Okay, just a small A/N. There are lemons in this chapter and I wanted to warn you guys before you started to read it... So yeah... watch out for those lemons. It's like a fucking lemon tree or whatever the fuck lemons grow on up in here. Like some kind of lemon orchard. Or, like grove or some shit.
Chapter 16: A Deal
What would I be without Sookie? Staring at her right now, I couldn't really comprehend it. What would all of the random parts of me become without the fairy light that was my sister? She was the sun and I was the darkness, a creature of night terrors and rage. There was something savage inside of me, something that called out to Eric Northman.
Something that separated me from my sister.
As I watched the hostile exchange between Eric and Sookie in the back of Fangtasia, a heavy layer of pain and useless medication making me a sweaty, feverish mess, I thought about that anger that led me. I thought about how I had seen it in the mares who had graced me with their presence at night. Like animals that couldn't control their base urges.
When I had been small, the doctors had tried to diagnose the things in me that made me different from all the other children in my class. Darker and more violent. They had given me medication and used a bunch of fancy words to tell me about all the things that were wrong with me. I spun the pill bottle in my hand. They had never worked. I didn't tell Gram that they weren't doing anything. It was so much easier to make it seem like I was better.
In fact, a little part of me had been ashamed. Why was I different? So different that they needed to sedate me into normalcy.
I blinked, trying to swallow enough to get rid of the sticky, cottony feel of my tongue. Eric's eyes were dark as they ran over me, his arms crossed as he leaned against the desk. He had ushered me to the back area of his office, commanding me to sit in the chair beside his desk, his body positioned in a way that still partially blocked anyone from coming near me. I had been too tired to protest.
And a part of me hadn't really wanted to in the first place.
"So, if I agree to Dallas to help look for this missing vampire," my sister snipped, pacing back and forth in front of the door, her eyes still blazing with fury. Bill stood quietly near the door, his eyes wary. "You'll let Lafayette go?"
Eric's big shoulders rolled like he was resisting the urge to sigh.
"You are not going to Dallas," Bill snarled and Eric rolled his eyes, reaching over to snatch the pills from my hands.
"You're not taking anymore," he rumbled, his eyes daring me to argue with him. I didn't.
"Bill, I can make up my own mind," Sookie snapped.
"I'll pay all of your expenses, of course," Eric sighed, turning back to the pair as he set the bottle to the side. "And yes. I will release your friend."
"And I want five thousand dollars." I spluttered, blinking back the wave of hot tears as my back scraped against the rough leather of the chair, the material pulling at the folds of my bandaged skin.
"Sookie," I hissed, not daring to look Eric's way as he let out a derisive snort.
"That's a bit much," Bill whispered, grabbing hold of her forearm.
"What?" Sookie snapped, crossing arms. "We've missed a lot of work and we need a new driveway."
Our driveway was shit. Little yellow could barely get up the gravel hill that our house was snuggled into. That didn't mean that we should just throw it in there with the life of one of our longest friends like some kind of deluxe vacation deal.
"He saved our lives last night," I seethed, my face burning up. My hands clenched around the armrests.
"He held Lafayette prisoner for months," she retaliated and I gave a low growl.
"Your human is getting cocky, Bill," Eric drawled, looking bored.
The dark-haired vampire frowned, his eyes staying on Sookie's stiff shoulders before he turned to fully face us. "She will take ten thousand dollars and I will escort her."
Eric gave a derisive snort, his eyes rolling to me. "Or I could keep your little friend and you'll find his decaying body behind your house in a week."
I blanched, the armrest splintering beneath my fingers as Sookie hissed, her cheeks reddening.
"I'm sure that you know that if you did that, our contract would effectively end," I whispered and I was surprised to see Eric's lips tip down, a look of unhappiness furrowing his brows.
"Yes," Eric replied simply, crossing his arms.
We were at an impasse. I could see it in the sullen way that Eric stared at my sister and the haughty way that she stared back. They both wanted something from this bargain - and from the information that Eric had briefly given us, I was under the impression that either way, a life was at risk.
