Chapter 14: Wargasm

Olivia woke up and followed her recently established morning routine of hell. She rolled out of the soft hotel bed, ripped off all her clothes and hopped into the brisk cold shower. Her mind replayed the dream in her head automatically, despite her best attempts of thinking of something else - anything else.

She felt her skin burning with so much desire not even the numbing water subdued her wanting. Liv finally succumbed to the lust and touched herself, trying to think of anyone else she could, but her mind had been poisoned, infected with thoughts of him. Being alone with him in his house, having him brush his hands on her arms. The low rumble of his voice, the way he said her name, his undivided attention, the way he looked at her, it all filled a craving she had deep down within her.

And there was no more strength left inside her to repel the urge. After she was done, she sat on the floor of the shower, feeling the water rain down on her, enjoying the momentary bliss of the oxytocin clouding her brain. Olivia hoped this didn't mean she was losing control over herself. Lose control, break the rules, unravel in any way and it will all come crashing down. That and death were the only two certainties Olivia believed in life.

At least having dirty fantasies about Eric Northman was somewhat better than craving the touch of Sophie-Anne, or Jamie or anyone else who had broken her heart in the past. In a strange moment of clarity, Olivia realized a lot of pieces had fallen into place. She would never attend Curia Regis, meaning that with luck she would never have to see Sophie-Anne again. She wouldn't have to worry about falling in love with Eric Northman because she doubted the man had a heart to begin with. It was all games with him. Sex games, power games, money games, blood games. She would never have to worry about his feelings about her either.

To get her mind away from vampire matters, Olivia threw herself into work as usual. To turn Fangtasia into a strip club there was some paperwork to be filled and sent to the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. As she read the rules and legislation surrounding strip clubs in this fine state, she sunk a bit deeper in her armchair. No actual nudity was allowed in any establishment that sold alcohol - that meant underwear and nipple covers must be worn at all times. What an odd time and place for politicians to worry about morals when she was willing to bet real money that every southern representative had done at least a body shot from a naked stripper at some point in their lives.

Eric and Pam weren't going to be very pleased about this. Why must all her battles be uphill?

Olivia started to get dressed before heading to her 8 PM meeting with the world's perhaps last remaining Viking. She put on a brand new white button-up shirt and a high waisted dark yellow pencil skirt with a fun mod print. She threw on a chunky jewelled turquoise necklace and some nude heels. Olivia got everything at Kohls, and although shopping was fun, she missed her own clothes terribly. Nothing she found at stores here were really her taste. She wondered what it would take to have Eric give them back, but Liv didn't have to think too hard on that riddle.

The bedroom TV was on while she put on makeup in the bathroom and she could hear about the Newlin terrorist attack case. The list of charges was as long as a CVS receipt, but domestic terrorism did not make the list. She was sure if a vampire or person of colour had done it, this would be the national scandal of the year. Disappointing but not surprising. The news spent a lot of their time focusing on the human victims, and (again, completely predictable) the vampires killed were merely a footnote. She was sure Eric was happy Stan Baker got no time on national television, even after true death. Tonight's update was on Steve Newlin posting bail in the value of 800 thousand dollars, completely crowdfunded by his followers. Yikes.

Not long after she pulled into Fangtasia and drove around the back parking lot, which was usually reserved for vampire patrons, and much to her surprise there were several other cars parked here. It was Monday, and Fangtasiay was theoretically closed. Cautiously she knocked on the back door, and Pamela swung the door open with the same blank expression vampires always had.

"You again."

"I have a meeting with Mr. Northman at-"

"If I cared any less I'd die again." Pam rolled her eyes and let Olivia inside.

The lights were on, the music was off but there were definitely people - vampires - all around the bar. Eric sat on his throne as usual, and he talked to a small young redheaded vampire who stood at the bottom of the stage steps with teary eyes. Pam went back behind the bar as she was doing inventory. No one here was partying. The rest of the vampires sat quietly or whispered amongst each other while watching Eric.

The Viking glanced at Olivia and motioned her to sit at the bar and wait.

"Why are they here?" She asked Pamela.

"To bitch and complain mostly," she did not look up from her clipboard. "This is a vamp court of common pleas. Happens every Monday but tonight there's more drama than usual so Eric's runnin' late."

Olivia quietly watched the show and couldn't help but wonder… How did Eric have time to do it all? Keep the local vampires in line, hold court meetings, take offenders to the Magister, run Fangtasia, sell drugs on the side, torture humans in the basement, make her life difficult…. It was a lot. Maybe he was also a workaholic like she was. But judging by the bored look on his face… He did not enjoy court time.

