"Pam, it's cute you're so observant. However, I find Eric to be an arrogant shit. I would rather spend my time doing something for fulfilling like, I don't know, picking my nose. He's so busy stroking himself, he's not even capable of conversation. His looks may be redeeming in value with him, but it takes a lot more than a pretty face to lure me in, especially when it is accompanied by a vacant personality." Pam looked up over my head and I turned to follow her gaze. Eric was standing behind me, and the hurt expression on his face made my lungs deflate. My own ego soon followed. The hurt on his face was replaced with anger and then it was gone. He lowered his eyes to his feet, took a step back and walked back to his office. This time there was no slamming of the door.

SPOV

Whoa Shit. I shot a look at Pam who merely shrugged. Endgame, Stackhouse. Figure it out now. He's a shit head, a prick. He thinks he walks on water. But does he? Oh man, maybe not? I refused to battle with my own head. I knew what I felt when Eric walked into the hotel lounge. I knew I wanted him. I knew what I did by teasing him. But I don't do relationships and I didn't want a one night stand with Eric. I wanted him to want me. Guess what, Stackhouse. He fucking does and you just humiliated him. Yea yea yea. Fuck.

"Pam! What the fuck! You couldn't have warned me?" I was apoplectic.

Pam was cool as a cucumber. "What, Sookie? You're disinterested. What do you care?" Goddamn it. I have to fucking fix this. Eric didn't deserve this. I need to make it right. Even if I don't want him, I didn't want this!

I put the top on my water bottle and pushed it into the middle of the table. The waitress would get it. "Pam, I'll be back. Send rescue if I'm not back in thirty minutes."

Pam snorted, and it was her turn to roll her eyes. "Thirty minutes? Perhaps you think too highly of yourself, Sookie?"

"Oh shut the fuck up, Pam. You saw him and you let me go. As far as I am concerned, this is partially your fault as well. Thirty minutes, got it?"

Pam glowed, "Got it." I managed to climb out of the booth and make my way across the hopping dance floor. Couples bumped into me like there's no tomorrow and without any regard. I resisted the urge to slam back into them and turn the floor into a mosh pit. Pam would love it, Eric would hate it, I'm sure. Eric.

I approached the door he had exited twice before. I turned the knob and it opened. I approached the empty hall way and had to guess where he went. I found the restrooms to the right and kept on going. On the left I found a solid wood door with a dead bolt unlocked. I took a chance. I knocked twice in rapid succession.

Silence. Fuck. Is it him or not? I did the same again. "What the fuck do you want?" I felt butterflies in my stomach begin to flutter around. How the fuck can I make this right? Goddess please?

I gathered my courage and opened the door. Eric was sitting at his desk with a laptop before him. His eyes quickly glanced up, took me in, and went back to work. I entered the room and slowly closed the door behind me. I leaned back against the door and caught my breath. "Eric," I whispered. Nothing. He didn't look up, didn't glance around, didn't move a muscle except those of his hands on the mouse. I stared at them. Took them in. They were effing huge. I wondered if the old proverb about feet and hands were as real and snapped myself out of it. This is not about the size or his hands or feet or penis. This is about the huge hole I drove into his ego. His gracious ego, no less, but with a gaping hole I drove into it.

I proceeded into the room and walked to his desk. I knocked on it. He ignored me. "Eric," I whispered to no avail. Fuck this, it's all or nothing. Stackhouse, hide your conscience. I walked around his desk and stood next to him. Nothing.

"Eric?" I asked more forcefully. He flinched, but that was all. I put my hand on his shoulder and he shrugged it off. I guess I deserve that.

"Eric, I'm sorry. I meant it, or I didn't. I don't know what I meant. Pam was pushing and I guess my pride got in the way. I don't retract my feelings, but you've done nothing to dissuade them. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I don't know what to say."

He grunted and continued clicking his mouse pad. Grunting counts as something right? I squatted down next to his chair, and put my hand on the arm to his chair. He continued to ignore me. "Eric, I'm sorry. Please speak to me." And he did, without moving or even looking down at me.

"Why do you hold me in such contempt, Woman?" What?

His glare at the poor computer made me feel about an inch tall. I guess I did hold him in contempt. He was flashy, showy and full of himself. But he deserved it right? Maybe? The man was millenia old and here I was. Fuck. I'm such a bitch.

"Eric? I don't know. I don't."

"Have you no other men before?"

My face grew red in a blush and I glared at him. His face softened. "I didn't ask if you had other lovers. I know you have. I meant, have you no other men before?"

Oh. Sure, I had men. Lots of them, but conversation was short and sweet. How can you enjoy them when you can hear their thoughts? Sure, I played at being the perfect girlfriend, but when you can hear all of your inadequacies, it's easy enough. Did I have them? No. I must speak honestly with Eric.

"Yes, and no. It's complicated." He resumed playing on his laptop and went on. "Eric. I'm sorry. I have a huge defense system here. You unseemingly infiltrated it. I'm sorry if I hurt you and caused you pain. But I won't apologize for who I am."

I began to back off and walk away. Before I could fully turn from him he was up out of his chair and had me in his arms. He hugged me. He hugged me? I ventured to look up at his face. He stared down at me in. "Eric, I don't know what you want, but I can't give it to you. Whatever it is. I'm quite..." He told me to shush.

He kissed me. First his lips pressed into mine and hard, then let go. He licked my lips. He broke away before I could comprehend a thing. I looked up at him and he was looking down at his computer screen. I followed his path of vision and my cheeks inflamed. "Eric Northman, are you ignoring me to play Mahjong?" Eric's cool gaze returned to me and I melted into his arms.