"Sookie," I started, ignoring the glare that she was shooting me with. "You can't possibly be trying to throw in a wad of cash along with Lafayette's life. This isn't an upgrade for a car we're talking about."
"If we come back, after all, this time off, we're screwed," Sookie griped and I rubbed my tired eyes. She was right. We could barely make our payments as it was with both of us working. And while Sookie was reaching with the five grand, the estimates that we had gotten for paving our driveway was upwards of seven grand.
This whole entire experience was exhausting and I was in so much pain at the moment that I could hardly concentrate. But Sookie wasn't willing to speak Eric's language so that left only me to pull the load.
"Is there any other way for us to acquire the money as well as Lafayette?" I hedged. I blinked, shocked at the quiver in my own voice. Eric's eyes narrowed, his fangs flashing as I stared down at my hands, a few errant purple sparks zinging along them. They were shaking uncontrollably.
Even Bill seemed a bit dazed, his fangs snapping down as he stared at me. Like wolves drawn to the bleeding carcass of a deer. I bared my own teeth at them, my neck prickling uncomfortably. In the state that I was in, it was highly unlikely that I would be able to fight them both off.
"What's happening to you, Runa?" Sookie breathed, quickly coming toward me to feel at my sweaty forehead. Her eyes were bright, gleaming in the low light of the office. She looked beautiful - ethereal even. "You're burning up."
"I'm fine," I croaked out, swatting at her until she moved uncertainly back to Bill's side.
"You only had four in the last few hours?" Eric asked sharply, crouching down beside me. His face was close enough for me to touch as he examined me, those icy eyes of his making the feverish heat I felt chill a little bit. "Tell me, Runa and do not lie."
"Why would I lie about something that stupid?" I hissed but even those words shook as I forced them out of my quivering lips. Eric's eyes burned into me, a low growl slipping from him. "Yes, you infernal man. Only four."
"This infernal man is about to save your life," he bit out before tipping his head towards my sister. "Your little, human friend will go with you today on the conditions of Dallas-"
"And the ten grand," Sookie threw out, her eyes wide with worry as they ran over me. Her teeth bit down at her bottom lip before she was turning frantically back to Eric. "Can't you do something? Aren't there any medications that you can give her?"
I braced, staring at the little bottle that had dropped to the ground. Yeah. Those pain meds had worked really well.
Arctic eyes burned into me. "You'll get all your petty wishes for Dallas and after Runa has taken some of my blood."
I blinked. I hadn't expected him to offer me his blood again.
"What?" Sookie stumbled, bewildered for a moment before irritation set in. "No! She already told you last night-"
"She's in pain," Eric snapped, not taking his eyes from mine as one of his big hands ran through the matted, sweaty clumps of my hair. I nearly groaned at the cool feel against my skin. "The pain medication that I've given her isn't working - I assume that her kind doesn't respond well to human medicine. Has she ever gone to the hospital?"
"I-" Sookie stumbled off as I shook my head. No. I had never come down with a single illness since I was born. Fairy child, my gran had whispered, chuckling over me.
I blinked groggily. My stomach rolled, bucking against the little bit of water and pills that I had downed. God, all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and sleep. But I couldn't do that. If I did that then Sookie would get Eric angry and Eric would end up ripping out Lafayette's throat right in front of her just to show her her place. He liked doing stuff like that - showing people that he was the big, bad Viking.
"She won't do it-" Sookie was saying, her voice high and shrill.
"She doesn't have a choice," Eric snarled and I reached forward without thinking, slipping a hand along the hard ridge of his jaw. His eyes snapped to me, their pull almost hypnotic. I could drown in them if I wanted to. "Runa. Look at me."
I did, my eyes pulled back to those blue seas. I could feel the crispness of the air, the burn of the wind on my cheeks as it rolled down from the mountains. Home. Where the great tree of the mares rested.
"I'm fine," I forced out, blinking away those images that seemed so embedded in me. "I don't need your blood, Eric."
A low snarl was the only answer I got before his hand was reaching out, taking a hold of my shoulder and squeezing. White hot pain blasted down my back and arm, ripping a raw scream from my lips. Desperately, I tried to hold onto the contents of my stomach.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER!" Sookie shrieked, lurching forward with enough rage that Bill had to yank her back a foot.
