Eric stopped her with his hand on her elbow right after she stepped up on the bottom step of the Queen's residence. Sookie turned and was level with his eyes.

He leaned forward and captured her lips. Her arms were still trapped inside his jacket so he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. He swiped his tongue across her lower lip seeking entry and she granted him his wish. He moaned against her mouth and he brought his hand to the back of her neck.

"Sookie." He breathed against her cheek causing her to shiver slightly. "Your fear distresses me. Can you not tell from what you feel when you kiss me, that I will not harm you?"

"I'm not the best judge of truth. That's apparent."

"I have not lied to you."

"No, but what happens when you're tired of me?"

"I don't think that's possible." He kissed the corner of her mouth and trailed to her neck. She sank into his embraced and wondered why she couldn't just leave. Why did she stay? Could she really have feelings for him? Was she capable of love again? Had she fooled herself into believing he could fall in love with her?

He brought her out of her musings with another searing kiss.

"I can feel your turmoil. I hope you will come to feel contentment with what I'm telling you. I know you have been hurt, but I was not the one who hurt you." He ran his finger along her cheek and then rested his large palm against the side of her head. She leaned into his hand and sighed.

"I'll try."

****

Sookie held on to Eric's hand while they boarded the plane. Bill followed behind them in silence as they took their seats. Eric settled her on the longer sofa along the wall and brought her a bottle of water.
"Sookie needs to eat." Bill finally spoke. Eric exposed his fangs, daring him to speak again.

"I'm not hungry." Sookie offered to keep the peace. She took the water from Eric's hand and pulled him onto the couch beside her. Bill looked away and the look of anguish on his face almost made her feel sorry for him. Eric lifted his arm and offered his side to rest against. She snuggled closer to him, hoping to find comfort in his arms. He kissed the top of her head and lightly trailed his fingers down her arm.

"Try to rest." He whispered against her hair.

After a few minutes, she was barely able to hold her eyes open. Eric draped his jacket over her legs and she slid down the couch until she rested her head on his thigh. Soon her breathing evened out and she was asleep.

***

Eric rested his hand protectively on her hip as she slept. His mind was thrumming with questions. Would Sookie want to stay with him? Would she refuse him? She demands her independence so fiercely. He could force her to stay, but he didn't want to have to force her.

"You don't love her." Bill spoke softly but viciously.

"I do not justify myself to you. You will do well to remember that."

"You just want her because of her gift."

"And you wanted her because you were ordered to seduce her."

"It wasn't like that." Bill looked away and tried to control his emotions.

"Looks to me that's exactly what it was like. Admit it. You were sent to do a job and got emotionally attached."

"What will you do with her? She won't be kept."

"What I do is not your concern. Sookie is mine now."

"You're not good enough for her. She deserves to be treated…."

"You dare tell me how to treat her?! You have done irreparable damage to her and dare sit there and lecture to me?! Just make sure you and I are clear, you're to stay away from Sookie. Unless, I task you with an assignment, you are to be nowhere near her." Bill looked away abashed.

Eric held her a little tighter as the plane made it's decent. Eric gently lifted Sookie from his thigh and she blinked slowly clearing her head. Bill exited the plane first. Sookie reached out for Eric's hand and followed him off the plane.

Once Sookie was settled into the passenger seat of the car and they were on their way, she spoke.

"I heard you and Bill talking."

"I know."

"How did…?"

"Your heart rate changed."

"Oh…okay…um." She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned slightly to face him. "So are you going to force me to stay with you? You can't you know. I'll never be forced."

"I would never force you, lover. I've told you that many times."

"So what does that mean for me? What happens after you take me home?"

"Will you stay with me tonight?" She was stunned that he actually asked her to stay instead of demanding it.

"Why do you want me to stay? And don't say sex. I want the real answer."

He was thankful the ride home was a short one. He waited until they were safely inside before he spoke again.

"I know you think I want you because someone else had you. That's not entirely the case."

"Not entirely?" He grinned as he followed her up the stairs with their bags.

"I have to admit, the first time I met you, it pissed me off to see you with Bill. I was correct in my assumption that he didn't realize what he had."

