A/N: Hey guys! I'm sorry for not updating sooner! I guess college really gets in the way. Sookie would know… Are you all anxious to read about their date? Ah, is that a yes? *giggles*
My heartfelt thanks to CassandraMello, my incredible beta and to every single one of you who read this story, especially the ones who left me reviews, PM's, alerts… You guys rock! Thank you!
Any remaining mistakes are all mine!
Enough with the rambling, the show must go on, right? Enjoy!
Chapter 13 – One Night In The Name Of Love
SPOV
"Oh, yeah! I think this is the one!" Pam tells me excitedly, showing me one of the three dresses I own that isn't a summer dress. "It's sexy, yet comfortable, absolutely appropriate for this date. And red is Eric's favorite color."
"You know where he's taking me, don't you?" I pry, eyeing her with intense suspicion.
Pam cautiously averts my gaze. "No, I don't. But I have a faint idea of what could it be…" she alludes mischievously.
Pam is definitely up to something. She probably set the whole date up for Eric, given that he couldn't possibly have time to prepare anything himself this week, could he? He was extremely busy in the hospital; we had merely talked once on the phone over the week. Oh, dear Lord, I miss him dearly. I never thought I'd miss him this way so soon; we met a few days ago. I wasn't supposed to feel like this yet, mainly because I didn't have the time to. This past week was particularly strenuous for me. I realize just how challenging college could be: professors with very distinctive conceptions of what good architecture is, which is very confusing, huge workloads, short deadlines, and sleep deprivation, among others.
"I'm gonna try it on," I tell her, taking the dress from her outstretched hand.
I pick a sexy, black lacy underwear set, as an extra boost to my self-confidence and in case a special somebody sees it. Not that I'm planning on it, of course. I head to the bathroom to change, since Pam took hold of my bedroom for an indefinite amount of time. I already showered, fixed my hair into loose flowing waves, and did my makeup; I went for a light touch of color on my cheeks, smoky eyes – thanks to Pam – and lip gloss. I take off my robe, put on my lingerie, and the dress she chose. I march to Pam's bedroom to look at myself in the full-length mirror she had recently installed there.
"She is right, this is exactly what the doctor ordered," I say to myself, giggling. It's a beautiful halter dress with a deep red top and a crossover v-neckline that reveals just the right amount of cleavage without being vulgar, a black tie attached to the empire waist that falls to the side and a black pleated skirt that flares gently wider toward the bottom; the hemline falling slightly below to mid thigh. I give one last approvingly look and walk back to my room.
"Ahem," I make a sound to attract Pam's attention.
She turns around to look at me and nearly squeaks in enthusiasm. "Yes! I knew it! It's perfect! Now the accessories," she intones appreciatively as she delves into my wardrobe all over again, throwing my things on the floor as she discards them. "This is crap, crap, all crap… No can do. Another crap shoe…"
"What the h… You know you are gonna put it all back, right?"
"You need to buy new, uh, everything Sookie. I'm losing my hope over here…" Pam informs me, searching more avidly for God knows what. I could actually agree with her on that one.
"Oh this is it, I found it! These shiny black Mary Jane'spumps and this black leather clutch bag will totally do the trick," she conveys, seeming overly glad, especially for someone as composed as Pam.
"Geez, Pam, calm down. It's just a date," I mock her, rolling my eyes for extra effect. "I should be the squirmy one here."
She sneers, handing me her findings. "Of course, Sookie. Now, put this on and let me see the final result."
I comply with her request, knowing full well it's a good choice, probably the best. Though I could have chosen it myself, I'm not saying a word. She seems so pleased to be helping me that I really don't want to spoil it. "Gorgeous!" Pam exclaims with a wink as I give myself an once-over in the mirror.
"Thanks!" I say, offering a broad smile to my one-of-a-kind roommate. I apply a bit of perfume and move some essentials to the clutch bag Pam picked for me. As I declare myself ready, the doorbell peals loudly, making both of us shriek excitedly like middle schoolers; my stomach flipping in sheer anticipation.
