Chapter 7

In the kitchen, Eric's face was neutral as he looked at me for a minute. I was definitely happy to see him, but also felt like bursting into tears. I felt scared, but protected. I wanted to kiss him, and punch his nose. My mind was a tipsy mess, and he probably sensed that.

"Come on, Sookie," he said, and held out his hand. I took one last big drink from my nearly-empty glass, and let him lead me to the library. It was softly lit and smelled faintly of wood smoke from the fire last night. He sat on the big sofa again, and pulled me against him, my back to his chest, his strong arms around me. I put my feet, heels and all, up on the sofa. I felt the calm he was sending me through our bond, and I allowed it to relax me a little.

"Sookie," he said in a low voice above my head, "no matter what Pam told you, I do not want to turn you vampire against your will."

I felt a couple of tears run down my cheek, and Eric hugged me a little tighter.

"Pam thinks it's a done deal," I sniffled.

"No, not a done deal. But you should keep an open mind about it. Just do that."

I nodded emphatically. It wasn't the answer I'd wanted, but it was a start, a compromise, and more than I'd hoped to get from him, honestly.

"How much gin have you have had?" Eric asked, and I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Too much…" I sighed, "Pam makes a mean drink… but I won't pass out."

"You might pass out, but it would not be from the gin," he assured me. My memory flashed back to Eric pinning me to the sofa in his office, drawing more and more blood from my neck. A spiral of panic twisted through me, and I stiffened.

"Not that," he whispered in my ear, and gave my ear a little kiss. "It would be more like this."

My eyes fluttered open, and I realized that I was in Eric's bed, under the sheet, with Eric near me. The fireplace was lit, and sent flickering shadows around the room. Faintly, I heard a splashing sound from the bathroom. The bathtub was filling.

Eric was naked, lying on his stomach, with his chin resting on his folded arms. He was watching me, and his expression turned smug when I met his eyes. He picked up one of my limp hands and kissed it gently.

"Are you okay?" he murmured.

I felt entirely boneless, but euphoric. And sore again, in a delicious kind of way. Eric had fucked me hard on the carpet in the library, and had indeed left my shoes on. So many times, he'd brought me to the edge, and then denied any release to me. When he finally let me come, I must have actually blacked out.

"That was… amazing," I said softly. I was both excited and terrified by the power Eric could have over me, and the things he did with me.

He nodded in agreement and kissed my fingers, and I lightly touched one of his fangs with them. So sharp.

"How long was I out?"

"Not long," he said. "Maybe ten minutes."

I thought for a few moments, remembering his hands on me. "Is it our bond that makes this… so good?" I wasn't quite sure how to ask, or if I might offend him. "Or is it just you?" I teased him a little.

"Maybe it's you, Sookie." He raised an eyebrow at me.

I shook my head, with a little smile. I knew that I wasn't the one with a thousand years of experience.

"Our bond isn't very strong, actually," Eric said. "I've had a lot of your blood recently, but you didn't take much of mine in Dallas."

"Does it wear off?" I tried to ask this gently, but Eric flicked his eyes back to mine immediately.

"It fades slowly, over time. Unless you renew it. But no, it never goes away completely." He looked at me fondly then. "I don't want it to go away, Sookie."

He raised himself up on his elbows, leaned forward, and kissed me softly, then more deeply. He broke the kiss, and slowly pulled the sheet down my body with one finger, his eyes following along.

"Take my blood." He said it softly, but with intent.

"You just want to heal me and have sex again," I smirked.

A corner of his mouth tilted upwards. "Well, there's always that… but there are other reasons, more important reasons."

I recalled my conversation with Pam about pets, and now it spooked me. "Eric, I don't think we should… not yet, anyway. I hardly know what I've gotten myself into already."

Eric gave me a guarded look, and I felt his tension.

"It's a gift to you," he said slowly, and his voice had turned a little frosty. I'd offended him. Him and his ancient, powerful blood.

"And I appreciate it, really, but I have to know… Do you think I'm your pet?"

He looked at me sharply, and frowned for a long moment. "You are not my pet, and if you knew what a pet is, you would not even ask me this."

"I know what it is," I said, staying as calm as I could, hoping to influence him indirectly. I pulled the sheet back up.

He rolled onto his back with a huff and looked at the ceiling. Despite his anger, he retracted his fangs very slowly, which was show-offy. Younger vampires can't control their fangs like that.

"Sookie, a pet is a… creature… to be used. Enjoyed, yes, but finally discarded."

Before I could stop myself, I said, "You used me, for my blood."

"To save you and kill Russell," he fumed. "If Russell had taken you, Sookie, you would have spent the rest of your life tied to a bed or chained –"

"In the basement of a bar?" I asked.

He shot me a warning look. "I had to be sure that you would stay at Fangtasia. You have a habit of running off, ineffectually trying to help."

We were both silent for a while. Finally Eric turned towards me, onto his side.

"Sookie, I don't make this offer lightly. Very few vampires ever form a blood bond with a human. My blood will make you stronger, and safer. Do you understand?"

In that moment, I realized that being blood-bound to Eric, and intentionally strengthening that bond, was a commitment that Eric probably held dearer than any human notion of marriage. If he put a big diamond ring on my finger, it would mean less to him than me taking his blood. He'd tricked me into the bond, in Dallas, but that was my fate now, for better or worse. I could keep fighting it, or embrace it.

I searched our bond, and felt his love, and a bit of sadness. I touched his lips with my fingers, which he kissed reflexively, and the sadness trailed away. I nodded my head. I had my fears, my doubts, and a million questions, but I would embrace whatever this was between us, what it could be.

"Do it," I whispered. Eric's mouth twisted to a small smile as he calmly propped himself up on an elbow. He extended his fangs, and bit into his wrist while keeping his eyes on mine. He brought his wrist to my mouth without spilling a drop.

"Drink, now."