"So…" She prompted him again when he fell silent. He hung the garment bag in her closet and placed her carryon bag at the foot of the bed. He motioned for her to follow him as he carried the rest of his things to his room.

"I had to see you. I'm not sure why. That's why I kept visiting you. I've never been drawn to a human before. It's unsettling, to say the least."

She slid her heels off and sighed at the feeling of freeing her feet from the 3-inch torture. She sat on the edge of the bed while he tossed his bag on the chair against the wall and started stripping off his suit.

"You taste different. You smell different. When I'm with you, I feel."

"Feel what?" She asked quietly, as he pulled the shirt from his pants and unbuttoned the last few buttons. He tossed the shirt on the floor at his feet and she gave him a look.

"That's just it. I feel. Vampires aren't supposed to feel emotions like this. I'm not sure I like it."

"What are you feeling?"

"When it comes to you? Rage, comfort, frustration…" He tossed his shoes toward the closet and slid his pants from his hips while flashing her a fanged smile.

She frowned at him and he laughed. "…lust, irritation, and something else I'm not entirely sure of."

"You're not sure?"

"I have an idea, but it's ridiculous. Vampires can't…" He stopped himself before he turned into a total blubbering idiot. Why was he telling her all this? Because she fucking asked? He stood to his full height and walked to her with purpose.

"Come, you and I need a shower."

"And you assume that I'm going to take a shower with you?" He growled again and muttered.

"See, frustrating."

She laughed and he suddenly felt lighter. He enjoyed her laughter. She slid off the edge of the bed and picked up her heels from the floor. She walked out of the room leaving him staring behind her. She didn't stop in her bedroom like he thought but continued down stairs to the kitchen. He heard her open the refrigerator and place some things on the counter.

She jumped slightly at his hands suddenly on her hips. She took a step back forcing him to do the same as she closed the refrigerator door.

"Bill was right you know." She looked at him standing there in just a pair of boxer shorts. She pulled out two pieces of bread and started making a turkey sandwich.

"Right about what?" He ground out.

"I needed to eat. But I wasn't about to let him make you look bad. Besides, he hated to watch me eat. He was just trying to act like he…" She stopped and took a bite of her sandwich. Eric opened the fridge again and offered her a can of Sprite. She grinned her thanks and swallowed.

"I'm sorry I neglected your human needs. I won't make that mistake again."

"I'm sure you won't. You're not used to making mistakes, are you?"

"No."

"Apparently, I make them all the time." She sipped her Sprite and watched for a reaction.

"You do not wish to be here?"

"Why do you wish me to be here?"

"You are mine." He sat next to her at the table and waited for her to finish another bite of food.
"And why am I yours? Why did you want me? My gift? My body? Because I was the shiny new toy that another vampire had to play with? You say I make you feel things, but the things you said you feel wouldn't make me very happy. Rage, frustration, irritation. Why do you want me?"

He stood and started to pace slightly. He ended up facing the washer and dryer. He must have left the laundry room doors open. He didn't know how to answer her without giving away too much. He was in control. He had to be in control. This human was not going to manipulate him. Then a blue and pink box caught his eye. The damn dryer sheets. The scent of them made his emotions start to boil over. He picked up the offending box and hurled it across the room. She flinched and he immediately felt bad.

"Fucking dryer sheets! You are like the fucking dryer sheets!" His voice boomed through the silence of the house.

"I'm April fresh?" She didn't even have the sense to be frightened of him! She mocked him to his face. He turned and faced her with anger in his eyes.

"You seep into my life and now I won't be without you." His voice was controlled fury. She just looked at him and took another bite of sandwich.

"When you can admit it, you'll feel a lot better."

"Admit what?!"

"That you like me. You like me more than you want to. The mere human makes you feel and you don't know how to handle that. Well, guess what? Neither does the human."

She stood from the table and started unzipping her dress as she walked up stairs. She let it fall to the floor in a puddle of material in the hall as she continued to his room. He stood rooted in the kitchen shaking in fury and frustration. He heard the water turn on in his shower and clenched his hands into fists. The thought of her naked and wet was just as powerful as the irritation toward her. This human was going to be his end. She was manipulating him and she knew it. He also knew, he was letting her.