Hello! I didn't keep you all waiting for too long this time. I found a lot of free time this week and decided to write another chapter for my awesome readers! Thanks for all your reviews and such, I can't express how grateful I am! Hope you enjoy chapter seventeen!

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"I'm scared." I admitted quietly as Eric started up the Corvette. He didn't seem fazed by the statement as he put the car in reverse, and smoothly backed the car out of his designated parking space in the employee parking lot.

"Why?" He asked casually. "Bonding will protect you from all supernatural creatures. If anything, you should be relieved."

"I know," I said quietly, "I should be relieved. But I'm scared."

"I still frighten you?" Eric turned his head toward me, disappointment in his voice.

I sighed, refusing to meet his gaze. "No. But the idea of what you are terrifies me. The amount of power you hold over me now, and after our bonding frightens me."

"You should be grateful." He said quietly.

"I am." I said quickly. "I could still be in Nevada. I could have been given to a different Sheriff or vampire. One who could have been just as cruel as Felipe or Victor." I took a deep breath, unsure of how to express myself in words. "I guess I'm waiting for my life to suddenly go back to normal, when it's not. Now that I'm free of Felipe and have regained my free will a part of me has been hoping that I can carry on living a normal life." I turned to him but his eyes were glued to the road. "I'm never going to live a normal life ever again. Ever since Felipe took me I should have known my life would never be the same. I just need to accept reality I suppose."

Eric replied when we pulled into the garage and he pulled the keys out of the ignition.

"Everything you have said is correct. You will never live a normal life. But I find it difficult that you are hesitant when it comes to the matter of bonding. All the cards are in your favor, so to speak."

"I know. It's just…" I struggled to find the words. "I belonged to Felipe. And now, technically in vampire terms, I belong to you. But you've given me independence and cared for me that it doesn't feel like I'm just a possession. When we become bonded will any of that change? I feel like the illusion of freedom I have been given would shatter and I would literally belong to you and I don't want to be a captive again." Eric didn't respond. We had not exited the car. My seatbelt was still fastened and Eric's hands gripped the wheel. "I…I probably don't make any sense right now." I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car. Eric mimicked my actions but didn't unbuckle his seatbelt, he never wore one.

"You do not have the illusion of freedom." Eric began. "You can come and go as you please. I pay you for your services. You are no longer a captive, Sookie. How can you not see this?"

"From the way you described bonding it sounds like another form of captivity."

"You think that I will wield my control over you once we have bonded. Have you not realized that I could have controlled you from the moment I laid eyes on you? I could have done anything I pleased with you. Drained you, turned you, forced myself on you… but none of those things appeal to me and they will not appeal to me when you become my bonded. Our bonding will not alter my treatment of you. I have… feelings for you. I find myself not wanting to control you."

Eric was usually a one word or one sentence kind of a guy. What he had just revealed was like a monologue for him. Wait, had he just admitted for having feelings for me? My heart skipped a beat.

"How long will this bond last?"

"Forever." That was more of the Eric I knew- blunt and to the point.

"Forever…" I trailed off. Forever was a long time.

"Yes. No vampire will ever be able to lay a hand on you for the rest of your life."

I stirred that over. Everything Eric was saying made sense. He was right. The cards were in my favor and now that he confirmed that he would not force his power over me once we were bonded I was definitely more open to the idea.

"Do you still feel like a prisoner after all this time we have spent together?"

I honestly wasn't sure. He didn't seem like a jailor whatsoever, and he had given me independence. But in the eyes of the supernatural I was his property.

"I don't know. I can come and go as I please, but am I ever truly allowed to leave?"

"Explain."

"You know, move out of your house? Live somewhere else?"

"I keep you here for protection."

"But once we are bonded won't I be sufficiently protected, just by being bonded alone?"

"Where would you go?" He asked.

I thought that one over. Jason wanted nothing to do with me and he was the only family I had left. I had the money from Eric but it surely wasn't enough to buy a home and keep up with the taxes and payments. My only option was to stay in Eric's house.

"I guess I have nowhere to go, nor the money." It hurt to admit it out loud.

