Eric held her hand as he led her back upstairs. She tightened her grip as he opened the bedroom door.

"Eric?"

"Trust me, Sookie."

"You told me not to." He stood a little straighter and turned to look her in the eyes.
"So I did." He couldn't hide the proud smirk on his face. She's a smart one. "How about…Follow me and I won't hurt you."

"Okay. But what are you doing?"

"How did Bill give you his blood?"
"In the dirt at the back of Merlotte's with me bleedin' half to death." He closed his eyes and tried to tamp down the desire to kill Bill Compton, but he had to admire her smart-ass tone.

"Well, I'd like to make this experience a lot more desirable to you, if you'll allow me." He pushed open his door and she stood rooted to her spot in the hall. He raised a questioning eyebrow at her and tugged gently on her hand.
"I don't think I can."

"It's for the best, Sookie. The Queen will know if we are not truthful."
"Are we?" He slid his hands up her arms and rested them on her shoulders.

"I'd like to be."
"You want me to be…yours?"

"Yes."
"But I can't do that."

"You did it for Bill."

"He lied to me."

"And I have not."

"But, I thought he loved me. You don't love me. I don't even know if you like me."

"Lover." His tone was warm and patient as he slid his finger under her chin and stroked her jaw. "Let me show you."

"But…" He felt her embarrassment and nervousness.

"I know you are concerned by your soreness. I'm sorry I didn't see to you last night. I will take all of it away. Let me, Sookie." She nodded mutely and followed him into the dark bedroom. He left her standing in the doorway as he moved with vampire speed to turn on a small lamp by the bed. He held out his hand to her and she stepped slowly toward him. She allowed her eyes to dart around the room, taking in the dark furniture. The bed was huge. She grinned a little to herself. Of course it was huge, he was huge. Eric took the last few steps to meet her and took both her hands in his.

"Please. Sit." She nodded and hopped up on the edge of the tall bed. This allowed her to be high enough for him to step between her legs and be even with her hips. He hugged his arms around her and she responded in kind. She breathed in deeply filling her lungs and senses with his scent. He pulled away and leaned beside her on the edge of the bed.

"I'm sorry you're frightened. But unfortunately, it's warranted."

"Thanks for making me feel better." She mumbled as he shifted back farther on the bed and rested against the headboard. He chuckled softly and tugged on her arm.

"Come, lean against me."

"What's going to happen after I have your blood?"

"What happened after you had Bill's?"

"Well, it healed me."

"And?"

"I had heightened senses. I could smell…everything. Plus…my, um.."

"Your sexual desires were more acute?"

"Um, yeah."

"Bill is a much younger vampire than I. The same effects will occur, but some may be a little more….intensified."

"Oh..okay." He settled her against his chest. He brushed the hair away from her face and to the opposite shoulder from where he rested his chin. He turned his head slightly and kissed her temple.

"This is important, Sookie. If I am to convince my Queen that you are mine and that I should be the one to keep you, we must do this."

"Keep me?" She squeaked; fear and panic started to bubble to the surface.

"I won't treat you badly, lover." He murmured in her ear. She bolted forward and scrambled to the end of the bed.

"What do mean 'keep me'?! That's not going to happen. I'm not a stray dog you found on the back steps!" Hysteria threatened to take her over. "So you're going to take me to this Queen and instead of her keeping me, you're going to beg her to let you keep me?! What the hell does that mean?!" Eric closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the headboard. She was so stubborn and difficult. She just wouldn't do what he asked.

"Lover…"
"Stop calling me that." He smirked at her.

"My lover, please don't get yourself upset again."
"NO! Stop talking to me like I'm slow or something. Tell me what you mean about 'keep me'! I have a job, a home, and I live in Bon Temps. I ain't movin'!"

"No, lover, you can still have all that if you choose." She looked at him and narrowed her eyes.
"But?"
"But you may find you want something else."
"Why?"

"I'm irresistible."

"Oh hell." Sookie rolled her eyes. "Give me a fuckin' break."

"Well, I'd like to give you a fucking." He leered at her as he reached for her hand again. She snatched it away and moved father into the opposite corner of the bed.

"What if you just take me back home and we forget about all this?"
"The Queen will probably just order Bill or even Jessica for that matter, to kidnap you in the night and take you forcibly to her. She will try to glamour you and when she realizes even her power is useless, she will threaten or harm everyone you love and hold dear until you do what she wants. At least, that's what I would do."

"So basically you're saying that…you're the lesser of the evils?" He didn't like the way her voice was getting so strained and high. She was going to slip in to hysteria if he didn't calm her.

"Yes. Please come back here and sit by me."

"I…I…" He couldn't wait for her compliance; he needed to make her understand that if she wanted any type of life, he was it. He moved swiftly and leaned over her. His fangs had already run out and he looked deep into her eyes.

"Don't be afraid of me, Sookie. I'm going to take care of you."

"Why?"

"Why?! You are truly frustrating. Just let me." He gathered her in his arms and pulled her back against his chest. Her breathing was quick and her heart was thrumming in her chest. She knew she had little choice. Bill had seen to that the moment he walked into Merlotte's. Before she could finish her musing of how she was starting to nurture a growing hatred for the first vampire she ever met, Eric presented his bloody wrist to her mouth.

"Drink." She recoiled and he smoothed his hand down her arm and pushed his wrist at her again. "You have to."

