It was not quite sunset. It was the time just before, when the sky is pink and orange and simply amazing. The time when you know that God must have been an artist when he created this world. The shadows were long and the night was creeping in. She could feel the hum in her mind start to stir slightly, Eric was starting to wake from his daytime slumber. He was nervous just as she was.
She pulled into her drive and pulled around back as always. Amelia kept her word, she was not home. No note needed as she already told her where she was planning on going. She did leave her a plate of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and carrots in the fridge. She was a good cook and she was obsessed with cleaning. Not bad attributes to have in a roommate. She wasn't hungry given the state of her nerves, but she knew from past experiences, serious vampire discussions could go on for hours.
She ate enough to feel full and put the plate in the sink. She sat back down at the table silently for a moment allowing her mind to wrap itself around the fact that she would be seeing him. It had been weeks, bordering months since they last saw each other at Merlotte's. The night he and Pam pledged their lives and protection.
Once again her heart was beating out of her chest. Her breath was shallow and quick, she was becoming lightheaded. She could feel the dizziness but was able to bring herself back. She sat there for another moment until she was sure she was fine. She pulled herself up out of the chair and into the bathroom for a shower. Tonight was not the night to be smelling of okra and fried onion rings and beer. She scrubbed her hair and shaved her legs and underarms. As she dried herself off she remembered Eric once mentioning that she was a fool for shaving her body hair.
"Well, too bad buddy. In this century girls enjoy being soft and smooth. We do not enjoy being fury and pettable". She muttered to herself.
She took stock of her naked body in the mirror. It had been months since she had been with anyone, sexually. She went twenty five years as a virgin, now that she had enjoyed the benefit of sexual satisfaction she truly desired it. Her tan was still present, she always looked great with a sun kissed hue on her skin. She opened the linen closet and removed a tube of lotion. She flipped open the cap of the tube that read "Obsession". She very clearly remembered Eric enjoying this fragrance the night he escorted her to the orgy. She had run out of the perfume not long after that night. She just recently purchased the lotion, she couldn't afford the actual bottle of perfume at this time. She thought that Eric had put the idea in her head to buy it again, after that night, and the reaction it got out of him, she had made a mental note to find another scent.
She slathered the lotion all over her naked body. Down her arms, across her breasts, her tummy, the small of her back. Everywhere she could see skin and she could reach got moisturized. She loved the deep, spicy scent. She smiled as she inhaled.
She decided that tonight she would wear her hair up. "Something unexpected", she thought. She rarely ever put her hair in anything other than a pony tail. She was not great at fixing hair, she never really cared enough to learn. Arlene always had here hair just so, it must take hours. How does anyone have that much time? She twisted her blond, damp hair into a messy French Twist. "I guess this will do, works for me. That's the important one here, right"? It looked unprofessional, but it did look nice.
She went to her room and took out a matching set of ivory, lace panties, not thong, but not big either, and a push-up bra. Not that she needed any extra push. She opened her closet and stared. She did not own ridiculously expensive clothes. She never saw the need for it. What does a waitress need other than sneakers and t-shirts, really?
"Something...soft?" She questioned her closet hoping it would speak to her. "Something...classy?" Again no answer from the closet. She was feeling anxious again. Finally she caught the sight of a baby blue ¾ length sleeved sweater towards the back of the closet. Her Gran had bought it for her three years ago. She had forgot that she had it. It was very soft, it felt like cashmere, but it was some type of synthetic fiber. Gran could never have bought cashmere with how much it would have cost. It was V-neck, she almost thought again, but instead she slipped it over her head. It was perfect, it hugged her body in just the right way. She looked in the mirror again.
"Hmm, sweater and a pair of panties, wouldn't that just tickle him pink". She laughed at the words the minute they came out of her mouth. "Now wouldn't that be a sight. I've seen a vampire pink up after they have...fed, but tickled pink, that's an entirely different world". She laughed. "I bet this would make him forget about talking though" She smiled, but then she realized that she was acting like she was getting ready for a date. She was primping and preening in the hopes that she would look good. She wanted him to desire her like he once had. She quickly snapped out of her dream world and focused on the point of tonight's meeting in the first place.
