I really hope you like the beginning of this chapter as the POV flips momentarily...
Thank you so so so much to the reviewers that wished me luck at university, you're all darlings and I couldn't be more pleased to hear from you
To answer one reviewer, Sookie is used as a character filter on this fanfiction as she is a major part of the series and there is no OC filter available
But do not fear, she's not about to swoop in anytime soon to steal Mel's man
So we're coming up to Russell's home scenes which I'm looking forward to writing out, but what would you like to see happen as 'Fighting Kings' moves along?
Please feel free to add me on any social network site or PM me
And as ever, review and stay tempted
The open window appeared too tempting an opportunity for the Viking. The curtains floated from the inside out, the breeze cool against his skin as Eric floated down toward her bedroom. He could smell her. Practically taste her on his tongue. Just her scent was enough to bring him to a stop outside her window.
As if no invitation was necessary, he entered the home of Barbara Yuley and Melody Ryan, coming to a soft land beside the double bed. Her room was exactly as he imagined it.
Homely, elegant...
And there she was, just waiting for him, wrapped up in the bed sheets like a Christmas present. Eric watched her with a content smile on his lips, though his eyes were ablaze like wildfire coursing through his body.
She looked delectable. Nothing but a thin vest hid her heaving chest from his gaze, her teasing buds pressing against the fabric in rebellion. Her pretty mouth was open, just waiting to be devoured, while her fiery hair was sprawled out over the pillow. The vampire glided across the length of her bed to kneel on the wooden floor, his towering frame leaning over her body until his face was mere inches from her own.
Melody moaned in her sleep almost silently, but the Viking's keen ears could hear the gasps she drew in. It made his lust stir and his trousers to become uncomfortably tight. Interrupting the sweet dream she was experiencing, a soft hand caressed her flushed cheek to bring her back to the world.
Her eyelids fluttered like butterflies, slowly revealing the gem-like eyes to connect with Eric's own.
"Eric," she gasped in delight, dragging her tired body up the bed to stare down at his kneeling body.
The vampire grinned, seeing Melody so happy to see him. It brought him nothing but joy.
"Sweet dreams, my love?" he asked in his musical drawl.
The redheaded woman could only smile back, for his expression was infectious. "Why would I dwell on my dream when reality is just as good?"
Eric chuckled, deep and lustful. "You forgive me then?"
Melody frowned. "For what?"
Her question brought an air of surprise and a look of confusion etched onto the vampire's face.
"You were so hurt just days ago. Now you tell me you have forgotten why?"
"Oh," she replied, looking at the sheets until she remembered, her eyes flashing with amusement. "Yvetta. No, Eric, I haven't forgotten."
Eric's frown deepened. "Then wha–"
Melody cut him off by pressing her small fingers to his sensuous lips. Eric could only look on in astonishment over this beautiful creature. His perfect human.
"Hush," she soothed, trailing her fingers downwards, moving over his chin and down his throat until the palm of her hand was pressed over his heart.
"Make love to me, Eric," she whispered, coaxing ragged breaths from him. His mouth fell and his eyes darkened with the severe desire for such a small thing.
A primal growl took hold of the vampire as he swiftly drew up from his kneeling position, moving to hover over Melody's fragile body. His passion for her consumed his entire being, his heart, his mind, his body. Every touch from her shook the ground beneath him. Every part of him ached for her, not just her body but her soul as well.
He made quick work of her minimal nightwear and soon she was fully exposed below him, every inch of her skin pressing against his clothed body. Melody looked up at him with adoration and love in her eyes, and it made Eric's heart swell.
"What are you doing to me?" He barely realised he'd spoken the words aloud.
Melody drew her hair away from her neck, allowing him access.
"Bite me, Eric," she commanded in her soft voice, causing the length in his jeans to stir. Her doe-like eyes gazed up at him.
"I trust you," she announced.
"How can you?" Eric's reply was sudden, rough from emotion.
"I trust you," his lover repeated. "I love you. You're the only one, Eric. I'm yours."
Every word he had ever wanted to hear from her lips was being whispered, now, lovingly below him. Without hesitation, Eric's fangs appeared and he swiftly bit into her neck. He sucked at her neck while cradling her small body in his arms.
But something wasn't quite right. He had drunk from the woman on many accounts before, and the blood pooling in his mouth, dripping down the inside of his throat, tasted far from as sweet as Melody's.