"I can feel that this disappoints you. But to answer your question, I would allow you to leave, if this truly pleased you. You would of course have to continue working for me and keep up the appearance of being my bonded."

"You would?"

He nodded. We had been having this conversation over the hood of the car. I moved around the car to the side he was standing on and took his large hand in my own, intertwining my fingers with his.

"Then let's do this." I said, squeezing his hand.

I gave a small yelp when Eric picked me up and carried me into the house, much like how a groom carries his bride over the threshold. He went straight into my bedroom and set me down on the soft sheets. He kissed me softly, his lips lingering on mine lazily. He sat down next to me and pulled me onto his lap, one of his arms circling my waist.

"You must drink from me, Sookie."

I winced when I heard a crunch sound-the sound of him breaking open his wrist with his fangs. He brought his bleeding wrist around to my mouth. "Drink." He said softly.

I hesitantly latched onto his bleeding wrist and began to drink. His blood was rich and sweet and I could feel the powerful properties of his blood flowing through my body. His arousal was evident and he was making low primal noises that were making my heart skip a beat.

"That is enough." Eric said, and I released my mouth from his wrist which was already starting to heal itself. My body felt strong and healthy as ever. Not to mention I was becoming aroused myself.

"I must drink from you Sookie." Eric whispered in my ear. "Hold still."

I gulped as Eric's fingers gently brushed the hair away from my neck. He planted soft, delicate kisses on the vein I knew he would bite into.

"Just do it." I pleaded.

Eric slowly sunk his fangs into my neck. I had braced myself for the sharp pain I was so used to feeling during a vampire bite. But this… this was anything but painful. It felt nice and intimate. Now I could understand why fangbangers were always looking to get bitten. I could only imagine how pleasurable this would be during sex. I was embarrassed to admit it to myself but I was a little turned on by this whole exchange.

Eric seemed to be enjoying himself immensely, moaning into my neck as he drew my blood. He was taking an awful lot, but maybe it was necessary for our bonding? He didn't specify how much he needed to take. I had drank a few mouthfuls of his blood but perhaps the vampire needed more? I was beginning to worry.

"Eric." I moaned quietly as a dizzying sensation seemed to overtake me. I had felt this many times before, having been practically drained dry during my stay with Felipe. "Eric, please stop." I wiggled in his lap but that only made him more excited.

I pinched the arm that was wrapped tightly around me. "Stop." I tried to say with as much force as I could muster. "Eric, please."

Had he been bullshitting me this whole time? Was this whole bonding thing just a way for him to drain me? I knew he wanted my blood but would he deceive me into thinking he needed to drink my blood to bond with him. I began to panic. Oh God. What was I going to do?

I could feel the life being sucked out of me so I dug my nail into his arm until I saw a small droplet of blood. He grunted from the sensation and loosened his arm from my waist. I yanked his arm up to my mouth with my remaining strength and bit into his arm, once again drawing his blood into my mouth. He howled and retracted his fangs from my neck. I forced a mouthful of blood down my throat and pushed his arm away, falling off his lap. I stumbled to the door and pressed myself against it.

"Sookie?" Eric's voice resonated throughout the dark bedroom. I heard the bed creak as he stood up.

"Don't… don't come near me." I said, my voice shaking.

"I took too much, Sookie, I'm sorry." To his credit, he stayed put and didn't take another step toward me.

"Too much? You practically drained me!" My vision was fading fast and I struggled to keep my eyes open.

"You're blood it's…" Eric's voice filled with worry. "Sookie, stay with me." He rushed over to my side and grabbed my upper arms to keep me from collapsing to the floor.

"Please don't hurt me, Felipe." I begged, before everything went black.

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"…extreme psychological damage… underweight and malnourished…seriously Viking have some common sense…"

I blearily opened my eyes as I picked up some phrases that sounded far away.

"Felipe De Castro's prisoner… four years… young, twenty four years old….human."

The voice was scratchy, deep and familiar. I blinked a couple of times, clearing my cloudy vision. I glanced around. I was lying in my room on my bed. The door was slightly ajar and a sliver of light poured into the dark room from the hallway. I could see the shadows of the two figures in the hall. One shadow looked like a first grader compared to the latter that towered over the smaller one.