She closed her eyes and felt him press the wound to her lips; she lightly tested the taste with her tongue. Eric placed a kiss on her neck and whispered, "Drink, my lover." She said a silent prayer, wrapped her lips around the opening and drew a tentative mouthful. Eric's blood was thick and sweet. Sweeter than Bill's. She could feel the power in it as it slid down her throat. Eric moaned against her neck sending vibrations through his chest that traveled into Sookie's spine. She shivered slightly and sucked a little harder.

"Yes, that's it…mmmm." Eric shifted against her and she felt his sudden arousal against her lower back. He lightly ran his fingers up and down her arm as he nuzzled her neck. She took a few more draws and then released his wrist. She didn't have time to watch the wound heal because Eric had her on her back and was placing open mouthed kisses on her neck and collarbone. Somehow, in that swift motion, Eric had lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it to the floor. He palmed her breast and growled against her ear as he ground his hips into her pelvis. She couldn't stop the hissed intake of breath as he hit a very sensitive and sore spot from the night before. He stopped suddenly and watched as she tried to hide her discomfort.

"I'm sorry, lover." He slid down her side and pulled her jeans from her hips. He rubbed his palms along her thighs and kissed the side of her knee. He moved to the side of the bed and edged her closer to him. He kissed her thigh and then the juncture of her hip. He could feel his blood coursing through her as he nuzzled her center with his tongue. She moaned and twisted the comforter between her fingers. He lapped at her a few more times before biting his finger and sliding it inside her. She bucked her hips against him as he hit all her sensitive spots.

He used his free hand to slide his fingers up and down her leg. She whimpered and purred under his ministrations. He added a second finger and probed her nub with his tongue. He closed his mouth around her swollen mound and hummed deeply. She arched up from the bed and grabbed a fistful of his hair pulling him closer. He moaned again against her and added a little more pressure with his fingers causing every muscle in her body to contract. She shuddered and opened her mouth to scream but her voice wouldn't work. He stroked her through her orgasm and just as she was coming back to her senses, he turned his head to the side and sank his fangs into her femoral artery.

"Eric!" She cried as the tremors continued to ripple through her abdomen. He placed his hand against her stomach to settle her while he drank. She sighed and tried to fill her lungs with air again when she felt him slowly lick the wound. He stood between her legs and smiled down at her flushed skin and heaving chest. He slid his jeans and boxers from his hips and stepped out of the pooled material. He climbed her body and pulled her beneath him as he moved her to the center of the bed.

"How do you feel, my lover."

"Good…good." She panted before pulling him down to meet her lips. She swiped her tongue across his fangs and elicited a moan from him. She was really starting to feel the effects of Eric's blood. She felt strong and confident. She pushed against his shoulder and he rolled to his back. She swung one leg over his and tore her lips from his so she could lick and nip his neck. He growled and tried to pull her on top of him. She shook her head and latched on to his nipple. He hissed and placed his hand on the back of her head.

"Bite a little." He held her head in place and she nipped and sucked a little harder. Much to her delight, his hips jerked against her leg and he slammed his eyes shut. She reached out and wrapped her fingers around his length causing him to react again. This time she timed a forceful nip with her first stroke of him.

"Ngggg, Sookie!" Hearing him cry out her name spurred her arousal and confidence. She pumped him a few more times before sliding down his body. She darted her tongue out and favored him with a few light licks. He moved to return his hand to the back of her head, but she swatted him away.

"No. Don't move." His eyes widened at her sudden dominance, but then filled with lust as she placed one hand on his hip. She knew she would never be able to take all of him in her mouth, but she was going to make him squirm. She wasn't the most experienced woman in the world, but she wasn't without some knowledge of what men like. She'd read enough books to be able to piece together a few things. When she finally drew him into her mouth, she swirled her tongue around his shaft before releasing him completely and then blew lightly across the tip causing him to shutter and growl. She pumped him in tandem with her lips and soon he was moving his hips in time with her movements. She dug her nails into his him and released him again.

"I said, don't move." She punctuated her point by squeezing his balls with enough pressure to make his eyes slam shut.

"Yes." He hissed as she ran her tongue along the underside of his erection and scraped the tip lightly with her teeth. She engulfed him again and he jerked in response.

"Sookie!" He barked and soon she was beneath him and he was positioning himself at her opening. "I have to feel you, I can't believe…you…tease me….so." He pushed into her a little farther with every word and she gasped and moaned as she stretched to accommodate him. He filled her completely and she still couldn't get enough. She dug her nails into his back and he stuttered his rhythm at the sensation.

"Oh sweet Jesus! Yes, Eric!" He increased his pace and hitched her leg higher on his thigh.

"I feel how much you like that." He snarled and added more pressure. "Tell me what you want."

"Harder…more." He flipped her over and quickly pulled her to her knees. She yelped in surprise but allowed Eric to push into her again. The position was new to her and awkward at first. She then spread her knees a little farther apart and felt every inch of Eric as he slid in and out. Her pants turned to screams as Eric pounded into her. He clutched at her hips and pulled her to meet each thrust. She felt his scrotum hit against her with each hard stroke and locked her ankles around the back of his thighs.

"Oh shit, Sookie!" He reached around her and stroked her clit and suddenly she was unable to focus her eyes. Eric screamed something in a language she'd never heard and released inside her. He shuddered and pushed in a fraction deeper as he bent forward across her back and rested his weight on his massive arms.

"Wow." She sighed into the comforter.

"I told you, I'm irresistible."