He pulled away from her soft skin and held the woman away from his body, wanting to see those beautiful eyes. But the face he saw was entirely different, his eyes falling on Yvetta as she gasped loudly, her nails raking over his skin. Her sensual moans brought him back, as did the leg that was tightly hitched against Eric's hip, her own rocking against his in need of friction.
Eric scanned his office in bitter disappointment as the fantasy fell away from his mind like air, unable to grasp it. With a sudden yank, he pulled the Estonian girl away from his body. It felt wrong to hold her body so softly when it was not the body he craved. Feeding from the exotic dancer even made his anger pulse and Eric bit the inside of his cheek.
"Go," he ordered quietly, pushing her to stand on her own two feet before wiping her blood from his lips with the back of his arm.
"I thought we were going to fuck?" Yvetta asked angrily in her strong accent, angry and embarrassed at being rejected so sharply.
"I SAID GET OUT!" Eric bellowed, causing the woman to run from his office in fear of the blonde Viking. Once she was gone, Eric practically fell onto his deck, leaning against it for support as the images of Melody crossed his mind over and over. He felt unsatisfied and frustrated, not to mention confused by his imaginative mind, and needed a distraction. His eyes fell on the keys to Lafayette's car that he'd yet to deliver. Slowly, Melody's smile creeped into the back of his mind, her body bare and slick with want.
Now was as good a time as any…
The smell of tomato sauce wafted throughout the apartment and I took a deep breath. The pasta was about ready but the kitchen was so badly stocked, I was having trouble serving up dinner for when Sookie and Alcide return. The two had gone to Lou Pine's, Mississippi's oldest werewolf bar, according to Alcide. They'd gone for information on Bill, if they could get any, while Sookie would do her best to search through the werewolves' thoughts. I had insisted on going but to no avail. I was on thin ice as it was. Alcide wanted me in no more danger than necessary after I'd bargained with him to come to Jackson, so for tonight, I had the job of cooking dinner like some middle aged housewife.
"Where..the hell…are the dishes?" I grumbled, opening every cupboard in the kitchen until finally I found a pile of bowls. I pulled them out and placed them on the counter. "These'll have to do."
Just as I was dishing up, the door slammed open and in came Sookie and Alcide.
"How'd it go?" I called out, walking round the corner to see them.
Alcide looked pissed off while Sookie was shooting him a sympathetic look.
"Sit down and take your shirt off," she ordered him.
"I'm fine!" he growled.
"Just do it," she shouted back to him, cutting off any room for argument as she reached me by the kitchen counter.
"Is he ok?" I asked, looking over at the werewolf.
Sookie mumbled, "He got into a fight when one of the wolves got a little handsy." Sookie carried on her movements of opening and closing drawers. "Is there any cotton wool in this place?"
"Yeah," I answered, moving to lead her into the en-suite bathroom, having remembered seeing some on the side. "Are you alright, Sook?"
She smiled, thankful that I was checking up on her before returning to Alcide's bedroom. His apartment was small and almost empty after his ex moved out. Sookie and I were sharing his bed while Alcide was temporarily taking the couch.
No complaint came from the werewolf when Sookie began to make sure the wounds he'd gotten were clean.
"Did you get anything out of them?"
"What, before or after they started kicking the shit outta me?" Alcide growled at me. His eyes met mine and quickly they appeared apologetic. "Sorry, Mel."
I waved him off while Sookie added, "Don't take it personally. The Were you were fighting had vampire blood in him. Bill's in fact, so I know it's strong."
"Werewolves doing V goes against everything we stand for," Alcide grumbled. "Is the rest of the pack into that shit?"
"The ones who took Bill, at least."
He scoffed, "Like I need more reasons to hate him. Ow!" he complained against the pain.
"Sorry," Sookie apologised, lifting the soaked cotton wool away. "So is Debbie your ex-girlfriend?"
Alcide remained quiet until he revealed, "She was my fiancé. She moved out a month ago."
"A month?" I repeated. "And you still haven't gotten new furniture?"
The werewolf glared at me from across the bedroom. "I haven't had time for it."
"So do you ever hear from her?"
"My sister Janice does. She runs a beauty parlour and Debbie still goes there to get her hair done."
"What a bitch," I muttered, catching Alcide's attention. "No pun intended."
As Sookie continued to rub Alcide's wounded back, silence fell in the apartment. Alcide stretched his neck to watch Sookie, who slowly came to a stop. The two just stared at each other for a while. It looked kind of intense so I kept my mouth shut and averted my eyes.
