"Maybe." She yawned. I pulled out my phone and saw the time. It was quite late. I tried shifting out from under her so I could make my leave. She put her hand on my chest in an effort to still me. "Stay with me?"

I laid back down and pulled her closer to me. "Until dawn."

EPOV

I laid there and listened as her breathing slowed down and evened out. She was so uptight while awake, but asleep, she was as slack as a rag doll. Although I wanted to cherish the feeling of her face on my shoulder all night long, I wanted to get out from under her so that I could watch her. Feeling and hearing her was amazing, watching her would be even better.

I shifted out from under her figure while simultaneously removing one of the pillows she'd placed behind her. At the rate she'd had them stacked, she'd have her neck in a precarious angle. Not good. Now she was resting comfortably on her side. I knew this in light of the slight smirk and soft moan which elicited from her lips once I'd let her go. I pulled the comforter up to her shoulders, rolled to my side and laid propped on my elbow watching her features.

She was exquisite. She made slight "meeps" and "umphs" in her sleep as she tossed and turned. First rolling this way, then rolling that way. Sometimes she had a pillow between her thighs, sometimes it was in her arms. Less frequently, but more meaningfully, she'd slung her thigh over my hip or she'd wrapped her arm around my shoulders. Sometimes she did both and I spent the duration trying to will my erection away while pretending I was just observing.

Reality? I was falling in love. Problem? I don't fall in love. I'm vampire. Vampire Sheriff of Area 5 of Lousiana. I'm presently in a hotel with a reporter who is scantily clad in some VS pajamas, or so the tag said. Yes, I checked. So what?. I wanted to slide skin to skin against her for hours, I wanted to ride her into tomorrow and I wanted to bite my love mark into her skin. Rub, fuck, bite her all over? Oh yes. This is right.

I pulled myself from my dirty thoughts and watched. She was so beautiful. I couldn't imagine ever existing without this moment. When she faced away from me, she hugged the pillow against her and rested it between her thighs. However, she managed to lean back against my chest and moan out a soft sound of comfort. Unbeknownst to her, when she did this, I'd lean forward and kiss her temple, her cheek, her neck. I whispered soft nothings to her ear. I let her know I was here and I was not leaving until dawn. She would relax against me and I would relish the contact. I wrapped my arm around her chest and held her close to me while I brought my legs up under her to perfectly fold her against me. Once we'd reached this position, her tossing ceased and she remained in deep sleep. Even her mewling ceased, as much as I enjoyed hearing it.

I wished this could last longer, but soon I would begin to feel the pull of dawn. How I wished this hotel had a light safe floor, or room, or closet. Hell, I'd settle for a hidey hole under the floor boards, but this hotel offered nothing of the sort. I'd need to leave soon. I withdrew from Sookie and placed the extra pillows behind her back and legs in an attempt to mimic where I was laying. I hoped this would offer her some more peaceful sleep once I had to take my leave.

I silently padded to the room's desk and found the stationary and pen. I wrote her a note apologizing for my need to depart and I left my cellular number for her. Once completed, I laid the note on the bed where I had been. I stood there for as long as I could, just watching her. She remained peaceful. With one final kiss to her forehead, I departed the room I'd been so happy to gain entry to. It was bittersweet.

I had half an hour before dawn, and the valet was as drowsy as I was. I watched him flinch when he saw me exit the automatic doors.

"Is it just you?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, it is just me."

The poor guy brought my car around from the back and I got in. So much had transpired in the last 12 hours. In hindsight, no wonder Sookie was so exhausted. I was exhausted and I've centuries experience. I couldn't wait to come back at dusk.