A/N: Thank you for all your warm and thoughtful reviews! I appreciate them all. Please keep them coming and help me feed my muse.

Chapter 2

Through her hazy sleep she heard a click and a low motorized sound. Her eyes flicked open and she watched the black shutters make their way down over the windows. A large hand slowly rubbed the curve of her hip and she looked over her shoulder to see the cool body nestled behind her back.

"Sleep well, lover?" His voice was soft and sensual. The sheet slung low on his hip as he shifted closer to her. The soft golden hair that trailed along his stomach drew her eyes down.

She rolled over to face him, memorizing the stubble on his cheeks, the delicious cleft in his chin, the way his eyelashes brushed against his face when he closed his eyes. She sighed and rested her hand on his side, her fingers slowly moving across his skin. "I did," she replied, raising her eyes to at last meet his. Every inch of him was so exquisite, so incredibly… masculine and yet beautiful, she was completely in awe that she was lying there in his arms. "Was I asleep for long?"

His nails grazed her skin, drawing circles onto her back as he pulled her closer. "Not very. About an hour."

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to be rude." She looked over her shoulder again as the shutters snapped closed. "How long until sunrise?"

"Not too much longer." He brushed her hair back from her face. "A half hour or so. And you weren't rude. I enjoy watching you sleep."

She nodded, her finger tracing the fine hair speckled on his chest. She had always thought she preferred a smooth chest, especially to Bill's monkey man look. However, she found the faint dusting of hair over Eric's chest to be quite sexy.

"How are you?" He asked, the pull of his voice once again dragging her eyes up to his own. "Any… regrets?"

"No," she answered softly, then again, more firmly. "No. I'm a little sore." A blush painted her cheeks but she carried on. " And things hadn't been right

with Bill for a while… and if I am honest with myself …there has been something between us, you and I, for months. I just…Eric…" She stopped, trying to make sense of all that was rushing through her mind.

His face closed off as if he was bracing himself for what she would say next. She felt him tense beside her. "You what, Sookie?"

"I'm scared," she said honestly, feeling the fear overwhelm her. It was heavy, irrational and it made her panic.

"Lover, look at me," he commanded softly, placing his hand on the side of her cheek. "Relax. Just breathe." The smell of his skin permeated her nose and it felt like home to her.

A sense of calm flooded her senses and she felt so warm. She cocked her head to the side slightly as she stared into his eyes. She saw nothing but care and warmth in them. Warmth in the dead eyes of a 1000-year-old vampire. She let out a shaky breath. "Did you just do something to me?"

"Sort of." He responded, not offering anything more than that, his eyes darting away from hers. He suddenly found the ceiling very interesting.

She sat up quickly, the sheet falling from her body. She tried to ignore his nakedness sprawled beside her. She found it much too distracting, the skin the muscles, the hair, the—No! Stop! "Eric! What did you do? Did you just glamour me? Or try to?"

He shook his head. "No, my lover. I cannot glamour you. Nor would I, if I could. I just wanted you to feel safe."

"But, how did you do that?" She pulled the sheet up over her bare breasts.

He sat up to face her in a blurred movement, taking her hands in his. "Because we have formed a bond."

She raised an eyebrow, surprised by his words. "What do you mean a bond?"

"It is what we vampires call a blood bond, when a human and a vampire exchange blood at the same time. Performed once, it brings us closer together and allows us to sense how the other feels, what they think. It also allows us to help calm the other mentally."

"A WHAT?" She knew she was screeching but she couldn't help it. She hated the way her voice sounded when she got that excited. "A BLOOD BOND? Are you KIDDING me, Eric?"

He knew it wouldn't go over well, but he didn't expect her to be that upset. "It wasn't intentional."

She laughed. "Right! Of course it wasn't!" She rolled her eyes at the ceiling.

"No, really, it wasn't." He implored her trying to hold her hand. "In case you didn't notice, our joining was passionate."

"I am well aware of that, I was there!" She slapped his arm lightly. "So this allows you to control me? Influence me? To do what?"

"No, Sookie, I promise, it's not like that. It will work both ways. For instance, you can use it to calm me down if I am angry. On you, I chose to try and soothe your anxiety about what has happened between us."

She glared at him. "Of all the high-handed, arrogant, impetuous, self-righteous-"

THUMP.

Eric had fallen over onto the bed, barely missing striking his head against the wood of the headboard.

"Eric?" She leaned over him, smacking him on the cheek. "Don't play dead on me, mister!"

When he didn't rouse she realized it must be past dawn. She narrowed her eyes and huffed. Oh he is so not getting out of this so easy. She flopped down on the bed next to him and burrowed under the covers. She wrestled around, trying to get comfortable. She fought against her desire to snuggle up to him. He looked so sweet, innocent even, when the day took him over. She sighed and curled into his side. Vampires.

