand to play with my nipple and his other hand to caress my weeping sex.

"Eric!" I gasped out as I felt myself speeding toward an orgasm. Right when I was on the brink from his ministrations he slid a finger into me and I felt the pleasure crest over me.

Before I knew what was happening I was on my back and Eric's head was between my legs. It was like he was making love to me with his mouth and I orgasmed over and over again. I don't know how long he went on, but eventually I had to push his head away as I became too sensitive, my heavy panting filling the silence of the room. Eric slid himself upward so he was draped over my body, his arms caging my head in as he leaned down to kiss me. Our passionate kisses exciting me once more and I started to thrust my dripping sex against him. He took the hint and slowly slid in. "Fuck Sookie," Eric growled out. As he started to move within me I met every movement of his hips with my own until we were moving in sync with deep delicious collisions. I was whimpering and moaning, my eyes tearing up at the undeniable pleasure. Eric just continued to put kisses all over my body wherever he could reach. An occasional lick of my pointed ear, a nibble on my shoulder or my tongue. I started to chant his name as I once again orgasmed. Eric moved faster to ride out my orgasm and then with a deep snarl he finished within me and collapsed onto my body. I was boneless and drunk from the pleasure.

I wanted to go again, as a species Faeries were as insatiable as vampires. And there was no better stress reliever than an orgasm. I pushed Eric onto his back and slithered down so I could give him my own loving. He was a gorgeous man with enviable male body parts, I certainly wasn't complaIning especially now that I was throbbing again in anticipation for round two.

"Your mouth has always been one of my favorite parts about you," Eric said dreamily. One of his hands had found its way to my hair, but he was still gentle with me. I was enthusiastic to return the favor and after a while of my methodical motions, Eric's hips were rising off the bed. I had a wicked idea and used my power to hold his hips stationary to the mattress. Eric bared his fangs at me as he tried to fight against me. It would be exhausting to prolong this type of energy usage, but since I had taken so much of his blood I barely felt strain. "Lover please please," he helplessly moaned out until I had mercy and gave him the speed and attention he craved. I watched his face as he came in my mouth. I had never felt so sexy.

Eric was staring off into nothing as I climbed onto his lap. He never softened, so I slowly slid my body onto him. Eric hissed at my warm embrace and stilled my hips. His fangs were out and his eyes were piercing. His voice was tainted with arousal as my name tumbled from his lips. The bond was saturated with our lust, the room could have been on fire and we wouldn't have stopped gyrating against one another. I placed my hands behind me on his legs, letting him see all of me as I moved my hips above him. Eric leaned forward and took one of my breasts into his mouth. When he gently pierced my nipple with his fang I think I momentarily left my body. My eyes focused again and he was slowly using his strength to lift me up and down on him. The pleasure was indescribable and I roughly grabbed his face and smashed our lips together. My feelings were becoming too much for me and I was worried I was going to go supernova again but this time because of pleasure.

"Release for me again, Sookie. I can feel you holding back, do not deny your body." I screamed out his name as I orgasmed and he followed shortly after.

"Damn, Northman. We outdid ourselves." I giggled delirious from the pleasure and powerful vampire blood. Eric leaned back onto the pillows and pulled my body with his so that we stayed joined and my breasts pressed against his chest.

His eyes were half lidded as he looked down at me, absentmindedly pushing my hair behind my ears. I placed my hands under my chin and looked up at him.

I could feel his content in the bond. It was like the beast had been sated and our dueling lust could finally take a break. I felt euphoric and like I was right where I needed to be. My happy thoughts were stopped short as I realized I wanted to tell Claude about all that had happened. And how amazing Eric made me feel, like some lovesick girl. But I would never be able to tell him anything again. Was I selfish to be enjoying myself like this? Something he would never get to do again? I laid my head down on Eric's chest and breathed him in. I knew Claude would scoff at me for even feeling sorrow at my own happiness.

Eric's eyes were shut now and he never looked more human. He was so relaxed, his hair a disarray from my hands. There wasn't a crinkle of focus or tension on his face, signifying for once that he wasn't strategizing or thinking about fifty things at once. How many people were lucky enough to see a 1000 year old completely at ease? The trust this man put in me. The things he made me feel, even when we'd been in each other's presence for a few days.

I pushed myself up and slowly leaned forward and kissed Eric. He inhaled deeply as our lips moved sensually together. My hands once again found themselves a home in his hair. My passion began to overwhelm me and I started to feel like I was going to explode, I pulled away quickly and teleported to the corner of the room. I was gasping. I looked up at Eric and knew my eyes were wild.

"Sookie," Eric's voice was low as he leaned up in the bed. "What's wrong?" He placed his hand on his chest, I knew he could feel my erratic emotions in the bond. Hell, he could probably feel my heart about to beat out of my chest.

I shut my eyes and sank to my knees. What was wrong? I started to feel extremely deep emotions and then my hands felt like they were going to start shooting Fae energy faster. It was a level of power equivalent to the supernova. Again my extreme emotions for Eric made me feel like a ticking bomb. What if I lost control? What if I hurt Eric? I was sinking in on myself and then I felt Eric pushing calm at me. His long arms surrounding me and pulling me into a tight embrace.

"Breathe, Sookie. Slowly in, and slowly out." He breathed with me. We went through this several times together. And the coil of emotions suddenly started to loosen up again. I used to think Eric had been controlling me when I would feel his feelings or intent in the bond, but right now it felt like a warm embrace on my heart. I released a heavy breath one more time, my face against Eric's neck. He hadn't loosened his hold on me.

"I'm sorry, Eric. I don't know what happened." I felt myself blushing, not wanting to admit something so serious after jumping so quickly into bed with him again. "I just started to get these overwhelming feelings, and I don't know. I thought I was going to explode. I'm so sorry."

Eric pulled away, just enough so he could make eye contact with me. His nose brushed against mine and he kissed me softly. "There have been times where my feelings for you have made me want to crush you. Do not apologize to me, you will learn to control whatever is going on here." He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my heart.

I could feel only honesty in the bond. I was relieved that he felt no fear, but who was I kidding? This was Eric, he welcomed danger with a smile. I leaned forward and kissed him again. Another slow burning kiss that ignited warm feelings in my lower belly. Eric separated himself from me and I followed him with my lips. He chucked and gave me one last kiss. Then he stood up and laid me down in bed, snuggling up behind me and wrapping me up in his body.

"I think we used our time quite well, lover."

I fell asleep smiling.