Eric didn't even glance up.
"That is your uninjured arm, Runa Stackhouse," Eric growled, his eyes rabid and dark as I panted in his grip, a dribble of sweat running down my jaw. I gulped down a breath as he cupped my chin, his fangs flashing. "I will give you the prostitute in my basement as well as pay for your driveway on top of the ten thousand that your annoying sister requests."
"You arrogant bastard," Sookie seethed from her place in Bill's arms as he tried to coddle her into submission.
"All you have to do is drink my blood and heal yourself," Eric breathed, drawing nearer until he was all that I could see. His thumb stroked reassuringly across my cheek as I quivered.
Why are you fighting it? That angry little voice from before seethed. I squeezed my eyes shut, unsure. What exactly are you fighting against?
I didn't even know at this point. Maybe it was from the simple fact that I knew that if I let Eric in even an inch, he would take up so much space inside of me. I was scared to give him that power - scared that it would turn into something uncontrollable and I would catch fire and burn.
And more than that, maybe it was pride. Maybe it was that stubborn rage in me that refused to lose even an inch of my own freedom.
But bigger than me was Lafayette - if I couldn't do this for myself than I could at least do it for him. What would a few erotic dreams about the sexiest man undead really harm? Especially since I was already having them.
"Fine," I gritted out, feeling something raw and vulnerable tear at me as I opened my eyes to those blue orbs. "But just this once."
His lips quirked up whickedly. "Most would fall to their knees to even see my blood."
I snorted, wincing as the open wounds at my shoulder and back throbbed. "That has everything to do with your appearance and nothing to do with your personality."
His eyes twinkled.
"Runa, you don't have to do this," Sookie hissed from across the room. "He's just taking advantage of this whole situation."
Staring into Eric's eyes, I found that hard to believe. If anything he could have held Lafayette, sending little bits of him to us in the mailbox until eventually we caved. That would be the mark of a monster. His terms were so small in comparison to what we were asking him and what we had already asked him to do.
"You'll give Lafayette to us before I agree," I whispered, not taking my eyes away from the blonde haired vampires face.
"Pam already has him waiting at the bar with a nice, warm bottle of true blood," Eric said with a smooth smile.
"He doesn't drink blood."
"Oops," Eric replied innocently, widening his eyes in mock surprise. What an ass.
Sookie's eyes caught mine, her breath coming in short bursts. "Are you sure about this?"
I didn't flinch when I answered. "Yes." I forced a smile. "It'll be quick."
"Ah, you're in for a treat, my little mare," Eric purred, licking his lips in a way that made it very clear that what he had in mind wasn't going to be quick at all.
My mouth went dry, my cheeks heating. No. We were just going to exchange blood and then he was going to let me go on my way. I gulped.
Eric picked up the phone on his desk, his eyes flicking to me before he switched to me.
"Have Chow bring a car around for Bill and his pet." Eric's eyes drifted to me again, his eye darkening. "And don't disturb me."
He hung up before the person on the other end could reply before turning swiftly back to Sookie and Bill who were talking in low, feverish whispers.
"You'll leave now," Eric stated bluntly and I resisted the urge to shiver. Sure. We had been in a room alone before but… this felt different. My stomach clenched as something deep inside of me burned.
"We can't-" Sookie stated, glancing nervously at me.
"You can't," Eric cut her off, nodding to the door. "You'll wait for her in the bar."
Sookie mind tapped against mine as Bill ushered her out with a conflicted expression. I'll be here. Call for me if he does anything.
In more than one way I was glad that Eric had forced them out. The sizzle spark that I kept feeling between the hulking Viking and me felt like a pool of gasoline ready for a match. It would be embarrassing to have an audience to something that Sookie had described as… I bit at my lip, trying to look anywhere but Eric.
Across the room, I heard the couch crinkle as Eric sat on it, his head cocking to the side as he gave me a slow smile. "Come here, little mare."
Awkwardly, I tugged down my shirt, getting up to walk unsteadily to the seat beside him. He was sprawled out, his long legs taking up most of the space in front of him and his hulking form taking up a good portion of the couch. That meant that I would be squished in the corner.