"Have a fucking blast, Sook," Pam says enthusiastically. I glance at her wide-eyed. "Oh, come on! Loosen up just for one night, would ya? In the name of love?" she begs, waggling her brows to me.
"Ah… See you later, Pam," I offer, taking my bag hastily and going for the door.
I yank it open and gape at the sight of Eric. It's one hell of a sight. He looks incredible in his dark suit, his nicely tousled hair falling naturally around his face, like the most perfect frame one can have. The first two buttons of his shirt are casually undone, showing off a wee bit of his marvelous chest; I can't help but notice the blonde hair exposed there.
"Oh my…" I think I hear him saying. Oh my, indeed. "You are a vision," he supplies. My jaw must have hit the floor while ogling him somewhere between those lines.
After struggling for quite a bit I regain my composure, giggling at his reaction, or should I say mine? "Hi,"
"Hi! I think you just took my breath away," he utters with a seductive smile and a wink as he hold out his hand for me.
"I could say the same thing about you," I reply, taking his hand in mine; his smile widens. He pulls me close swiftly, brushing his lips to my cheeks. I use the opportunity to relish in his scent. God, he smells divine. He breathes into my neck and I let out a contented sigh. I beam inwardly at the feel of him against my skin. I feel a strange, warm sense of completeness when he holds me in his embrace, like I was missing a vital limb and wasn't aware of it until then. I sigh soulfully. He reaches for my face with his other hand, turning me slightly to look at him in the eyes. My gaze locks with his luminous blue one and our lips touch lightly a few times.
"Perfect," he whispers, brushing his lips to mine one last time, before reluctantly drawing himself away. I gawk at him with an embarrassing goofy expression for a bit longer, until he squeezes my hand and chuckles, waking me from my reverie. "Let's go, my dear. I have a surprise waiting for you."
"A surprise, Eric? Oh, you shouldn't have to worry about that, I'm happy just to be with you," my mouth gives away before my brain could catch up. Damn. Get a grip, would you, Sookie?
"I'm glad to hear that," he tells me with a smirk. "However, I think I have to bring my A game, if I want to win a second date with someone as stunning as you."
I blush, embarrassingly pleased, and turn my back to him to conceal the shit-eating grin that crept onto my lips, closing the door as the ideal cover act. I'm happy to know he's already thinking of a second date, because I as sure as hell am. "Let's see what your chances are, then," I say playfully, turning to face him once more.
We stroll down the stairs hand in hand, smiling to each other every five seconds. I feel so incredibly silly and happy when I'm with Eric that I have to keep suppressing the school-girl giggles that threaten to escape my throat constantly. He leads me to his car, a silver Audi A6 that fits him perfectly. He opens the door for me and I slide in satisfied. I'm dying to know where he's taking me, but he gives nothing away when I ask. Slowly I come to believe we're leaving town and the notion leaves me even more puzzled. I also notice he tends to race more than I would think is safe, which adds to my anxious state of mind.
"Could you slow down a bit, Eric?" I ask, eyeing him meaningfully.
He immediately complies, decelerating considerably. "How was your week?" he asks, glancing at me, smiling with interest.
"It was good, quite uneventful," I say casually. I guess saying "I missed you so much, baby," and "I dreamed of you almost every night," wouldn't be appropriate, would it? And informing him that I cut my finger chopping carrots a few days ago while thinking of him, and thought it was unfortunate that it wasn't serious enough to justify a trip to the nearby hospital, wouldn't be considered wise, would it? Don't think so. Instead, I offer him a glimpse of my sane side. "College has been very intensive and demanding. It often requires many hours of late-night effort, but I'm really enjoying it so far," I say and continue to ramble animated. "I have this openly gay professor, which is very uncommon in the academics field, who is fabulous and extremely intelligent. He gives the most fun classes I ever had, the kind you laugh until you almost wet your pants; it's crazy fun. Mr. Reynolds is very well known and respected in campus and is definitely one of my favorite professors by now."
Eric glances at me a few times visibly amused while I prattle. "I find your passion for architecture very enticing, Sookie. And the flamboyant professor classes appear to have a rather interesting effect on you. I'll make sure to cause a similar one myself, in another manner, evidently," he tells me, leering.
