They walked outside and she instinctively went to get in her car. He took her hand in his and gently led her away from her vehicle. "No lover, we will take my car. There is no need for you to be driving." He was being courteous and he really did not want her making the long drive alone. He wanted to be with her as much as possible.
"But Eric, how will I get home tomorrow. It's not like you can drive me home in the morning, or the afternoon for that fact." She was slightly snappy, but more concerned.
"Lover, I am hoping that you will decide to stay the day at my house, and if not, you can take my car back. I will retrieve it tomorrow night." He had an answer to all of her questions and they both felt the comfort and the relaxation burn through their bond. She reluctantly followed him over to his Corvette as he took her bag out of her hands. He opened the car door for her and made sure she was comfortably settled before he shut the door.
When he got himself in the car he looked at her, he reached across the cabin of the car, and he kissed her. It was dark, but she could see his glowing, beautiful form as he looked at her. She felt that for as long as her life lasted, she would never, ever get tired of the way he kissed her. At the same exact moment he was thinking the same exact thought, he would never tire of the way she kissed him.
They started on their way towards Shreveport, it wasn't just a 10 minute jaunt down the road. They could actually get somethings settled on the way. In her own mind that would allow them more time later to enjoy each others company. She placed her hand on the top of his thigh in order to get his attention, and of course, his blue eyes turned to her with a burning desire that only he could pull off.
"Eric, you do know that we need to have some...rules, if this is going to work?" She questioned him with a quiet and innocent voice.
"Lover, only you would get my attention by moving your hand so interestingly on my thigh in order to turn the subject towards rules. You are creative...go ahead, you have my attention. What are you suggesting." He was looking at her with interest and with curiosity.
"Well, for starters, I do not take well to people telling me what to do. You had best think about what you're dealing with. I hate it when you get all big, bad vampire on me. You want me to do something, ask me. Tell me what it going on, and I will decide whether or not I should be involved.
Do you understand what I am trying to say?" Her voice was strong and it was clear.
He took a moment to let her words sink into his head, he took her hand in his and rubbed his thumb against her palm. "Sookie, I fully understand that you do not appreciate having decisions made for you. But, in some instances, when your safety is in danger, or a threat has been made, I will be forced to make a decision, or tell you what to do without your knowledge. It is the nature of my existence, danger is common. I do not take pleasure in forcing you into situations that do not agree with you. I will agree to this...If I can explain things to you, make you aware of a certain situation, or if it something very day to day, I will always discuss it with you first. However, if you are in danger, if I am in danger, if something is wrong and I need to act quickly, I will be forced to tell you what to do, and I will expect you to listen to me and do as I say." His eyes were comforting, he was making his best effort to compromise on her first request. Eric, master compromiser.
She recognized that this was a major step for him and she was grateful. "Well, that's a step in the right direction, thank you for that." She lifted their hands to her lips and kissed the back of his. "Next is this MINE stuff. I belong to no one. I belong to me, Sookie Stackhouse, me. I really hate it when people look at you and assume that I belong to you. Seriously, no one belongs to anyone in this century. I am my own person, just like you are your own person." She was trying to be as simple as possible, she was her own person, plain and simple.
This part made Eric slightly more uncomfortable, she could feel his body tense and become very uneasy. She felt his tension, and he felt her confusion.
"Sookie, this is where you are so wrong. You are mine, and I am so very much your's. We are one, we are Bonded, we are essentially one entity. Lover, I feel you as if you are in my soul, just as you can feel me. You are using the word Mine in its literal form. No, I do not have you as my possession, but what I have is your feelings, your heart, your love. All of those things are a gift from you, they are mine to have, to cherish, they are mine. And in return, I give you the same. I am yours, I belong to you, in a way that I have never belonged to another. In our community, it is the greatest honor for me to refer to you as mine, my Bonded, it lets everyone know that we are forever a piece of one another. Sookie, it has nothing to do with me owning you, possessing you, it has to do with us, accepting each other, accepting our life together, being as one." He was nervous with anticipation at her response.
"I understand all that Eric, but that is not how y'all use it sometimes. If someone walks by and looks at me the wrong way you immediately snap, She's Mine. If another Supe, human, whatever, even looks at me with an admiring eye you would grab them around the neck as hiss, She's Mine. You'd even do it to Sam given the chance." She was absolutely right and he knew it.