Slowly but surely, the vampires started to glance and stare at her who sat by herself at the bar. Hungry smiles and unblinking eyes watched her carefully. She figured it would only be a matter of time until one of them accosted her. She swallowed dry and wished Eric wrapped up the court soon. Olivia couldn't help but think on Eric's proposition from Friday night - to be his. Liv quietly shuddered at the thought of Sophie Anne finding out Eric had had her blood. The Queen would kill them both. But a tiny part of her liked that. The Queen's jealousy would at least be something. Proof that at least part of her cared.

But on the other hand, it would be allowing Eric to get a little too close for comfort. It would be dangling lustful bliss in front of her very hungry flesh. Just the thought of his lips on her bare skin awoke the middle of her legs. Maybe this would hurt Sophie Anne too.

She shook the thoughts away as she noticed Eric Northman dismiss the court. This line of thinking was dangerous. There were many more valid reasons why the good Sheriff could not - would not - ever taste her blood. The taste of her blood would be a giveaway she wasn't exactly all human for one. Draining her dry and killing her was another.

She focused her attention on Pam again, who was now counting glasses. The vampire noticed being watched and did not particularly care for it. "Heard you refused to belong to my Maker. I did not peg you for being dumb."

"Oh, being Eric's puppet is considered the smart move nowadays, is it?"

"Let's just say...He pulls good string." She gave her a small but nasty smile that sent shivers down her spine.

Olivia did not care to find out what strings exactly planned on pulling, but a little growing part of her was starting to want to find out. The devil himself motioned for Olivia to follow him to his office as the rest of the vampires cleared out the bar. A very attractive Asian vampire with a body covered in tattoos up to his neck gave her a sexy side smile as he headed for the exit. Oh my. Soon, she was alone with Eric in his office again.

"My apologies, the common court ran a bit long."

"That's alright," Olivia nodded as they both sat down in their respective chairs. His, behind the desk, her in front of it. "Is Pamela not joining us?"

"You'll only deal with me from now on, as promised."

"Oh," Olivia muttered surprised. It was in the terms he offered, but she didn't expect him to actually… Do it. They must be playing her game now. Eric must really want her blood.

"She was devastated to not spend more time with you, of course," he smiled sarcastically.

"Ah, yes, I imagine she must be so upset." Olivia raised her brows for a moment, opening her briefcase and getting this meeting on the road.

They discussed contractors for the strip mall renovations which had nothing to do with updating safety codes or improving property value, no. The two openly discussed which company was the sleaziest and would not complain about being paid in cash and produced vague invoices that Olivia could manipulate. Eric was sitting on about 20k of dirty money waiting to be hand washed and hung dry. The Queen expected about 10k of it by the end of the month.

"You are aware some of it will inevitably be lost to taxes, right? At least 12%?"

"Our reigning Queen gets her cut, always. I usually get whatever is left."

That didn't sound like the best of deals. Eric was doing all the dirty work, but would only take home 7.6k of the money had accumulated recently. Vampire drug dealing had its own hierarchy rules and it wasn't up to Olivia to question them. But perhaps, if Olivia could figure out how to make Eric keep more of his own money, it could be one of his rewards. She didn't entirely think her offer through - she had to come up with things Eric Northman would like as rewards. Though the list was short and simple and sexy, they were dangerous.

"Why do you do it?" Olivia asked curiously. "Sell vampire blood, I mean?"

"Because the Queen has commanded me to."

"Yes, but if you could have easily told the Authority. She answers to her superiors."

Vampires deemed their own blood to be sacred and never to be profited from. If the Authority knew the Queen was forcing her underlings to sell it for her she would be publicly executed faster than you can say 'traitor'.

He leaned back on his chair some more. "You know a lot about vampires, more than most humans. But there's plenty you don't know."

"Then tell me."

Eric hesitated for a moment. "What is your biggest fear, Olivia?"

She didn't quite expect this question and was a bit nervous about what exactly he was going to do with said information. But Olivia had a pretty big fear that had nothing to do with vampires. One that haunted her mind every time she doubted a decision she made in relation to her work. "Men in dark blue windbreakers enter the room, approach me and say 'step away from the computer ma'am'. And then they take it all away and handcuff me."

"I have a very similar fear, actually," Eric leaned forward, putting his elbows on his desk. "Except in mine, vampires approach me and say 'Long live Eric Northman, the King'."

If Sophie-Anne fell, there was a very real possibility he would be appointed as King of Louisiana. It was strange to her that he wouldn't want to be King given the… Everything about him. But he was right about one thing - there was plenty she didn't know. And she believed it was part of her job to find out.