"Ah, ah, ah," Eric murmured, yanking me into his lap, his eyes glittering with wicked amusement. "You'll take my blood on my lap."
I blinked, my legs instinctively spreading around his hips. "That seems unnecessary."
"Unnecessary was you refusing my blood last night," Eric mused darkly and I jumped as his fangs clicked down. "Now you'll play by my rules - keep that tight little pussy against me while you take my blood."
I gasped, my vision clouding until all I could see were those sexy lips curled up. I was getting wet and I could feel the impressive bulge rubbing against the most intimate parts of me. One of his hands had gone to my hips, so big that it curls around my ass, yanking me into him.
He kept grinning at me as he brought a wrist to his lips, biting down until there was a splurt of blood and then he was offering it to me. I hesitated, that raw wound making me take pause. Blood flowed freely from the wound, his lips and fangs smeared with it as he stared at me.
"You'll drink it, Runa," he whispered, that hand on my butt tightening as he drew his other wrist to my lips. I could smell the metallic tang of blood. But there was something else. Something sweeter. "Drink."
Sookie had told me about the startling burst of vampire blood. She had told me that when Bill had first let her drink from her at first she spluttered and retched, that blood so odd like cooled tea coming from something that was so alive. The thought had made her sick to her stomach. But then… then she had swallowed another mouthful and-
Eric let out a hiss, my tongue work at the ripped skin as I took another gulp. It was sweet and tangy and it tasted like the freshest water from a stream with flowers and - I bit down, grabbing at his hand as I tried to drag as much into my mouth. Beneath me, I could feel his hips buck, the hand that had been on my hip, tightening on my ass. Was it wrong to want to rub against him?
I let out a moan, my head going fuzzy and hot as the pain in my shoulder and back fizzled away and left me with a different kind of ache. My nipples hardened, my breast painfully heavy against the abrasive material of the Fangtasia shirt.
"You're going to make this hard aren't you?" Eri hissed as I let go of his wrist, lapping at the quickly healing wound until there was nothing but smooth skin. I gave a mewl, glaring at the spot. I wanted more. I wanted more and I would get more, I decided leaning forward to chomp down onto his wrist. "Bad girl."
Fingers tangled in my hair, tugging my face away just as they grazed over the soft skin there. Eric's eyes twinkled up at me, his fangs still down as his other hand kept me firmly in his lap.
"You're the one who wanted to give me your blood," I murmured, helpless against the tidal wave of senses that were assaulting me. Eric smell. The feel of Eric's skin against my own. How I could feel myself soaking through my underwear. God, I was so sensitive there.
"Men must fall at your feet," Eric groaned as I whimpered, withering on that bulge that I could feel rubbing just between my folds. I couldn't think. I could barely function. My nipples pricked, rubbing against the material of the shirt and all I wanted to do was tear it off and maybe reach down for Eric's buckle so that I could let myself go a little bit.
Hissing, he flipped me suddenly, forcing me to my hands and knees on the couch. His big hands clench onto my wrists, forcing my hands to stay above my head.
"You're going to make me do something that I regret," Eric hisses, his other hand running roughly along my splayed thighs.
Desperately, I wiggle back into him, getting a snarl and a flash of fangs in reward. His legs between me knees spread me wide. A distant part of me, called out like a boat sounding from out at sea to a small village inland. This was wrong. I should stop it. This wasn't like me at all.
But a bigger part of me craved it - had craved him ever since that first meeting in Fangtasia. And there was also that part of her that ached - the part that was weeping for his touch.
"Eric, please," I whimpered, panting out a breath as his hands tightened, grinding that erection against me with a snarl.
"Shit," he hissed, the hand that was rubbing along my thigh going higher, toying along the edge of my panties until I gave a sob. "You're such a tease. You ask for everything with that innocent little look of yours and then you expect me not to take what I want."
He sounds so furious as he says it and I feel the prick of his fangs as they rake along my neck, not breaking skin but hard enough that I know that he could. Oh, why does that turn me on so much?