When she awoke again she knew that it was late in the day, if not all ready the evening. She reached for her purse beside the bed and pulled out her phone. Sunset would be any moment now. She scrolled through her missed calls. Bill had called over 20 times. She snorted to herself. Sucks to not be in control, huh, Bill? He had also texted her several times. The last read: Sookie, what have you done? I can't feel you anymore! What did you let Eric do?

She rolled her eyes and thought a moment how to respond. Then she typed back: He gave me the big O, you loser! Now I know what I have been missing out on! She snickered to herself but paused before hitting send. It was a little bit mean, even considering what he had put her through.

The sheets rustled and she looked down at Eric, who seemed to be fighting his slumber. The click and roll of the shutters began and when they slicked into place at the top of the window, she found herself staring into those amazing eyes.

She was determined to pick up where they had left off. She set her face and began," Of all the high-handed, arrogant, impetuous, self-righteous-"

A wicked grin curled his lips and with a flash he had pulled her down to him on the bed, pinning her body with his. His weight felt so comforting to her. "Lover, I am horribly aggrieved for entering into this bond with you without explaining prior. I understand I was terribly wrong. Before you berate me further, I beg of you, let me first eat and make love to you. Allow me to worship your body with mine." He pressed his lips into hers and kissed her thoroughly. He had obviously awakened with one thing on his mind.

Her voice caught in her throat and before she could tell him off, she felt his hand slip between them and begin to stroke her. She shuddered and tried to clear her head. "Eric, I am really upset with you…" instead of a rebuke, her voice sounded breathy.

He sucked at her breast and his eyes bore into hers as he tongued her nipple. "I know, lover. I promise I mean you no harm. This," he whispered around her flesh, "bond will only protect you."

She groaned and arched herself to him, her hands burying themselves into his silky, finger-length strands. "Harm?" She moaned the word, unable to form intelligible sentences, or thoughts for that matter.

He sucked even harder before moving to the other breast, his fangs brushing against her taut nipple. "Mmmhmmm," he mumbled. "If you are mine, then Sophie Ann can not bring you to her."

She cried out as his fingers began to work their magic between her legs, shuddering as he slid one finger inside of her. God how good he felt! "Yours?"

He only nodded as his fangs grazed the skin around her nipple. "I am so hungry, lover," he murmured. "Will you not feed me?"

All sense of reason was lost as she nodded and he sunk his fangs into her delicate flesh. He then took a long pull and as he did so, his finger continued to pump in and out of her.

"Lover, I have been so hungry," he whispered, his lips bloodied, sucking at the wound.

"Don't you eat?" Her words were stunted as they tore from her lips. He was invading her mind and her body. She was not only being finger fucked, but mind fucked as well- and it felt so good!

He took another long pull, then settled back on her nipple, sucking for all he was worth. "Yes, but I have been hungry for you. Since the first time I tasted your blood, nothing has satisfied me. I am constantly hungry, burning to taste you."

She felt his hardness pressed against her thigh and she shuddered under his ministrations. She cried out, every single inch of her body was alive from his touch. She wanted him, all of him, all to herself and she at once realized his overwhelming desire to posses her. She wanted his blood. "Let me drink from you," she whispered, her eyes heavy with her desire.

Startled, his bright eyes caught hers. He lifted his head from her breast, his tongue darting out to clean his lips." Lover, this will deepen our bond. It will form a second bond. After that, once the final bond is made, it cannot be broken."

A wave of disappointment rushed over her. "Oh, I see. That was silly of me," she tried to smile around the tears that filled her eyes.

"Lover," he raised up to her, his fingers brushing her cheeks. "No. You do not understand."

"I-I do. Yes. I didn't even think about it before I asked, I am sorry." She felt so foolish. Why would he want to be bonded to her like that?

"No, lover, you do not. I will bond to you," he whispered, kissing her lips before leaning back to her breast and taking another pull. "And I will taste you, and you will taste me, every night, for as long as you wish." His tongue lapped at the blood and he inhaled a deep breath, as if he was intoxicated by her scent. "I just want you to understand what it means."

She arched as he sucked. "Ahhhh," she moaned. "What does it mean?" At this particular moment, she didn't care what the repercussions were.

"It means, after the final bond is made, that you will be recognized as my wife. That all who answer to me, will also answer to you." His lips brushed against her ear, her neck, kissing and sucking her senseless.

"Your wife?" She was suddenly much more aware of what was going on around her. "Eric, that is a huge, huge step. I don't- we don't—we have no idea what is going to happen with us."

He chuckled before his lips found hers, his mouth plundering her own, his tongue dominating hers. "Lover, we are only talking about making a second bond. The final bond cannot be made without other elements. It is very rare."

"What are those?" She asked quietly almost afraid to hear his answer. She stroked the stubble that dusted his jaw line.

"Surrender." He replied, finally pulling back from kissing her. His eyes sought hers. "Complete and utter surrender. From me, from you."