She threw on a pair of jeans so she would not look overdone. Southern girls are always most comfortable in a great pair if jeans anyway. She even decided against jewelry in order to play down the outfit even more. She put on a little makeup and glossed her lips in the perfect shade of pink.
She looked at the clock, it was ten past six. The sun was well down and she knew it was just a matter of time before he arrived. She could feel that he was driving his Corvette at about three times the legal speed limit trying to get to Bon Temps. She could also feel his anticipation at seeing her. She was suddenly more calm. To make sure everything was in order she looked in the mirror one last time. She could feel him getting closer. Her blue eyes focused on every detail of her body. She was so nervous that she felt her eyes start to water. After tonight nothing would ever be the same. Good or bad, this was going to happen. She would bet that there was going to be yelling, screaming, tears, but not yet. "Absolutely Not!" She yelled at her reflection. "You deal with this Sookie Stackhouse!" She snapped. That was all it took, she smiled and glanced down. She never put shoe's on, her feet were peeking out from underneath her jeans. She sighed and turned to go back to her closet but her ear's caught the familiar sound of tires on gravel.
"Eric" she breathed. He was there.
"He could feel her anxiety as he drove down the roads from Shreveport. He could feel her excitement as he pulled into her driveway. He quickly exited his car as he too was anxious to get the evening underway. With no sound at all he was on her back porch knocking at her door.
"Wow, knocking. He could have just waltzed on in here." She thought to herself. Eric had been invited back into her house after the night with the Jackson Were's. She took a long, deep breath, and she opened the door.
"Hi", she lost her breath. Standing before her was the beautiful viking. Not in his usual jeans and Fangtasia t-shirt or vest. But, instead he was wearing a black suit. It had thin, blue pin stripes, and he had a crisp, perfectly pressed button down shirt on under the jacket that matched the stripes exactly. He had opted for no tie. The suit looked like it cost a couple thousand dollars and was custom made for him.
"You look...amazing." She could not hold back the compliment and her cheeks flushed. She was suddenly feeling under dressed in jeans and bare feet.
"And you, dear Sookie, look like the sunrise on the Arctic Sea, which is, in a word...breathtaking." She flushed again.
"Would you like to come in", she invited.
"Please, thank you for the invitation."
Why was he being so formal? "Eric, you know you have been invited into my home numerous times."
"I know lover, it is just nice to be reminded that I am here as your guest." His words rang true.
"Can I get you a True blood?" She was nothing if not hospitable.
"No, thank you. I am fine for right now. Where is the witch tonight?" He probed.
"Amelia is out with Tray Dawson, you remember him. She's been seeing a lot of him lately".
"Pity. Pam will be so...upset. I will have to tell her that she must use her power of persuasion in better ways".
She knew exactly what he meant when he crooned the word persuasion. "Oh Eric, don't go getting involved in that little love triangle." She teased him.
"Love triangle, is that what you call it"? He regarded this phrase.
"Amelia is quite fond of Pam too, she's just..." she searched for the right words.
"Indecisive, experimental, hard to please?" he chimed in.
"I'm not sure", she stopped that line of questioning before it got out of hand. "How are things now that Felipe has taken over?" She changed the subject as casually as possible. "Are things OK?"
"Things are,...fine. He seems to be a fine enough king. My business had not been affected, so all is well." She could tell he was uneasy. What she couldn't tell was if it was his words or his feelings that were letting her know. She brushed it off and carried along with the conversation. He knew she could feel this, he watched her.
"So, he's easy to work for. He seems fair?" Again with the take over.
"There are new rules in place, I hate rules. But, I did pledge honor to him. I will keep my word. He has acknowledged my ability as Sheriff and therefor I am not being watched as closely as other Area's." He was bored.
