I needed a segue with this chapter. They can't all be like the last one. I wish! I'm not that good.

I do not own any of the characters from Southern Vampire Mysteries. They all belong to Charlaine Harris. Bless her for sharing them with us. Mattie is my very own.

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Chapter 23

My eyes fluttered open, greeting our dimly lit room. Bill's arms were still wrapped around me as they had been when I drifted off to sleep at dawn. I could tell it was still fairly early since his lifeless arm weighed down my body.

Wiggling out from beneath his grasp, I slid out of bed. The room was a mess of clothes with torn up pieces of bath towel strewn about. It was difficult not to excite myself all over again recounting the events of last night in my head.

Bill had been so different, anticipating every move I made, every urge I had. I was starting to see the benefit of being bound to him. This was only the beginning. I could only imagine what would happen when it strengthened over time. The thought was sending shivers through my body.

I showered and dressed, replaying my evening over and over in my mind. His lips and fingers on me, in me. I was getting distracted. I needed to get out for some fresh air and some food.

It was only 4:00, but I was pretty sure Sookie would be up already. She 's much more of a day person than me. I slid open my phone to text her.

"HEY SOOK, YOU HUNGRY?"

"STARVED, ELEVATORS IN 5?"

"K"

I found a pad of paper in the bedside drawer, but no pen. Oh well, if Bill really needed me he could call me.

When I was shutting the door, I saw Sookie making her way down the hall. We made it to the elevators at the same time.

"Mattie, where did you get that jacket? It's gorgeous! Oh my gosh, the leather's so soft."

I was wearing my new clothes. She was right, the jacket was really soft. I loved it.

"Oh, I got it last night. At Dolce and Gabanna." I let that sink in to her head for a minute as we stepped into the waiting car.

"Whoa, that must have cost a fortune. Is Eric really paying you that well?"

"Um, no. Not exactly. It was a gift. The whole outfit was. Bill took me shopping."

If her jaw had dropped any lower it would have been on the floor.

"I got a dress too! It was so much fun."

I knew she didn't really approve of gifts being lavished upon her, but I sure did. Besides, I was taking them in the spirit they were given.

"Eric's right Mattie, Bill is changing a lot. You've had everything to do with that. I'm so glad you came to Bon Temps, he needed you. I was beginning to worry about him."

"I'm glad too. I was so screwed up before I found Bill. It's amazing how different my life is now. I love him so much."

That was the first time I had really said that I loved him out loud before. At least to someone besides Bill. It felt good.

"Hey that reminds me, why didn't you warn me a little better last night? I wasn't sure who's feelings I was having and at what time. That was so weird! Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. Last night was.....sublime."

"Don't tell me, I don't want to know." We were both kind of giggling at that point.

"I was going to tell you a bit more, but I figured you could handle it. I did fine. It certainly does make life....interesting."

"It made more things interesting than my life." I waggled my eyebrows at her.

"Oh believe me, I know."

We got a table at the Cajun restaurant downstairs. It was set in a bayou with water running through, crickets chirped and frogs croaked. It even had little flickering lanterns. Clearly Felipe had done his homework, it was very authentic, in a Disneyland sort of way.

We both ordered the jambalaya and a hurricane. Sookie remarked at how touristy that was. We both got a good chuckle. If they had really wanted to be authentic, they should have served us chicken fingers and cheap beer.

We sat and talked for almost three hours. Sookie filled me in on all the basics about her bond and what I could expect with mine. Of course every one is different depending on who's in it. At least I was vaguely aware of what to expect. Based on last night, the sex would be phenomenal!

I began to worry about other emotions and how I would react to them. Fear, anger, pain, and anxiety in particular. Did Bill ever feel those things or was that only me?

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I grabbed it out, sliding it open. Sookie was apparently receiving a message of her own. Good, I hated to be rude.

"AND U ARE WHERE LITTLE ONE?"

"EATING"

"WITH SOOKIE?"

"YES, WHAT DO U NEED?"