"You're not going to bite me are you?" I gasped, feeling the rough press of his tongue as he licked along the side of my throat.
"No," he bit out, the hands that still had my own trapped tightening. The fingers of his other hand played along the seam of my panties, pressing and tugging with feather-light teasing that made me want to cry with need. "I'll give you what you need and then when the time comes you'll let me bite you willingly. For now, I'll have to settle for this."
And finally, finally those long fingers of his slipped past the fabric of my underwear, gliding through my folds. Oh, I hadn't known how wet and ready I was until he was pressing up against me. I'm so wet I'm dripping and he makes a grunt deep in his throat like it pleases him. I should tell him to stop. I should yell at him to get away from me but instead the slide of his fingers as he simply explores, circling my entrance and then going back, back, back to that little nub of nerves.
"Damn, you're dripping," Eric snarls and for some reason, I think that fact makes him furious. For some reason, I think that he wants to tear something apart. But instead, his hips grind against me, making me gasp.
I need something to hold onto. My hands spark a purple fizz as my nails dig into the couch cushion below us, Eric's hands still firmly in place. Desperate to grab onto something, to tear him up as much as he's tearing me up, I leaned forward, my teeth baring. I want to sink them into something - anything.
"No biting, pet," Eric grunts and I gasp, jerking as he finds my clit, his hands slippery with my own arousal as they move around it with such skill.
No biting, he says. I whimper, my teeth just grazing over his wrist. I need to anchor myself somehow. I won't break skin. Or maybe I will - just a little.
Eric easily slides a finger into my warmth, groaning as he does. "Damn, you're tight."
I can't think. I can barely breathe. He's pushing into me in a rhythmic slide, his thumb circling my clit and all I can do is whimper and moan beneath him. Something is tightening up inside of me and I feel it burning through me like a slow moving flame.
"You can come on me, pet but you need to keep that pretty little mouth closed," Eric growls in my ear and my toes curl and I'm bucking against his hand as he adds a second finger. I'm so close that I'm frantic. "You keep those noises for me."
Against the nape of my neck, I feel Eric's breath burst hot and wet along my skin and then the firm nip of his teeth. And that's all I'm taking before I let out a squeak, biting down on the couch cushions to stop my scream. The orgasm explodes through me, leaving me gasping and exhausted. I want to curl up in the nearest corner and take a nap but Eric has other plans as he tugs my panties into place and releases my wrists from his iron grip.
Dazed, I struggle into a sitting position, curling into the corner of the couch in a sated, exhausted mess. A low growl draws my gaze back to Eric, his eyes blazing as he laps at his fingers. I blush. The fingers that he…
"I-I'm sorry," I breath, registering what just happened - the way that my soaking panties are clinging to my folds. Eric's eyes darken, running over my legs as they curl beneath me. "I don't know what happened…"
Eric's fangs are still out, his shoulders stiff even as he reclines against the back of the couch like a god. For a moment, there's just silence - hot and heavy. What do you say after throwing yourself at a vampire - demanding that he have sex with you? I swallow, remembering all the dirty things he whispered to me. Unwanted, my eyes wander to the impressive bulge still tenting his jeans.
"I-I'm in your debt?" That sounds like a question. Eric's eyes narrow, his lips thinning. Yeah. That definitely wasn't the right thing to say. And...he's not saying anything. I basically just pressured him into pleasuring me. Oh, that's so embarrassing.
Tugging down my shirt anxiously, I stumble to my feet, nearly dying from embarrassment as my knees buckle on me and I have to catch myself on the couch. Note to self: world shattering orgasms will make it hard for you to walk.
"I'll - um - just go?" I ask - why am I asking? He still hasn't said anything and those arctic eyes of his are dark and heavy-lidded as he watches me. I feel like a rabbit that wandered into a lion's den. "Um… Thank you again."
I rush to the door, sliding it up quickly to catch sight of the darkened hall that would lead me to the main bar area. Anything to get out of that room before Eric decided to finally say something that I may not like.
"I'll see you in your dreams, little mare," a low voice finally rumbles as the door slides shut behind me.
Hope you guys like it and please drop a review if you did!