I opened my mouth to speak, but coughed. The voices in the hallway ceased their talking and the door opened completely. The light was turned on and I blinked, the light stinging my sensitive eyes.

"I wasn't sure I'd see you again, Miss. Stackhouse." The scratchy voice rasped.

My face broke into a smile when I took in the tiny form of the Doctor.

"Doctor Ludwig!" I cried out, sitting up in bed.

Dr. Ludwig gently pushed me back down and stepped up onto what looked like a stepping stool so she could peer over me. "Now Sookie, you need to lie back and calm yourself." She instructed sternly, but I could see a faint twinkle in her gray eyes.

I heard someone else enter the room. I looked up from the Doctor's face and focused my gaze on Eric, who was leaning against the wall casually with his arms crossed. My heart started beating faster.

"I told you to stay outside, Viking! You're going to give the poor girl a heart attack." Dr. Ludwig said admonishingly.

Eric glared at the petite doctor but didn't move. His eyes softened when they landed on my face.

"Sookie. I am truly very sorry. I did not mean to take so much of your blood." He said softly. I wasn't sure if he was putting on an act, but then I felt his regret.

I felt his regret!

"Oh my God." I murmured. "I can feel you."

Eric gave a small smile. "I know. We are bonded now."

I just stared at him. My mind was on overdrive. I could feel every one of Eric's emotions, and it was a bit overwhelming.

"Did you even explain to her what it means to be bonded?" The Doctor snapped at Eric.

"Yes." Eric said icily, continuing to glare at Ludwig.

"He did." I jumped in. Then added bitterly: "I just didn't know it involved practically draining me."

Eric's regret deepened, causing my anger to diminish.

"I apologize for my actions. Your blood was so delicious that I could not stop." He even felt a bit uncomfortable. "A vampire of my age should have better control." He muttered.

"You're right about something, Viking. You know she is one fourth Fae and you should have taken the necessary precautions."

"So you were high on my blood?" I asked.

"In a way, yes. I could not stop myself." Eric admitted, ashamed.

Ludwig shook her head. "You really must take better care of the girl."

"We already had this discussion." Eric hissed.

"Now listen here. She is around 114 pounds, which at her height is underweight. She gained weight from my last examination when she was only 108. She needs to continue having a nutritious diet and she needs to gain weight. Are you feeding her Viking?"

"I am perfectly capable of feeding myself." I snapped, angry that they were talking about me like I wasn't in the room.

Dr. Ludwig gave a small smile and chuckled, she patted my hand. "I know, dear. But really, you must eat more. You have gained a few pounds but a healthy weight for you would be anywhere from 120-140 pounds. You have a long way to go. I am sure your Viking will care for you. You are very lucky to be his, you know."

I glanced over at Eric who was taking in the scene with confusion. His eyebrows were raised and I could feel his puzzlement.

"What?" I asked him.

"It is nothing." He shook his head.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I must be going." Ludwig said in a businesslike manner.

"Thank you, I owe you a lot Dr. Ludwig." I said quietly.

"Anytime, dear." She said, patting my hand again.

She descended her stepping stool and folded it up, putting it under a stubby arm.

"I expect my payment by tomorrow, Viking. And I highly suggest you follow my instructions. Good evening."

With a quiet pop she had vanished, leaving Eric and I in the room alone.

Neither of us spoke. I sifted through his emotions. Again, regret was the first thing I felt. Next were shame, anger, frustration, and relief. He felt so many things simultaneously I was again a bit overwhelmed.

"You have a lot of emotions." I said, breaking the silence.

Immediately I felt his emotions lessen and his eyes softened.

"I'm sorry if my emotions were overwhelming for you. I can block the bond slightly if it makes you feel better." Eric replied.

"It is better, thank you."

Again silence ensued. Eric's eyes bore holes into mine and I began to feel uncomfortable with our sudden staring contest.

"You know Dr. Ludwig?" Eric asked after a few tense moments.