"Is that all?" She questioned, knowing he would never surrender himself. She felt a sense of loss, knowing that she would never be that close to him.

"No." He answered hesitantly, pressing his lips to her forehead.

"What else?" She held his eyes when they met hers, her breath catching in her throat.

"We must truly love one another." His voice was throaty, thick. Husky.

"Oh." Her voice caught. Love. Again, love. Could she ever love again? Before love comes trust.

"Yes," he answered, his mouth hovering over hers. So close. "Yes, you can love again."

"What?" She was startled, surprised. Her brow furrowed. "I didn't say that out loud."

He nodded. "I know." His lips brushed hers. "It's the bond." Back and forth, like the wings of a butterfly.

"Can…you?" The tears again filled her eyes.

He pulled back, his eyes searching hers. In them she saw regret. "If I could, it would be you."

She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close, losing herself in his kiss, in the rapture of being held so tightly by him. She chose to ignore his last words, even though she knew what he was trying to tell her. He did not think he could love.

He growled into her mouth and leaned back, bringing his wrist to his mouth. As he bit down her stroked between her legs, making sure she was still ready for him. She groaned in response as she felt his tip at her entrance. A drop of blood fell onto her lips as he held his wrist over her mouth.

She grasped it with both hands and pulled it forward, her tongue licking the heady sugar from his skin. He cried out as she took a strong pull from him, plunging himself deep inside of her. His mouth fell to her neck and licked her skin, sucked it until he could smell the blood pounding below the surface.

He bit down and began to drink, all the while pounding himself into her at a feverished pace. He roared as his wound closed and she bit him of her own desire. "Fuuuuuuuck," his voice tore from his chest as his hips assaulted hers.

"Eric, oh, Eric!" She cried in response, blindly matching him thrust for thrust. Her body arched and her head thrashed back and forth against the down pillow before he buried his face back into her neck. She felt the sharp pain in her neck as he drank and then it was replaced by a burning desire for him to never stop. She held his face to her neck.

"Sookie," he whispered around her skin. "I can't. I have to stop. I will take too much."

She groaned in frustration, lifting her hips to meet his and encouraging him to continue. She felt warm and light. "Don't stop, Eric, please…I want you to lose control."

He called out her name in response as she ground her hips into his and the primal roar that echoed off the walls of his bedroom made her shudder with pleasure. He took one last drink from her before his lips again found hers.

The emptiness she felt when he let go of her neck made her heart ache. His wrist healed in her mouth and he braced himself above her and continued to pump with steady concentration. His pupils were dilated, his eyes glazed. "You make me crazy, lover," he growled as he hitched her leg up around his hip, thrusting deeper. "I can't ever allow myself to lose control with you, as much as I want to."

Her body moved of it's own volition and she felt herself begin to tense. Every nerve was alive and again she had the strong desire to feel him closer, even though she knew he was as close as he could possibly be. He was filling her completely.

"Kom med mig, älskare," he growled into her neck." Följ med mig."

Her hands fisted into the sheets and her mouth turned hungrily to the side, searching for purchase on his. His lips assaulted hers, biting and sucking and finally settling onto her lower lip. The telltale signs crept over her and he continued his steady rhythm as he heard her catch her breath. Her heart thudded in her chest and her mouth tore open in a scream that was meant for him and him alone.

"Kom," he murmured with each stroke," kom." He reached up and wrapped his hands onto the wood of the headboard for traction and his body relentlessly pounded into hers.

"Eric," she breathed as the waves of orgasm took over her body. She fought to keep her eyes open, she wanted to see his face as he came, knowing it was the closest she would ever see to him being completely vulnerable for her. He cried out in his native language as his body collapsed onto hers.

"Oh min älskling, de saker du kan göra med mig. Du är min, för evigt min. Om jag bara kunde älska skulle jag älska dig."

He continued to move inside her, basking in their joining. A deep sound rumbled in his throat as his head snuggled against her breast. "This is right."

Her fingertips traced patterns along the smooth skin of his back and she allowed her eyes to close. She could feel him inside her skin, inside her mind. She was overwhelmed with his presence and she let out a shaky breath. He lifted his face to look at her, his eyes searching hers.

"This is right," he repeated again, his voice soft. He leaned up and pressed his lips to hers.

"I can feel you inside of me," she whispered against his mouth, as his tongue teased hers. "Everywhere."

"And I you," he responded, pulling her into his arms and rolling onto his back.

She laid her head against his chest as his arms encompassed her.

Translations:

"Kom med mig, älskare, Följ med mig."

Come with me, my lover. Come with me

"Kom, kom."

Come, come.

"Oh min älskling, de saker du kan göra med mig. Du är min, för evigt min. Om jag bara kunde älska skulle jag älska dig."

Oh my lover, the things you can do to me. You are mine, forever mine. If I could only love, I would love you.