I blush furiously at the obvious innuendo. "You keep trying, buster."
"I certainly will," he replies wistfully.
I laugh in spite of myself. I opt for an anything-but-subtle change in the subject, as I gather my surroundings. "Are we close yet? I'm an awfully curious person, Eric. I find it excruciating not to know things, to be left in the dark..."
His amazing laugh reverberates through the car. I love this sound. "Relax, woman. We're almost there," he informs me amid small laughs.
I snort thwarted, crossing my arms under my chest. "Relax, my ass. I hate surprises," I grumble to myself.
"I heard that," he states mockingly. "I'm sure you'll change your mind when you see it."
"Fine," I say, raising my hands in fake surrender. He chuckles. "So how was your week? Your eye seems much better!" I remark somewhat resigned, bending over him a bit to take a closer look. The discoloration is almost imperceptible and the cut above his brow merely a thin red line. He glances at me sideways, a smirk taking form on the corner of his lips. I suppress the desire to touch his face, by leaning back in my seat and resting my folded hands securely in my lap.
"It was an especially hard one for me," he quips with a full smirk, his eyes surveying my body provocatively. I refuse to assess the meaning behind his words; he's having too much fun teasing me, although a chuckle might have escaped my mouth somehow. I am human after all. "The most interesting occurrence this week was a pool on how I got a black eye my colleagues organized at the hospital. No one has guessed it correctly yet," he tells me, smiling. "It took on a life of its own and now there is some serious money involved."
"Oh my God, you have got to be kidding me! They set up a pool over your bruises?! For real?" I inquire in clear disbelief.
He nods. "That's right. It has been the ultimate source of entertainment for all of us there," he affirms with a shrug. I roar with laughter as he tells me the most preposterous bets people made for his black eye. When he finishes, I'm teary-eyed and my belly hurts, no wet pants, though. I don't even notice the car had stopped, until he announces we have reached our destination. He quickly gets out of the car and walks to my side, hanging the door open for me.
I take in the ambiance bewildered. "Where are we?" I ask, curious, clasping his waiting hand on mine. The smell of freshly mowed grass and humid earth hits me the second I step out of the car. I look around delighted, relishing in the unmistakable scent of the outdoors, memories of my childhood wafting in the air right alongside. He definitely brought me to a farm of some sort, I attest baffled. He had parked in front of an impressive farmhouse, its grandiosity and beauty making me feel tiny all of sudden. In the vicinity of the main house are a stable, a red barn, and other farm buildings; I couldn't recognize its service. It could be a secluded high-end restaurant, for all I know, though I don't see any signs.
"We're in a farm 18 miles away from Shreveport," Eric states the obvious, titling his head to the man in western regalia coming in our direction with a stunning, black horse trailing by his side.
"Really? Oh shoot! It's a shame I forgot my whip at home," I retort, rolling my eyes. Eric lowers his gaze back at me and shakes his head, chuckling lightly.
"Night, Mr. Northman. Miss," the middle-age man greets us, tipping his cowboy hat and nodding respectfully. "It's good to see you here after so long, sir," he drawls smiling sincerely.
"Good night, Farrell," Eric replies politely.
"Night," I say, nodding and smiling at him a bit self-conscious. I still have no idea what the hell we are doing at a farm.
"I thought you'd like to see the Dark Prince," Mr. Farrell asserts as he pats the horse back vigorously. The Dark Prince snorts and stomps violently trying to break free from his grip. Eric immediately steps in front of me, shielding me from the stallion's rant with his impressive figure. I find myself both giddy and annoyed by his protective instincts towards me, yet again. I decide to file it away for later thinking.
Farrell struggles to control the wild animal, making Eric take charge of the situation himself. He strolls in their direction as my heart pounds in apprehension. Showing off his raised hands in deliberate wariness, he comes within reach to caress its long, thick neck. "Shush… Easy, easy, Count," he speaks softly, calming the aggressive animal with remarkable dexterity.