Until all of a sudden, Sookie's mobile started to ring. She raced towards the counter where she'd thrown it as soon as they'd arrived and answered.
"Hello?"
No answer.
"Hello?"
Silence returned to the apartment and I leant against the wall, sighing and looking at the time on the wall. I was really starting to miss my bed…
"Bill?" Sookie asked anxiously, causing mine and Alcide's heads to snap up.
"Are you hurt? I know the werewolves have you," she reassured him. Her face was a concoction of anger and worry for the man she loves. Then all of a sudden, her expression dropped to one of disbelief.
"Shut the fuck up?" She swallowed and mumbled, "The last time I saw you, you asked me to marry you…"
After waiting for his answer, she said with uncertainty, "You have to say that. Someone's listening."
I watched on, my heart aching to comfort my friend when tears began to fall from her eyes.
"Bill…"
I could hear a voice at the other end of the line but I couldn't make out what he was saying.
"That's not true," Sookie sobbed. She shook her head. "I don't believe you."
A moment later, the line went dead and Sookie numbly stared at the phone. She gasped for breath as she cried, the sound of heartbreak clear in her sobs. I rushed from my place to envelop her in my arms, clutching her to me as she held onto me as if she were falling to pieces.
"Shh…shh…" I soothed her, rubbing her back as her tears stained my blouse. "Come on," I whispered, coaxing her towards the bed where I sat her down and grabbed a box of tissues. She snatched one and wiped at her eyes.
"What did he say?" I asked in a hushed tone.
"All this stuff…" she sniffed, pausing now and then as she explained the phone call. "He said that he's left his life in Bon Temps behind…H-How him being in my life causes nothing but pain. He said he doesn't wanna be found." She looked up at Alcide hopefully and stressed the words, "What does he mean 'he doesn't wanna be found'?"
Alcide raised an eyebrow. "Pretty sure he means he doesn't wanna see you anymore."
"Alcide!" I scolded.
"That isn't what he said," Sookie insisted tearfully, drying her eyes as she spoke.
"Well, what do you think he said?"
"I dunno what he said, I just know that isn't the man I love!"
"Well," Alcide huffed, moving next to Sookie, "Maybe the man you loved never existed except in your head?"
"Alcide, if you don't shut the fuck up…" I growled at him, hugging Sookie to my side.
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" she asked.
"What?" he protested. "All I know is no matter how well you think you know somebody, they can still turn around and kick you right in the nutsack."
"I don't have a nutsack," Sookie sobbed quietly, "and Bill has risked everything for me!"
I stood up from the bed to allow Alcide room next to the blonde.
"I can't believe he broke up with me over the phone!" she cried.
Alcide looked at her, surprise covering his face.
"How many relationships you been in?"
"What does that matter?"
"Well, all I'm saying is," he soothed, "there's no nice way of getting out of these things."
Seeing her helpless and heartbroken, I saw something shift in Alcide's eyes. Whether it was him feeling uncomfortable or if was a natural urge to protect, Alcide, opened his arm and drew Sookie against his bare chest. I watched from a distance as Sookie snuggled deeper into his chest.
"Oh my God, you're so warm!" she half-gasped.
"Sorry," he apologised lamely.
"It's ok," she replied, her voice returning to normal gradually. "I'm just not used to it."
"It's a werewolf thing. We run hot."
I could have told him that just by looking at the man.
Now's not the time, Mel, I scolded myself. But I had to admit, Sookie couldn't have been wrapped up in the arms of a hotter guy right about now.
"I thought maybe you were coming down with the flu," Sookie mumbled, causing Alcide to chuckle. He rubbed a tear from under her eye, moving his hand to cup her cheek gently. Sookie stared up into his big, warm eyes as he held onto her tightly.
Uh oh.
"Sookie," I quickly interrupted, bringing their attention back to me and automatically drawing away from each other's embrace. "You wanna get some sleep maybe?"
The blonde woman nodded and Alcide took it at his cue to make himself comfortable on the couch. He paused next to me and looked at Sookie.
"I'll be right outside if you need anything," he promised us, earning a smile from Sookie. He stared down at me and gave what appeared to be a thankful nod. The situation was awkward enough without two single, heartbroken people getting too comfortable with each other.
Once Alcide left, I made towards the suitcase to pull out a set of pyjamas for me and for Sookie, bringing hers over to the bed.
I tucked the stray piece of hair behind her ear and wiped her cheek. She smiled at me gratefully and sniffed.
"You want the left side or the right?"