"WE HAVE A MEETING 8 WITH THE KING. I WILL COME AND RETRIEVE U."

"AYE AYE CAPTAIN!"

"Mattie, that was Eric. He says you two have a meeting at 8."

Ok, so how was he doing that, texting us both at the same time?

"Yeah, that's what he just told me too. Geez Sook, he's got some fast fingers. I'm impressed, you lucky girl." She was visibly embarrassed at my teasing her.

Eric had joined us within a matter of moments. The waitress immediately brought him a bottle of True Blood. What the hell! Does that happen wherever he is? People just feel the need to wait on him?

He was wearing an outfit almost identical to mine, with the exception of his black t-shirt. I was pretty sure if he wore white, it would disappear against his skin.

He ran through a quick synopsis of what we were to discuss with De Castro. He had been planning the terms of my contract. I was hoping Felipe was going to keep his word and honor Eric's wishes. We'll find out soon enough. I trusted Eric to know what we could and couldn't ask for.

A wave of heat radiated through my body. I felt bliss, love, and lust all at once. I panicked. What the hell was happening to me? I told Sookie what was going on, but she and Eric just laughed and pointed behind me.

Pushing out my chair, I rotated my body. Bill was standing in the doorway smiling at me.

Another swell of emotion hit me, this time I was sure it was coming from me.

Bill leaned down to kiss my cheek, before seating himself in the chair beside me. I couldn't even look at him. My face was burning. I was feeling kind of......shy! This was a man that had seen every inch of me, knew my saddest memories, my deepest desires. Shy was the last thing I had ever been around Bill, but things were different now.

I was sure the look on my face was pretty obvious. I was the girl who had shamelessly begged and pleaded with him to dominate me and now I couldn't so much as make eye contact. Bill leaned over and whispered in my ear.

"You have nothing to ashamed of Mattie dear. Last night was.......astonishing."

His lips were faintly brushing my ear as he spoke, which was not helping the situation at all. I wasn't terribly interested in having such an intimate conversation in front of my friends. Especially since I knew Eric could hear every word.

I was pleading at Eric with my eyes, praying for him to say something to change the subject. He always loved to be the center of attention, but why wasn't he saying anything? He just sat there blinking at me. I think he was doing it on purpose.

"Bill, that jacket Mattie has on is just plain gorgeous. I'm surprised at you." Sookie was rubbing her thumb and two fingers together in the universal gesture for It-must-have-cost-you-a-ton. "It's not like you to spend money like that on someone. I mean you never did anything like that for me."

Ouch!

"Nonsense, it was nothing really. I wanted to buy her a gift. She deserves to have nice things. I like to do nice things for her and Mattie lets me." He was rubbing his thumb on the back of my hand as he spoke. "If I am not mistaken, there were a pair of earrings you wouldn't initially accept."

Here we go. Eric and I were stuck here in the middle of Bill and Sookie's "excess baggage". Thank God Eric was finally ready to speak. I don't think he wanted to hear it any more than I did.

"Matilda dear, we have to go. We don't want to be late. I trust you two can find a way to entertain yourselves for an hour or two." He was smirking at Sookie and Bill.

Bill stood up to help me from my seat, nodding at Eric and giving me a little kiss on the cheek.

Eric held the elevator door for me to step on. I was wringing my hands, wiping the sweat on my jeans. I was getting a bit tweaked about meeting with the king.

"Nervous little one? You shouldn't be, not for now. I have everything under control. I will negotiate your contract. If you have any questions or concerns, by all means let them be known."

I nodded at him, not entirely sure what to say. I was just crossing my fingers that nothing had changed from last night.

We were escorted into De Castro's suite and I took a seat on the couch. Eric sat down right next to me. I was glad. I needed some moral support and he made me feel a little more confident.

"Good evening Sheriff, Miss Von Teller. Are you testing out new uniforms tonight." Eric and I glanced at each other while I stifled a giggle. Eric didn't seem to get the joke, or maybe it had been a serious question. I couldn't tell. It went unanswered anyway.