"Oh that's good to hear. You are an excellent business man." Enough small talk she thought. He was gorgeous in that suit. His blond hair glowed against the contrast of the dark material. It was resting on his shoulders in the most serene way.
"Yes, I suppose so. I do make him enough money." He motioned for her to come sit beside him. She had been standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. She acknowledged the motion and walked towards him.
He stood as she got to the couch and he reached his arms out to her. She allowed him to wrap his arms around her and pull her body into his chest as if she was a feather. God, it felt good to be held this way. She buried her face into his chest, happy she wasn't crying and making a mess of his suit as she had in the past. At this point she didn't care if she was angry with him for not speaking to her in weeks. She just felt a wave of happiness, he felt the same. He inhaled her scent and held it in.
"Lover, you are intoxicating. How I remember this scent on you, this would be the night of the orgy that I escorted you to." Vampires and their memories, that is, barring any curses. "Oh, how I could have taken you over and over that night. If you only would have allowed it." He grinned a fangy grin as he looked at her.
"I was not your's for the taking Eric. Besides, that night turned into a blood bath if I remember correctly."
"Oh, indeed it did", he was excited. She broke the embrace and sat down on the couch. He did the same, only he unbuttoned his suit coat before he sat. She smiled softly at how human this act was. She remembered her grandfather often doing this, especially on Sunday's when they went to church.
"So, are you going to tell me why you are so dressed up, or am I to guess that you have a hot date after you leave here tonight?" She joked, but he did not find it amusing.
"Sookie", he glared at her, "This is an important night. Not just for me, but for you as well. Decisions will me made, choices will be before us both. I have thought about this conversation for weeks. I understand the magnitude of it. It is important for me to look my best." He was right, there was no denying the confidence of a man that looked that good. "Besides, I am told that my ass looks fabulous in these pants. And I do remember how much you enjoyed that part of me." He was so sly and he smirked in just the right Eric way. She couldn't even deny the last part, he was right.
Her eyes blazed blue as she remembered his butt in her hands, yup, fire growing, he knew immediately. "OK, OK, yes, your ass looks great, but you don't need me to tell you that. You already know. But again, it does look good." She smiled at him.
"And now I will compliment you my lover. Your breasts look like perfect, round clouds needing to be touched. Your sweater is so soft that it just begs for me to rub my hands over it and caress those breasts. I have never had a more perfect pair." He looked at her through slanted eyes and she breathed deeply.
"OK then, thanks." She shook off his words. He moved closer to her and she allowed it. He snuggled right up next to her and she let herself drop her head to his shoulder. He caressed her hair slowly. As he looked down he saw her pull her knees up to her chest and he chuckled at the sight of her feet.
"Are you cold lover?" he asked softly.
"Hmm, just a little, not bad." As quickly as she said it he was off the couch and retrieving the "truly hideous" afghan. He smiled at it knowingly and wrapped it around her.
"You covered me in this ghastly fabric in front of your fireplace. Your actions were unknown to me at the time, but I knew. I knew you were caring for me. I trusted you with my life when every instinct in my body was telling me to run. I knew you would do anything to keep me safe. Even if that meant covering me in such a hideous blanket."
She closed her eyes and she listened to his memory. To hear the words come out of his mouth was exhausting to her brain. She felt him touch her feet, the feet that she had neglected to put shoes on. Her eyes were still closed. Suddenly she felt his very cool, very smooth lips on her foot. He laid the most tender and soft kiss an each one of her feet. She looked at him with unblinking eyes.
"My first night here I was terrified. You assured me that I would be OK. You saw that my feet were injured. I don't know why, but you washed me, you cared for my wounds knowing that my vampire blood would heal them completely. You cared for my wounds anyway." He reflected on that night and the actions that she took.
Suddenly a wave of emotional ache came across her body. She could feel his memories and how they were affecting him. She knew that this one simple action had changed him. She knew his memory was heart felt and true, he was thankful, he was heartbroken, he was hurting.