"Yes." I replied. "She used to care for me in Nevada. When Felipe would go…overboard."

Eric nodded. "I have never seen her so attached to anyone before."

I laughed. "She has a heart of stone and she'd never admit to it but I think she sees me as a granddaughter of some sorts."

"What did you do to win her favor?" Eric asked curiously.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I was polite. I think she felt bad for me."

Eric pushed himself off the wall and sauntered toward my bed. He sat down on the edge, the bed creaking with the extra weight of the Viking. His icy blue eyes zeroed in on my own and he reached out with one large hand, cupping my cheek gently.

"You know I made a very careless mistake. My intention was not to harm or scare you."

"I know. I guess I can tell if you're lying too now, huh?" That might come in handy.

"I suppose so." Eric gave a dry smile.

"Why did you call Dr. Ludwig? Couldn't you have just healed me yourself?" I questioned.

Eric sighed and removed his hand from my face. I felt a glimmer of disappointment spark within me. But whether it was my disappointment or his, I couldn't tell.

"I was afraid that if I gave you too much of my blood it could potentially turn you." He explained. "You had lost massive quantities of blood and there was a possibility…" Eric trailed off.

"Why didn't you do it?" I asked quietly, staring at my bed sheets.

"Do what?" Eric furrowed his eyebrows together.

He knew what. I could feel through the bond that he knew. He was just playing dumb. Ha! The bond definitely had its perks.

"You had the opportunity to turn me. Why didn't you?" I raised my gaze to meet his.

"Sookie I…"

I cut him off. Something he was obviously not used to. "I know you want to. I'm not stupid, Eric. Turning me would eternally bind me to you. I may not know much about vampires but I do know that the bond between Maker and Child is extremely powerful. Turning me would give you a huge advantage."

"Are you suggesting that I should turn you? Sookie you are treading very dangerous waters." Eric replied seriously, narrowing his cerulean eyes.

"No! I'd never want to be a vampire. I'm just pointing out the facts."

Eric turned his head to stare at the door. "You are correct. Turning you would be quite advantageous, considering the position I am in. However, I would not do it without your permission."

"Why? Did Pam give you permission?"

His eyes snapped back to mine. The bond reflected anger. He was obviously very protective of Pam. You didn't have to be a mind reader to figure that one out.

"No. I haven't heard of any vampire having a choice in the matter. You would be the first, I presume."

"You still haven't answered my question." I said, crossing my arms. "Why wouldn't you do it without my permission?"

It was rare that Eric was ever rendered speechless, and now was one of those uncommon occasions. In typical Sookie fashion, he avoided the question and tactfully changed subjects.

"The Doctor said you need more sleep because your sleeping pattern is very off schedule. I suggest you get some rest."

I decided not to push him for answers. The time would come. "Okay, Dr. Northman."

This got a smile out of him. He leaned down and brushed a kiss against my forehead. "We will discuss this bond more tomorrow." He promised.

"Okay."

He got up to leave but he must have sensed my current apprehension. He turned around to face me again. "What is wrong, Sookie?"

"Nothing. It's nothing. I'll just go to sleep now." I said quickly, pulling the covers up to my chin.

Eric ran his hand through his messy locks. "Liar. You are anxious. Why?"

"I'm just afraid after everything that's happened tonight, I'll have a nightmare. Do you think you can stay with me? Just until I fall asleep?" I said this all in a rush, but Eric of course understood every word that stumbled out of my mouth.

"Of course."

He crawled into bed behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle, pulling me closer into his solid body. I sighed contentedly, feeling safe.

"I wonder," He mused. "Why you would ask me to lie with you, when I almost killed you tonight."

I thought about that for a moment. He posed a legitimate question. Shouldn't I be cowering in fear after the activities that occurred? But something inside me was influencing me to forgive him, to bury myself in his arms and feel protected again.

Right before I fell asleep the answer hit me.

"It's the bond isn't it?" I mumble sleepily before darkness consumed me.

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Hope you enjoyed! As always your thoughts and opinions are always welcome. Seeing all the reviews in my email makes me feel like a kid on Christmas! So don't hold back!