I was walking back into the hotel after my third day at the beach, when I ran into someone- literally.
His name was Joe and he worked at the hotel. I had seen him around the last several days and, I noticed him looking at me a few times.
"Oh hey, I'm sorry!" He immediately bent down to pick up the things I'd dropped.
"That's alright, I really should pay better attention to where I'm going," I replied.
He handed me back my book, noting the cover and grinning. It was one of my romance novels.
I blushed slightly and he said, "my sister reads these all the time. I'm Joe by the way."
"Hi Joe, I'm Sookie, nice to meet you."
He was staring at me intently and said, "I feel like I've met you before. . . ." then a look of comprehension crossed his face. "Oh wow! You did the cover of one of those books! I remember seeing it at my sister's. Cool! Wait until I tell her I met the model who did that cover."
I was now blushing furiously and stammered, "I'm no model! I was just helping out my cousin."
"Well, you should be," he responded, "a model I mean." He blushed a bit but then he plowed on, "listen, my band is playing at a bar near here tonight. Why don't you come?"
"Umm, that's sweet, but I'm sort of . . ." I didn't really know how to tell Joe I was hiding out from a couple of vampires while I sorted out my feelings about them and, oh by the way, I was blood bonded to both of them. It all sounded a bit sordid.
"Let me guess, guy trouble? Don't worry, no pressure. Just a friendly invitation. There'll be a bunch of my friends there, my sister too. It'll be good time." He pulled out a flyer with information about the gig, told me he hoped to see me later and, headed out.
I headed up to my room to take a shower. I was admiring my new tan and started thinking about Bill and Eric, and how they both loved touching my skin and the smell of sunlight on me. I sighed. Five days later and I still had no clue what I was going to do about them. The only conclusion I had come to was that I was in love with them both and didn't want to give either of them up.
I was starting to actually think about Claudine's suggestion!
I wandered about the room restlessly. I turned on the television, but after a couple of hours I was once again pacing. I realized that I was bored. There are only so many nights you can spend cooped up in a hotel room, even if it does have free HBO.
I looked at the flyer Joe had given me. His band was playing at a bar just around the corner called Molly's. I checked myself in the mirror, looked around the room, and decided that maybe I really did need to get out tonight.
About an hour later, after I'd grabbed a quick bite to eat, I got ready to go to Molly's. I hadn't brought anything special to wear, but I did have a nice, low cut pair of jeans that hugged me in all the right places, and a low cut black sweater that set off my breasts nicely, without looking slutty. I put on a touch more make up than I would normally wear during the day, put a few curls in my hair, and headed out the door.
I walked into Molly's and immediately felt at home. It reminded me of Merlotte's, except that it had a stage for a band to play. It was more of a pub than a club, and the atmosphere was relaxed. The people looked to be mainly regulars and most of them were drinking beers. No fancy, fruity drinks.
I looked about the room and spotted Joe by the stage, setting up his equipment. He noticed me as well and came over to greet me.
"Hey Sookie! Glad you could make it! Let me introduce you to everyone," he said indicating a table with several people gathered around.
As Joe introduced me to everyone, I immediately realized that his bassist was two-natured. I couldn't tell what kind, but everyone else seemed human so I relaxed. It was like having Sam around. Finally, he introduced me to his sister, Joanne or, as she liked to be called, "Jo."
"Don't ask!" She laughed, "we've been making everyone crazy for years!" She had an easy laugh, bright eyes, and was all around friendly.
I liked her immediately.
Joe asked me what I'd like to drink, and insisted on treating me. He returned a few minutes later with my gin and tonic. Jo scooted over, making room for me to sit, and said, "so Joe tells me you're a model."
I sputtered over my drink, feeling my blush start at my toes. "I'm not a model! I'm a waitress! I was just helping my cousin Claude. He needed someone to pose with for some romance novel contest, the photographer suggested a blonde and I got roped into it. Model? No way!"
Jo started laughing and we settled in to a comfortable conversation while we waited for the band to start playing.
After about twenty minutes, the band started. They were pretty good. By the fourth song, Jo and I were out on the dance floor shaking it for all we were worth. I love dancing, and I'm good at it. Jo and I were having fun teasing the guys a bit, dancing together just a touch suggestively. After a while, I felt someone come up behind me, falling into the rhythm of our dance. I tensed for a moment until I saw that it was Jimmy. Jimmy played for the other team, so I didn't have to worry about any untoward advances, but apparently he liked to dance.
I leaned my back into Jimmy, grinding against him a bit. Jo moved forward and we were dancing in a Sookie sandwich. I closed my eyes and just let the music and rhythms take me. Maybe it was the drinks or, maybe it was the fact that I was relaxed and enjoying myself, but I let my shields slip a bit. That's when I noticed that the bar had started filling up . . . with supes.
Ah hell, I thought. I fished around with my mind and realized that there were at least two tables of Weres, as well as more than a few vampires. I looked about trying to pin point who was where and that's when I saw them.
Bill and Eric were standing with another vampire, a short, thick man with long, dark hair and green eyes. They were all staring at me, and their fangs were starting to come down.
This time my reaction wasn't silent. "Jesus, Shepard of Judea," I exclaimed. I felt my heart doing flips, while at the same time I could feel my anger brewing. Why the hell were they here? Couldn't I have a few days to myself? How did they find me? I checked the bond. The door was gone! There was still a barrier of sorts there, however, but it was definitely weakening. Still, I had not felt them coming, so that couldn't be how they tracked me.
"Sookie, what's wrong?" Jo was looking at me, then followed my gaze toward the vampires. "Uh oh, Joe said it was man trouble . . ." Her words died on her lips as both Bill and Eric were suddenly at our sides, their fangs flashing at Jimmy.
If you weren't used to vampire speed, their movements could really freak you out. I looked at Jo and some of the color had drained out of her face. She was looking at me, reassessing what she thought she knew.
I could hear her thoughts now, she was broadcasting loudly. Vampires? Holy shit! No wonder she didn't want to talk about it. She doesn't seem the type. She's no fangbanger. Can't say I blame her though. Look at them! They're hot!
I blocked Jo out, but I did take her advice, and I looked at my two vampires. They were beautiful. Eric, as usual, dominated the space. His black jeans and black t-shirt hugged every inch of his well-muscled body and perfectly sculpted ass. His hair was down and his eyes were blazing with jealousy, anger, lust and . . . relief?
Bill looked as handsome as ever, in his slacks and henley. His dark eyes were also shining with relief and, his jealousy and desire were just as evident.
To his credit, Jimmy didn't back down. He was either very brave or, very stupid. Instead he looked at me and asked, "are you okay?" Both Eric and Bill growled at him.
"I'll be fine Jimmy, thanks."
Jimmy gave us all another once over, then casually walked back to the table, and his boyfriend.
"Lover, what do you think . . ." I cut Eric off before he could chastise me for dancing too suggestively or, for anything else.
"Don't you 'lover' me! What the hell are you two doing here?" I spat out, giving both Eric and Bill equal measures of what Jason always called my "stink eye."