"The Dark Prince? Count?" I inquire puzzled, my voice sounding faintly shaken.
"I named him after Count Dracula, the Prince of Darkness, as the pure Romanian stallion he is," he informs me. I relax seeing he has the horse under control. "Plus, I think it matches his persona," he adds with a grin.
"It sure does," I concur, chuckling at Eric's sharp sense of humor. He never ceases to surprise me just by being himself.
But why on Earth would he bring me to a farm at night? I ponder distracted as the two men and horse chitchat. I have no idea. Though it seems a rather odd choice for a date, I'm not nervous or averted to it. Strangely I have a good feeling about this. Perhaps he wants to take part in a night hunt or engage in some sort of rural practice, like milking a cow or a horseback ride? I surmise with a giggle. This surely isn't taking shape of the typical first date canned formula, but then again we aren't a typical couple. Everything sort of fell differently between us. Hence, it's more than natural that our real first date be nothing but ordinary.
They exchange a few more words before Mr. Farrell retreats with Dracula for the evening. "So what are we doing here, Eric? I take it this farm is yours?" I inquire the minute we are left alone.
"This parcel of land has been in my family since my early years. It was a very well-know stud farm back when my father was alive, the apple of his eyes to tell the truth. Unfortunately, it has been neglected ever since his passing; its name losing meaning as the horses were sold in auctions. The Dark Prince is one of the few that lasted. I don't come here as often as I would like anymore," he conveys abstractedly, gazing the property ahead of us. "I brought you here tonight because this is one of my favorite places in the world and was perfect for what I had in mind," he tells me with a genuine smile, his eyes coming to rest on me once more.
I smile back, tugging at his hand, silently thanking him for sharing this place with me. "And what would that be?"
"Do you trust me?" he asks earnestly.
"Y-yes!" I stammer slightly. Although I do trust him, I wasn't exactly expecting that type of question. "Yes, I trust you, Eric," I declare with more certainty.
He smiles contentedly. "Could you close your eyes for me then? No peeking, I'll guide you."
I do as he tells me and follow him carefully through the gravel path, without peeking, not even once. Okay. Fine. I sneak a quick look once, but that is it. I swear. He stops several steps later and makes me turn on my heels. I comply readily, the anxiousness and curiosity building up in my stomach. I distinguish the creaking sound of rusty doors been opened and something else I can't quite place. Violins? We walk inside and soon we're slowly working our way up a set of stairs, my curiosity growing with each step. Eric holds my hand securely through the entire course. I'm in an almost frenzied pitch of anxiety when he pauses abruptly, making a rather alarming hissing sound. I jerk with the unexpected motion. I don't know what to think of this. What was that about? He lets out a thunderous laugh then, his whole body trembling with mirth. "Eric? What is it?" I ask uncertain, tightening my grip on his hand.
"I think we just got Pam'd," he breathes out amused, swiftly turning to wrap my body in his arms from behind after his humorous outburst. "Open your eyes, Sookie," he whispers softly in my ear.
Shivering slightly under his breath, I open my eyes. What the f… I gasp awestruck. "Oh my God, Eric. Pam did this? I…" I marvel transfixed at the view. My gaze wanders over to the room, absorbing everything with unrestrained eagerness. I gather that he had escorted me into the wooden barn, and then to the loft, an upper-level balcony, which has now an almost burlesque atmosphere to it. It's like I got swept straight into the red room on the Elephant of Moulin Rouge.
The loft is dimly lit by a row of flickering candle lanterns and a spectacular full moon, casting soothing rays of light across the room. Red and golden yellow roses, honeysuckles, and jasmine are strategically set in little arrangements, their lovely scent filling the air. Several cushions and pillows are thoughtfully tossed over a cozy rug on the floor, in the most opulent shades of red and golden extravaganza, creating an upholstered romantic nestling area. I spot a small trolley laid out with a dainty picnic basket, a bucket of Champagne on ice, and a couple of glass flutes. Next to the large window, there is a vintage looking telescope and a fluffy blanket hanging at hand. I could also hear slow violin music on the background. Every single detail seems to have been carefully thought out and especially made for us, or rather me.
