She hadn't spoken another word to him the entire drive. He led her into his house and up to one of the bedrooms. He placed her bag on the end of the bed then stood to his full height and stared at her for a moment. She just stood with unseeing eyes near the bed. She seemed as if the earth would swallow her up at any moment. He reached out to her and she flinched. Her reaction startled him. He withdrew his hand and motioned for her to go back down stairs. She shook her head and walked over to the bed and slumped against the pillows.

"Why are you acting this way?" He finally asked. She just stared straight ahead and allowed the tears to slide unhindered down her cheeks.

"Sookie!" She jumped again at the volume of his voice in the dark room. She finally focused her eyes to look at him.

"I'm just a stupid girl. Why do you even care about me? I'm not worth anything to you." His eyes narrowed and he advanced on her. She saw the fierceness in his eyes and just a few hours ago she would have been terrified. Now she was numb. He turned on the small lamp by the table so her human eyes could focus fully on his face. He gripped her shoulders and shook her slightly so she would look at him. She refused. She looked down at her hands and whispered to him.

"I'm so stupid. No one could ever love me."

"Stop!" He grabbed her face and made her look at him. "Stop trying to drown yourself in self pity. I thought you were much better than that."

"You don't know me."

"I know more than you think." She tried to break free from his grasp but Eric refused to let her go. "You will allow a spineless, sycophant to break you? You will give him that much power over you? You stood up to me from the moment we met but you will allow that pathetic creature to strip you of your spirit."

"Maybe he's just what broke the camel." He pushed her face from his grasp a little more forcefully than he had meant to.

"I don't believe that. You're stronger than you want to admit." He saw her face change; a spark of life flashed in her eyes.

"I don't think so. I'm just a…"

"Just a what? A waitress? A barmaid? A telepath? A stupid girl?"

"Yes." She looked down at her hands again and he growled.

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself. It's beneath you."

"How do you know?!" She glared at him. There was the Sookie he knew starting to resurface.
"I've lived a long time. I think I recognize a …pity party when I see one." He watched in delight as her hands balled in to fists. He saw her jaw set and he waited for her to explode.

"Fuck you." His eyes widened at her vulgarity. He was impressed. But, most of all, he was right. Sookie was far too good to allow Bill Compton to break her.
"That's my girl." He grinned and couldn't stop himself from stroking her cheek. Her expression changed and she pulled away from him.

"Stop being mean to me."

"I'd like to be very nice to you but we keep getting interrupted." She stopped cold and looked at him. His eyes were dancing with amusement and she realized what he was doing. He was bringing her back. Before she reasoned out why she shouldn't, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. He responded and trailed his hands up and down her back.
"Thank you." She whispered to his neck as Eric pulled her to his lap.

"Let me make you forget him, Sookie." He wanted her. He almost admitted to himself that he needed her. Her sweet scent had intoxicated him over and over and he knew he would never become immune to it. From the depths of his mind, he knew he should wait. They needed to talk. He needed to explain what was going to happen. He needed to make her understand that he not only wanted to make her his, he had to in order to protect her. All thoughts left his mind when he felt her lips on his neck. He eased her back on the bed and settled between her legs. He rubbed his hand down her ribs while kissing his way along her collar bone. She tilted her head back to allow him access and slid her hands underneath his t-shirt. The feel of her hands on his back caused him to buck against her slightly. The feel of the friction created against the seam of her jeans made her moan as she sought out his lips. He captured her mouth and delighted in the feel of her warm tongue fighting for dominance over his. He flipped them over so she straddled his waist. He hooked his thumbs under the edge of her shirt and slid it up and over her head. He tossed it carelessly to the floor and returned his concentration to her warm kiss. He deftly unsnapped the button of her jeans and before she realized, he had slid them down her thighs. He lifted her to a seated position and pulled her to her feet. He pushed her pants down her legs and then pulled her back on top of him. She giggled a little at the quickness of his movements and he playfully squeezed her behind in return. She pulled on his shoulder in order to change their position again and he complied. She fumbled with his belt and she growled in frustration. He chuckled before pulling away from her. He stared into her pale blue eyes as she lay beneath him. At some point he pulled her hair from its ponytail so her blond locks were scattered across the pillow. He fingered the buckle on his belt while stroking his thumb across her lace covered nipple. She closed her eyes and arched her back in response. He bent down for another quick kiss before standing. He stripped his t-shirt over his head and watched as she delighted in his body. Her eyes trailed over his chest and down to his abdomen. He smiled at her as he unzipped his jeans. He shucked his heavy boots and then slid off his jeans. At the sight of his impressive erection her eyes widened. Her lips parted slightly and he could hear her breath catch in her throat.

"Breathe, Sookie." She tore her eyes away from his length and met his gaze. He started to climb back up her body but he paused at the frightened look in her eyes.