"Yes, that would happen. That is me wanting to let everyone know that I am the lucky one that has your attentions. That I am the one that is forever a better person for it. Perhaps I can change the wording, next time I will break their arm and hiss I am hers, instead of, She is mine. Would that suit you better lover?" He laughed a low rumble and she couldn't help but snicker at the idea.
"I don't care what you say, just please do not make me feel like your personal property." She thought for just a moment. "Unless....some crazy, evil vamp is about to take a bite out of me. Then you can pull the old She is Mine card, sound good?" She had remembered a time in her past when that had served a great protection. The tension in the car slowly dissipated and she looked out the window at the objects flying by her windows, Eric, lead foot. They were silent for the next ten minutes, it was a comfortable silence, it was relaxing. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the silence, love hummed between their two bodies.
"Sookie, you must allow me to do things for you. I know you are proud and I know you are self reliant, but, I find great happiness in providing things for you." He was as serious as she had heard him all night. "I'm not just talking about sending you gifts, flowers, lingerie. I'm talking about necessities. You need better protection at the house, I want to have the house renovated in order to make it more safe for you, and of course, more safe for me. I want to start immediately. If you will agree to it, I can have a contractor their at the start of next week, it is for the best."
She didn't know how to respond. After the fire had claimed part of her house it was completely redone. Now, he wanted to do a complete overhaul. The house had been her Gran's, it had been in the family for generations. It made her so sad to think of her grandmothers house torn apart and not anything like it's original self. Eric could feel the reason for her sadness and he quickly assured her this would not be the case. "Sookie, I would make sure that your grandmother's house will still look and feel like the house you grew up and lived in. I would never change it, that house holds to much of us to ever destroy it." It was exactly what she needed to hear because she surprised herself and agreed.
He was very pleased, he thought that this would be the toughest part of the night. He squeezed her hand and let her know how happy she had just made him. She squeezed back to acknowledge the sentiment. "Just a few more minutes lover. We are almost home." The way he said home made her heart melt. He was taking her home, to his home, his house. He clearly said home to mean that this was not just his house, it was a place she was welcome, a place she was wanted, it was her home too.
They pulled into a street that was illuminated with not regular streetlights, but with the special lantern poles that communities needed to pay extra for. They gave off a soft, romantic glow rather than the harsh, fluorescent, halo glow the usual streetlights shined. The houses were large, but they were not offending. It was not quite a cookie cutter development, but it was pretty close. Manicured lawns, high end sedan's, the choice in this neighborhood seemed to be either a Lexus or an Audi. She took in her surroundings and imagined what it must be like to be a kid and have such an easy life. He slowed down and pulled into a long, darkened drive. It was not gravel as hers is, but it was cobblestone. She didn't even want to think about how much a drive way like that would cost. He pressed a couple of buttons and the security doors that were locked began to open to his garage. He drove straight in and closed the doors immediately behind him.
He was out of the car and at her side opening her door for her before she even had time to blink. She was not able to fully see his house as they were driving in, it was dark and she did not want to make it look like she was staring. He helped her out of the car and drew her to his mouth for a deep, welcome to my home kiss. She was very happy to return it with enthusiasm. He pulled himself away from her, reluctantly. "Let me show you around, lover" He took her hand and lead her through the door of the garage and into the rest of the house. He was so proud of his home and he desperately wanted her to approve.
The kitchen was minimal, Eric didn't need to cook or eat, but he did have the appliances for those things. Bright, shiny, stainless steel appliances. It was small, but the kitchen was perfect size for his life. The living room was gorgeous, deep, rich hardwood floors. The windows were massive, they were everywhere on this first floor. She thought about why he would have so many windows, but she never asked. The furniture was simple, deep brown and leather. It was not over sized, it was perfectly streamlined. Long and smooth, just like him. There was a huge field stone fireplace in the corner of the room with a heavy wooden mantle. No photo's around, just a few pieces of art on the wall, mostly scenes of Viking's and ships. The walls were an intense shade of navy blue, it fit him perfectly. The house was just...Eric. The remaining rooms on the first floor were an office, a bathroom, and a media room. The media room held an enormous HD plasma TV with surround sound. It was a man's world, it was so human. Men and electronics, how ordinary.
"Eric, your home is beautiful. I love it, it is exactly like I pictured it." She smiled at his face as he glowed with appreciation.
"Thank you, let me show you the rest of the house." He took are hand and guided her towards the stairs. She followed taking in her surroundings. The staircase was impressive, it was wide and it was strong. She could feel the weight of the wood under her feet. She could feel the weight of his happiness in her soul, she was comfortable, she felt suddenly at home.