Then I knew. I knew with every cell in my body. I wanted Eric to touch me that way. I wanted him to want to touch me that way. I wouldn't be afraid either.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EPOV

Her eyes changed. They lost the familiar scrutiny and softened a bit. Her pupils dilated slightly and her breathing changed. I sniffed at her drink and made note of the contents. It wasn't me, it was the alcohol. Sure, Northman, blame it on the alcohol. What was my problem? She was just some fucking human, and I had plenty of those all over me whenever I let my guard down. Why did I give two shits about this woman? Why was Pam staring at us with that fucking smirk?

"Pam?" I asked.

She glanced to Sookie, then to me, and then to Sookie again. "Sookie, did you enjoy Master's performance?" Sookie's face flushed pale and then turned every varying degree of the red I'd grown to love.

"I wouldn't say I enjoyed it, it was interesting enough. I think it was neat that he did that with the odd girl out. Her friends are certainly jealous." She glanced over her shoulder to watch the blonds surrounding the brunette, they were high fiving one another and taking shots. Good for business indeed. The flimsy women flanking the girl would need some more liquid courage to get over themselves. I knew what each and every one of them was thinking. The only one I cared to notice was the woman in the center of them. Her cheeks were still bright red like Sookie's. Did I embarass Sookie? Is that why she blushed?

Pam's nostrils flared and I took note to pick up on the scent. Arousal, plain unadulterated arousal. Sookie was turned on? A glance at Pam explained it all. Her features, memorized by centuries of companionship told all. Fucking A, Northman. Have you lost your mind? I shrugged and shook my head slightly, trying to convey my confusion. Pam's eyes flicked back to Sookie and then back to me as she licked her lips. Oh. I looked at Sookie and she made a good show of becoming increasingly interested in stirring her drink and double checking that the glass was perfectly centered on the coaster.

"Miss Stackhouse?" I asked. She shot her eyes up at my question. I couldn't help but smirk, although I tried quite hard to hold back the all out grin I'd felt on the inside. She noticed. Her eyes grew fierce and she was shooting me a look. Her glare was telling me to the shut the fuck up. I was never good at being told what to do, so myresistance wavered and disappeared.

"Miss Stackhouse? Is something wrong? Is it warm in here or are you so flushed due to the alcohol?" Take the bait. If you don't, Pam will never leave me alone. I glanced at said Pam and she was practically humming with glee. Just when I began to send her to run some errand she spoke up.

"So, Sookie, tell me more about yourself." Sookie snorted as she took a sip of her drink. Had Pam caught her off guard? Pam was good at such things.

"What would you like to know, Pam?" Sookie replied.

"Oh, I don't know. Given how much my Master has been taken with you these last couple of weeks, I thought we should get to know one another. Certainly there's a reason why he is so taken with you?" Pam looked at me then and got her classic I have you by the balls smile. She would pay for this, but I had the suspicion it would be before I paid dearly as well.

"Well," Sookie replied while swirling her drink. "I'm not sure what you want to know. You have my tax records and I know you have a copy of the deed to my house. I could enlighten you on my work, but I know you already possess copies of each word I've ever written. Maybe you want to talk shopping? I know you must be confused about my Vickie Secret card never carrying a balance. Did you want to talk about where I grew up? No, that couldn't be it. You've probably obtained copies of my time card at Merlotte's. I'm just not sure what it is you'd like to know that you already don't?"

Time cards. Hah. They shred them five years after the employee leaves. I'd already double checked Pam's research. Now Pam. I glanced in her direction. Pam is speechless. Yep, her mouth is actually hanging open. I didn't get to see this often, but it was alwasy priceless. Tonight was not letting me down either. I couldn't fucking resist. Not after the last two weeks of her cackling in the hall way, not after the glee on her face when I shattered my laptop and phone. Nope. Incoming, Ms. Pam.

"Yes, Pam, what is it you would like to know?" I asked as I couldn't resist mimicking her smile. Come on, Pam. Take the plunge and endure the fury that is Stackhouse.

Pam went with playing dumb. She asked Sookie what she meant and I watched Pam's house of cards come down on her lap. Pam had no idea what she was getting herself into. Not only did Sookie know we pulled her records and that Pam pulled a credit check, apparently she knew about the property appraiser records we'd pulled as well. Pam tried to sneer when Sookie mentioned her Malibu, but Sookie threw her off when she pointed out that Pam pulled the title and shouldn't be so surprised that she drove a plain Chevrolet sedan. Pam was floundering and I was loving it. I couldn't help but smile watching my child become unhinged by Sookie. Pam was going to pull a wild card soon, an attempt to throw Sookie off. I couldn't fucking wait. This would be priceless.

"Sookie, Master says you called him a liar earlier. Whatever did you mean? Certainly you know never to insult vampire, so what are you playing at?" I could see Pam thought she had won. I watched and waited. I couldn't contain my glee and I'm sure my face showed it.

"Because he said he picked out his own clothes at the local mall, including his attire for tonight. It was bullshit." Sookie sneered at her drink.

Pam looked at Sookie in question. Sookie elaborated. "Pam, there's no Armani Exchange in Louisiana."

Awe replaced the irritation on Pam's face. Pam practically beemed. "Of course, Sookie. I sent the clothing to Eric as a gift. Funny you would notice the discrepancy."

Sookie was obviously straddling the fence separating abashed and annoyed. She chose her side. "I'm not high maintenance, guys. I was window shopping online, looking for ideas for Christmas. I was going to send the sweater to one of my editors as a gift."

Pam purred. "Then we're on the same page." Aww fuck me.

No wonder I was so fucking miserable. Sookie was the epitome of all things Pam, yet human. There's your answer, Northman.