"Are you frightened?" He asked as he hovered above her. She swallowed and tried to make him understand. Her eyes left his and flickered down to his erection and then back to his eyes. His chest swelled with pride when he finally understood. She had admitted that Compton had been her first and only lover. Her apprehension made it all too clear to him that Sookie had never had a real man such as himself. He kissed her cheek and then her earlobe. He sighed against her ear and whispered, "I will make you forget him, Sookie. Let me." He punctuated his point by licking the rim of her ear. She shuttered slightly and he settled between her legs. The smooth material of her panties slid along the underside of his erection as he shifted his weight against her. She clutched at his shoulders and he knew that she was going to yield fully to him. He slid his hand around her back and unfastened her bra. As her breasts spilled free, he bent to capture her nipple in his teeth. She took a sharp intake of breath and bucked her hips against him. He trailed his hand to her hip and gently slid her underwear down her legs. He made an effort to calm himself as she lay underneath him naked and beautiful. He wanted to plunge into her and ravage her body. She needed to know how beautiful she was. She needed to feel desired. He was going to show her those things. He was going to give her more pleasure than she could have ever known. He was going to make Bill Compton and all his lies and pain become a distant memory. As she pulled her leg up his side, he kissed his way up her ribs. He paused to pay attention to her breast and then continued to her lips. He kissed her slowly and allowed her to ease into their union. He pulled away from her and looked down at her face. She smiled slightly and he kissed the tip of her nose.

"Be sweet." She almost begged. He nodded his head and knew that he was going to make her come over and over again before dawn. He licked her lower lip and it was his turn to moan as she slid her tongue across his fangs. He slid his hand down her side and shifted his weight to his side. He pulled her hip towards him and brushed his knuckles across her soft curls. He smiled into her lips at the small squeak she made when he parted her folds with his thumb. He drew small light circle over her nub causing her to mew softly against his lips. Feeling her wetness for him he slid his finger across her. She dropped one knee to the side and pulled against his elbow willing him closer.

"Please, Eric." She murmured and he granted her wish. She offered him a small cry as he pushed his middle finger into her tight opening. He had never felt a woman so tight and wanting. He stroked her gently and felt her hand slide up and down his arm as her other hand threaded through his hair.

"Oh, Sookie. My lover." He moaned against her neck as he pushed a second finger in stretching her to accommodate him. He felt her muscles start to tense and he knew she was slipping. "Let go, my lover. Let me give you this." At his words he curled his fingers inside her and she arched her back and sucked in a lung full of air. Her lips parted and pulled away from his. Her eyes slammed shut and she could only make a small scream escape her throat. Eric stroked her a few more times causing her to squirm at his touch. He licked her jaw as she panted. He slid his fingers from her and smiled at the whimper she rewarded him with.

"Don't worry, lover. I have not left you." He hovered over her and watched her face. He could see the hesitation in her eyes. He kissed her forehead and then her cheek while taking her hand and guiding it down to his length. She slowly wrapped her fingers around him and he had to close his eyes to the sensation. He bucked into her hand a few times before looking into her eyes again. He positioned himself above her and allowed her to set the pace and guide him in. She licked her lower lip while rubbing his tip along her dampness. It took every ounce of self control for Eric to allow her this. He growled deep from within his chest as she gently pulled him to her. She removed her hand and tried to prepare for him. He pushed in a few inches and then kissed her lips. She trembled beneath him and he slowly pulled out again. He repeated this agonizing pace until she took all of him. When he was finally buried to the hilt, he moaned against her cheek and palmed her breast. She rewarded him with calling out his name. He moved slowly at first allowing her to get used to his size. She quickly adjusted and raised her knees just a fraction. He reached around and pressed his palm firmly against her behind and quickened his pace.

"Oh, Eric….Eric…Yes…Please." She chanted his name and begged him for more as he moved inside her. He kissed her over and over again, never leaving her lips. She scraped her nails down his back and he growled appreciatively.

"My lover, you are exquisite." He pushed up on his arms and changed the angle just enough to make her scream again. He liked to hear her scream. There was no more beautiful sound in the world. He reached for her wrists and lifted her arms above her head. He nuzzled her breast with his nose; he was close. He lifted his gaze and smiled at her.

"Look at me." He commanded and she stared wide eyed as he licked her nipple. His thrusts were hard and more erratic. She could barely breathe but still managed to chant his name. Her vision was starting to turn into sparks of light and colors and she tightened her legs around him drawing him into her even more.

"Please Eric." She begged for release. He held her stare as he slowly bit. The pain and the pleasure of him sucking on her breast sent her over the edge. He sucked deeply, drinking in her essence. Suddenly, he exploded with one final thrust. Her body convulsed around him as she felt him empty inside her. He released her wrists, so she could tangle her fingers in his hair as he took a few more draws from her breast. She sighed as he licked the small puncture wounds. He placed a gently kiss on her nipple and blew gently across the taught, red bud. She shivered and giggled. He slid out of her and pulled her into his arms. She tangled her legs with his and nuzzled her cheek against his chest.

She didn't speak. She just allowed him to hold her. Ever so often she would plant a soft kiss against his neck or his chin. He played with a few strands of her hair and scattered light kisses across her forehead. As her breathing evened out, he sighed against her hair. She had finally fallen asleep and dawn was a few minutes away. He reluctantly eased himself from her grasp. He pulled the comforter around her and brushed the hair from her face. He kissed her softly on the lips before retreating to the safety of his daytime resting place.