I am touched.
After a self inflicting moment of utter amazement, I stir back to life with Eric spinning me into his embrace. "Do you like it?" he asks, looking me in the eye expectantly.
Did I like it? I couldn't find in my heart the precise words that would express how much I had liked it. Pam did the unthinkable with this old barn. It's just a bit over the top. Okay, it's way over the top. Even so, no one ever did something so incredibly special for me to this day. Ever. I was touched. And Eric… Oh Lord, Eric is the reason I'm here in the first place. He's as responsible as Pam for this speckle of fantasy.
"Oh, Eric, I… Thank you, it's magical…" I gush as I lift my hands to his face and press my lips to his with gentle strength, pouring all the emotions I couldn't voice into the kiss. I need him to know precisely how much I loved it, how important he made me feel, how utterly happy I am when he's near me, how much I missed him while we were apart, and how much I want him. I kiss him with abandon, with a feral passion I couldn't measure or explain. I kiss him until my lips are sore and I am out of breath. He matches my kiss with one of his own - a long, passionate, smoldering kiss.
We draw apart a few minutes later, both panting heavily. "I will take that as a yes," Eric says with a smirk, trying to catch his breath.
"You better," I answer, feeling lightheaded. "When did you and Pam set up all of this?" I digress hastily, taking a step away from him in a feeble attempt to soothe my hormones.
"This is mostly Pam's doing, I merely determined the location and other small details," he states sincerely. "I had no idea the final result would be this though," he adds, assessing the craftily decked space. I gather from the look on his face that he is as amazed as I am.
EPOV
What the fuck was she thinking? I ask myself in a shocked I asked Pam where I should take Sookie – a venue she'd feel comfortable and surely enjoy – my devious sister recommended a different set from the dinner-and-a-movie sort of date. "It's so been there, done that, one more and I'll throw up," she scorned. Somewhere unusual, but known and precious for me, she would say. I instantly thought of the outdoors, specifically our family farm; I had the best summers of my childhood running and riding the Dark Prince within this grazing land and I hadn't set foot in here for months. It seemed like a nice prospect. Pam was more than excited about the idea and assured me she'd have everything prepared for tonight. The only thing she needed from me was my credit card.
I wasn't even aware of the actual conditions of the barn prior to this moment; I suggested a moonlight picnic on the field, close to the lake, not in the old red barn. Though Pam thought it was a neat idea, it's early fall and the night air can be a little too chilly out there. She thought we could use some shelter and she was right. It must have been a hell of a job to clean this place and make it look this way, although I'm sure she didn't do it alone. She probably hired an entire squad to set this up. I'll know when I get the bill. Damn, it really does look impressive, I muse, my eyes resting on the fanciful scenery, like it came out of a movie or something.
I didn't know she'd turn the place into a love shack in no more than one day, though. Yeah, it's beautiful, romantic, and shit, but it's too much for a first date, isn't it? Sookie could get the wrong idea about me and deem me as an incorrigible romantic, which I most certainly am not, or that I did all this just to get into her pants. And what's wrong with that last reasoning, again? Absolutely nothing. It's the truth. But plain honesty might scare her off. I don't give a fuck if she thinks I'm a sappy douche or a horny bastard as long as it makes her happy and willing to kiss me like that again. That was one hell of a kiss.
"You must be hungry," I say when I regain better control over my body, walking her to the cushioned space on the floor.
"I am now," she says as she leans on my right hand for support and kicks off her shoes leisurely. She lets go of me, a small smile playing on her lips, and positions herself gracefully between the opulent cushions, crossing her gorgeous legs just in the right way. Her gaze locked with mine the entire time. Fuck. She is so fucking sexy.
I groan, instantly turned on. "We do have to take care of that now, don't we?" I remark with my best leer, my voice sounding raspier. "Let me see what we have here," I add, summoning all of my willpower to not take her just now. When did it get so damn hot in here?