Eric and Olivia decided on two different contractor possibilities - one of them had built Fangtasia years prior and Eric vaguely trusted him. She would get quotes from both companies this week. It was time for the final big-ticket item on her meeting agenda.

"Fangtasia could also use some upgrades when we rebrand to a strip club. Here's a folder with all the documents that need to be signed, along with a booklet for all the new rules you'll have to adhere to."

"I suppose we need poles installed," Eric sighed at the sight of more papers.

Olivia could feel her hotel bed calling her. "I was also thinking of adding some VIP lounge areas too. Plus you'll need a sizable employee changing room for the dancers."

"Pamela is already on it, trust me."

"Good. I can be of assistance, should she need anything," she clipped her briefcase shut, pleased with the productive and successful meeting with Eric Northman, finally.

"I'll let her know."

"Good evening, Mr. Northman," Olivia got up with her briefcase and gave him a curt nod. She knew vampires didn't shake hands.

Liv spun on her heels and was halfway across the small office when she felt a rush of air brush her arm. "Aren't you forgetting one little thing?"

Olivia had stopped on her tracks to keep her from crashing into Eric who was now standing between her and the doorway. She felt slightly confused but mostly annoyed at what he was implicating. "We had one productive meeting, Eric. I'm not rewarding you for the bare minimum."

"This is your game. If you want me to play, you have to keep it interesting," he teased, a bit too pleased with himself that he could behave for a full 1-hour meeting.

"Fine, what do you want?"

She was expecting him to ask for her blood, or maybe for her outfit again, even ask for the millionth time what she was, or how she did certain unexplainable things, but what came out of his beautiful mouth was much, much worse. "Tell me about your dreams. Specifically the latest one. I got the impression it was a good one because it made you…" His voice trailed off into the sexiest smile.

Olivia had to contract every muscle in her entire body in order not to punch him square in the jaw. She took a subtle deep breath and prayed her face didn't flush with the rising heat of her blood boiling. She couldn't even goddamn touch herself without Eric knowing.

"Okay," she raised her chin and looked up at the tall Viking. "I'll tell you. I was on my knees…"

His smile grew, his attention clinging to her every word. "And?"

"And I was wearing a leather strap-on with a ten-inch-"

His smile instantly faded back into his plain stare. "Fine. Don't tell me then."

"My private life is off-limits," she reminded him, trying not to look too amused at his disappointment. "Dreams included."

"I like to think I've been incredibly patient with you after all you've done-"

"And you expect me to do what? Tell you my dirty dreams, get so lost in the fantasy that I give in and bend over your desk and beg you to fuck me?"

He was surprised at her words. "Well, that was certainly saucy."

That was exactly what he wanted, and Olivia regretted saying the words. "I think you have the scales tipped the wrong way, Mr. Northman. Pamela still owes me 14 grand for Debbie Pelt's bail."

"I'll cover the bail fee, the rest you can get from the bond officer after Debbie's court appearance."

Olivia frowned for a second, a bit stunned with the information. "She's still alive?"

"Oh yes, I need her alive. Debbie Pelt has a role to play," he read the curiosity on her face before adding. "I'll tell you what it is if you kiss me."

Trying her hardest not to scoff, she told him good night and left Fangtasia.

Olivia drove out of town, urging to put some miles between her and Eric. She found a little tucked bar off the first exit east of Shreveport, Merlotte's Bar and Grill. She plopped down at the bar and ordered a beer and french fries from a very rude bartender. She was a loud broadcaster and was more than mentally done with her shift and wanted more than anything to go home and smoke weed. Dealing with Eric Northman was a nightmare when she was awake, and a different kind of nightmare when she was asleep. She decided she needed to get laid, or drink this vampire off her mind, or both. It burned a hole of hatred in her soul knowing that Eric would know every time she orgasmed. That was so fucking embarrassing on so many levels. Just when she had managed to set some boundaries between them, he pulls this shit.

But on the other hand…

If say, she was to find a skilled partner… Eric would know every time she orgasmed. The prospect was almost too good to pass.

She sighed, giving up on this momentary delusion. People's thoughts were the clearest when she touched them, which is a pretty big part of sex. And trust her, you don't want to know what goes through a man's head during sex. Women tend to not be so nasty, but much harder to seduce. So even when Olivia did have sex, she spent most of her time focusing on keeping the mind wall raised which didn't leave a whole lot of energy to focus on the actual pleasure. This had been Olivia's long adult-life dilemma, and for these reasons, she always returned to her trusty vibrator which never let her down.

As she was about to ask the bartender for the bill, a man entered the bar area, causing the rude lady bartender to end her shift with a bark. "Goddammit Sam, you payin' me overtime or what?!"