"Are you enjoying your stay here in Las Vegas young lady? Seeing everything that it has to offer?"

"Yes Your majesty, I am. We did some sightseeing last night and went shopping. It's a beautiful city. I will enjoy visiting again."

The door opened and a male vampire walked toward us. He was very handsome. He had dark brown, almost black, curly hair and deep brown eyes. To say he was attractive was an understatement. Eric nodded at him knowingly.

"Victor, I am glad you could join us. This is Northman's newest acquisition. Matilda, this is Victor Madden."

So this was the Victor that Eric was always meeting with. I nodded at him and smiled.

"Miss Von Teller, it's a pleasure. I have heard much about you. Your car handles very nicely. You have an excellent piece of machinery."

WHAT!?! Eric had let Victor drive my car? Did I have Hertz written across my forehead or something? I shot Eric an icy stare. He was gonna get it the second we left that room.

"Uh thanks. I like her too." I would like her better if so many different people weren't taking her out for joy rides!

"Now, shall we get down to business? I do not wish to keep either of you from your companions. Sheriff, I trust you have looked over the contract I had sent to your room?"

"I have Your Highness. Everything looks standard to me. I have only one change request. I would like the same clause in Mattie's contract as is in Sookie's. She will need to be accompanied by Compton or myself on each of her ventures."

"That is a reasonable request and shall be granted. Are there any questions you have Miss Von Teller?"

I shook my head. I guess I should have asked just what it was that I was going to be working on, but that seemed like kind of a no-brainer anyhow.

"Very well then. I need both of your signatures and yours as well Victor."

I almost asked if we would be signing in blood, but I thought better of it.

I knew Eric had been meticulous about making sure his assets were protected, so I skimmed the document and signed. Eric would be sure to get a copy for his records if I wanted to see it. Oddly enough, I also trusted him.

We remained with Victor and the king for a while longer discussing some of His Majesty's more pressing "projects" I would need to handle. It seemed he had quite a few law breakers who's sentences I would be carrying out. I was not terribly happy about that, but it didn't appear he needed me to kill any of them. Yet.

Some of them resided in Louisiana, so I would at least get to go home for a bit before I had to make another trip back to Las Vegas. Bill would certainly appreciate that. He wasn't that excited about this whole arrangement to begin with.

We said our farewells and exited into the hallway with Victor in tow. We made it all the way downstairs to the casino before any of us spoke. It was obvious to me that Victor wanted to be completely out of earshot before speaking with Eric. All the casino noise was the perfect sound barrier.

"He has designs on three new states my friend. Be advised, it may be time to get our affairs in order." They nodded at each other and Victor took his leave.

I didn't ask Eric what that meant. I figured I was still on a need to know basis. Frankly I was surprised they had said that much in front of me. Unless I would be helping in the takeovers. I didn't want to think about that just yet. I was on vacation for another night. I was going to enjoy it or else.

Once Eric and I were alone again I backhanded him across the arm. He scowled at me.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"Oh please! That didn't hurt. What's the big idea letting Victor drive my car?"

He let out a big belly laugh.

"I was wondering how long it was going to be before you brought that up."

I snorted at him. It wasn't worth fighting over. It wouldn't do any good anyhow.

Suddenly I was hit with a wave of heat and an overwhelming bliss. This time I knew exactly where it was coming from. Bill came up behind me wrapping his arms around my waist.

"I trust everything went well my darling?"

"Yes, everything is fine. We can go home tomorrow night like we planned and I don't have to be back here for at least a month or two."

"That is good news."

Sookie and Pam joined us a moment later laden down with travel brochures. They had been planning for us to take a trip to the top of the Stratosphere tower. It was supposed to be the best view of the city. I was thrilled!

"I heard there are rides on top of that thing. I wanna ride the rides!" I was jumping up and down like a child, looking at each of their faces hoping someone would share my enthusiasm. Eric was probably good for it, but I wasn't too sure about anyone else.

We grabbed a cab and made our way north. There weren't enough seats, so I had to sit on Bill's lap. Twist my arm!