Instead, I strip off my suit jacket, hanging it away, and pull my shirt out of my pants. I grab the ridiculously large picnic basket and am glad to find some real treats in there: a bottle of red wine, glasses, cheese, a freshly baked loaf of bread, fruits, and chocolate dessert on one side. Some sort of pâté, dressings, thin slices of prosciutto and parma ham, sliced sausage, prawns, smoked salmon, anchovy fillets, and more on the other side. I hand it to Sookie and she arranges it all on a big plate as I make myself comfortable by her side and pour us some wine; the champagne would have to wait.
"Umm… absolutely delicious," she says, closing her eyes and moaning softly, causing me to strain a little in my seat. "You have to taste this," she concludes, scooting closer to me.
I watch marveled as she wraps a thin slice of prosciutto ham in a fig parcel, drizzles it with the dressing, and feeds me with her bare fingers while looking me straight in the eye. I munch it slowing, completely hypnotized by her. I savor the exotic combination in my mouth, licking my lips in a newfound hunger. I grab her hand before she'd have the chance to retrieve it and lick each one of her fingers thoroughly. Delicious, indeed. I use my other hand to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger on her face. She smiles at me and it's all I need. I slide my hand to the back of her neck and pull her close, to kiss her sensuous, full lips. Our mouths part and soon enough, we're devouring each other with growing yearn.
I can't bring myself to let go of her. Only the need to breathe prevents me from drowning on her sweet lips a little longer. We draw away from each other barely managing to catch our breaths. We continue to kiss, flirt, and talk through the whole dinner, leisurely feeding each other. The food is actually very taste and propitious for eating with our fingers. Sookie seems to enjoy it immensely, almost as much as I am; we decide to save some of it for later. I lie down on the pillows and pull her close to me. We stay there cuddling; I run my fingers through her soft hair as she absently plays with the collar of my shirt, and chest hair, unaware of the effect she's having on me. We talk about ourselves and admire the vista through the large window before us. By then, the moon had been lifted up high into the dark night sky, its glow dancing above us. Through the window, you could see the clear night sky, the field, and the lake. It's truly a stunning view. One I would only like to share with Sookie from now on, I acknowledge startled.
We stargaze together and end up have a lot of fun with it, neither of us could recognize a star by its name correctly for all we are worth. She'd say it is Pisces and I Pegasus, but it is probably Cassiopeia or any other constellation. We find the middle ground in making out.
"I believe we should disagree more if this is the end result," I say, brushing my lips to hers a couple more times. Her body feels so warm, smooth, and soft under mine. I feel completely at ease with her, as if we have known each other for years. It's both a weird and wonderful sensation.
"I love to disagree with you," she replies, smiling broadly, rendering me a sweet kiss. "Thank you, Eric," she says earnestly.
"For what, my dear?" I murmur against her lips.
She pulls away, her eyes smiling warmly at me. "For the best date ever," she confides, her voice dropping to nothing but a whisper, as she buries her flushed face in the crook of my neck, her mouth hovering just above my ear. I shudder as she kisses her way down to my collarbone, her hands swiftly unbuttoning my shirt. A rough sound of surprise and satisfaction escapes my throat. I can't take it anymore. I've never felt so damn hungry in my life, I need to have her. I need to make her mine. Mine. I roll over on top of her. She moans softly, drawing her arms around my neck as our lips find one another. Our kiss deepens as my tongue penetrates her sweet mouth, her tongue joining mine with ponderous want.
Reveling in her warmth, I slide one hand down to her body, and sense goose bumps rising on her flesh, while the other greedily fondles the voluptuous sway of her breasts. I slip my hand beneath her dress, caressing her silky thighs with gentle strength. Moving slowly to her inner thigh, I find just what I am looking for: her underwear; it is coated in the glorious wetness of her arousal. She gasps into my mouth, breaking the kiss, when I graze the lacy fabric of her panties. Lifting my head, I search for her gaze. Her misty, blue eyes meet mine, and I am satisfied by what I see there.
"Keep trying, you said?" I tease in a low, guttural voice, a smug smile playing on my lips.
A/N: *blushes*
Ahem… So, what did you think of the first part of their date? Yes, it's just the first part my lovelies! Let me hear your thoughts! :)