"Sorry Tara, Jeep had a flat on my way back from town-"

"Ever heard of a cell phone? Coulda called."

Sam, the new bartender, looked a bit flustered when he noticed Olivia was watching the two argue. Tara disappeared out back, and Sam slung a dish towel over his shoulder. He was in his late 30s, had a dusty brown-going-grey outgrown hair cut but in a flattering way, and a pretty face with blue eyes.

"What else can I get you, ma'am?" He had the most darling southern accent and shook off Tara's attitude with the most heart-melting smile.

Olivia's instinct kicked in, and she reached into his mind to read his first impression of her (it was habit at this point), but all she got was static. She had encountered static in people's minds a couple of times before (once during a poker game and she lost big time) but it was certainly unusual. She had a working theory that werewolves (like Debbie Pelt) had cloudy minds, and other supernatural beings had distinct mind waves. What else existed out there, she did not know.

Maybe it was the alcohol taking over but what Liv did know, was that she had asked the universe for multiple orgasms, and the universe gave her an attractive man with no read-able thoughts.

"Oh, another beer please," she smiled with fluttery eyelashes.

"This is some triple grade of bullshit Eric!" Pam shrieked from the couch. "No nipples? No actual nudity? What kind of strip club ain't got titties?!"

Her Maker was as annoyed as she was. Human laws were always so flawed and backwards, but they never cease to disappoint. But then again, what to expect from a country founded by puritans?

"You'll just have to compensate with talent and hotness," Eric sighed, throwing Olivia's folder on Louisiana strip club rules back on the 'deal with later hopefully never' pile. Also known as 'Pam's pile'.

"No shit," she muttered angrily. "I'll put ads around and see what we get."

"Lock up before you leave? I have common court business to deal with,"

She nodded and kept flipping through the litany of bullshit rules when she noticed her Maker shiver head to toe as he stood from his office chair. He froze still for a moment before smiling with eyes gently closed.

"You alright there?" Pam cocked a brow.

"Yes Pamela," he stated as he stretched his neck once in a full circle, regaining focus and continued his way across the office.

Some things were better left unspoken she guessed. But then Eric did it again, full-body shudder, she even noticed he had goosebumps on his arms.

"What's going on with you? Walked through a ghost or somethin'?"

"Not it's Olivia," he said with a small smile. "She's had my blood in Dallas, just a little but enough for me to pick up on her stronger emotions."

Pamela, of course, already knew that. "That's an idiotic idea if I've ever heard one."

Another shudder, but for whatever reason, he seemed entertained by it all. Clearly, Olivia wasn't in any trouble or else he would have dashed out of here. So she must be feeling something else.

"Is she equally as pissed with Louisiana law as I am?"

"No," he smiled. "No, she's dreaming of me."

Pam glanced at the office clock - it was 11:45. "Huh,"

"What?"

"I just figured working for vampires Olivia would be a bit of a night owl."

Her maker caught on her line of thinking and also checked the clock. He suddenly was no longer smiling which to her was way funnier than it should have been. Eric tried to contain the next shudder by tensing his whole body, but he still felt all of it. His face scrunched to a snarl showing his fangs.

"So you can feel Olivia having a good time but she ain't dreaming, is she?" Before Eric could hear Pamela cackling, he dashed out of the door and disappeared into the sky.

A.N.:

hello bonjour!

I was in the mood for a light-hearted chapter after the turmoil of the last one. But this is not a filler! Lot's of important information were sprinkled in here.

Had some questions in the comments that I'll clarify now:

Q: Did QSA claim Olivia?

Sophie-Anne and Olivia exchanged blood in that one fateful sunrise kiss (SA nicked her own tongue mid-kiss), but she refused to claim Olivia afterwards, so NO. Olivia has never belonged to a vampire, or to anyone.

Q: What can Eric feel of Olivia?

Olivia had just a drop of Eric's blood. This means he can read her emotions while they are near, and pick up on ~strong~ emotions while they are apart (like fear, and in this case, big Os). The more of his blood that Olivia ingests, the stronger his 'radar' will be.

Q: Can't Eric just claim her?

He can't draw her blood against her will due to the edict of protection on Olivia (despite him boasting otherwise)

Q: How does V as a drug work?

The show has MAD plot holes on this, and it will be explained soon in detail when we dive into the drug dealing stuff.

Hope this was helpful. Thank you all so much for the LOVELY comments, this fandom is absolutely incredible even though this show ended like 7-8(?) years ago. I dipped my toes in other fandoms that were literal dumpster fire and I keep always returning to this one 3 love u all

til next time xoxoxo