Holy smokes! I have over 500 reviews! Thanks so much everyone!

Chapter 19

EPOV

The warmth of her skin, the tenderness of her touch, the scent of her hair. It all seemed so surreal. I'd wanted Sookie, there was no doubt about that. I'd developed feelings for her, feelings I didn't really understand fully. But when she came to me, wanting me, taking me the way that she did, I thought I was dreaming.

Waking up with her hair splayed across my chest as the soft morning light shone through the curtains, was definitely a picture I'd commit to memory. It felt as though the world had shifted, but in a good way. That somehow, we were exactly where we were supposed to be.

I reluctantly left her sleeping in my bed, which looked far too tempting. I didn't want Pam to be confused and walk in on us, so I went to make some breakfast for us.

Sookie came out of my room, wearing my shirt. She tossed a shy smile my way and went upstairs. She was limping a little more than usual, which bothered me. It was a sad reminder that she'd bravely sacrificed herself for my daughter. I wanted to scoop her up and carry her, but she'd probably protest.

I flipped the pancake in the pan, all the while my mind drifted to Sookie. I loved having her in the house, but I wondered how much longer she'd want to be there. She had her own life that she probably wanted to go back to after the threat looming over us was gone. I'd have to step up my game and do everything in my power to convince her that this is where she belongs.

A bit later, Sookie and Pam came back down stairs. They looked so fucking perfect together, it made my heart swell with pride and happiness. My beauties.

"How are my girls doing this morning?" I asked as I was plating up some pancakes and sausage.

Sookie fucking blushed, God, she was killing me. I kissed her cheek, then Pam's. "Morning daddy!" I scooped her up into a big hug and started tickling her.

"Daddy, stop! my hair!" She giggled. Sookie must've done her hair, because it was braided and had a neatly tied ribbon at the end. "You're messing up my hair!" I put her down in the chair and laughed.

"Somebody's happy this morning." Sookie mused. Damn right.

"Yes, well, I have a lot to be happy about." I replied

"Such as?" She returned.

"Mmmm. I'd tell you, but there are tiny ears at the table." I whispered in her ear. Her cheeks were turning an alluring shade of red.

"Whose ears are tiny? Not mine" Pam frowned, then huffed. Sookie and I both laughed.

After I cleaned up breakfast, I had to do some paperwork for the bar so I excused myself. Sookie and Pam were going out to the pool. I hated the fact that I couldn't go out there with them, because Sookie in a bikini… Honestly, I just enjoyed being with them, laughing, playing, and having a good time, but I'd been severely neglecting Area 5. Clancy was a good manager, but things never seem to run as smoothly when I was away.

I fucking hated QuickBooks. That shit never seemed to work right. I don't know how long I'd been at it, trying to balance the income report, but I was getting increasingly frustrated. The numbers were off by a little over $14,000. It was pissing the fuck off that I couldn't figure out where the discrepancy was. I wanted to get this shit done, so that I could enjoy the day with my girls, instead, I was stuck trying to figure out where the fuck up was.

"Everything alright in here?" Sookie popped her head in my office. She was still wearing her bikini. Her skin was golden and her hair looked sun-dried. She was gorgeous. I almost forgot about the accounting nightmare I was dealing with.

"I um, I'm just trying to balance the books." God, I sounded like a bumbling fool. I wanted her to come sit on my lap, so I could untie the strings to her tiny bikini. Lay her on my desk and fuck her senseless. That'd be a nice fantasy, but with a kid in the house, it'd be hard to make that one a reality.

"What software are you using?" She asked and walked into the room to take a closer look. She perched herself beside me and hunched over my computer. She smelled like the sun and chlorine. "Oh, QuickBooks. What's the problem, maybe I can help?" she asked. My brains were mushy, and I barely registered her words. Her skin was warm and I reached over and pulled her closer, placing innocent kisses on her belly. Would it be bad if I just untied the bottoms and slipped my hand inside her? I could be quick, maybe just bend her over the desk and fuck her from behind? That just wouldn't do, because she had the most beautiful breasts I'd ever laid my hands on, so I definitely needed to see those.

"Eric?" She questioned. Oh, right, work. "I'm off about $14,000." She seemed contemplative. "What's the exact number?" She asked.

"$14,004"

"You've got a number transposed." She replied immediately.

"How do you know that?"

"Because it's divisible by 9, of course." She said it like it was something everyone knew.

"Oh. Wait, you did the math in your head? Just like that?" I was kind of in awe of her brain.

"It's just a thing I do." She replied in a self-deprecating sort of way.

"No, that's- Amazing, actually. Wow. I'm impressed." Truly. Brains, beauty, bravery. I was one lucky son of a bitch.

"Really? Most people think it's kind of weird. People used to call me the Rain Woman." Fuck them for ostracizing her.

"So not wierd. I think it's hot."

"You think it's hot I know math and am good with accounting software?"

"Totally."

I pulled her down on my lap, she wrapped her arms around me. "Where's Pam?" I whispered in her ear. My hands slipped under the cups of her bikini. "Napping." she groaned.

"I want you." I pulled the strings and her top fell off. My lips wrapped around her nipple while I worked on untying the bottoms. She pulled my head up to meet hers and she kissed me hard. Her tongue met mine and I swear I felt my body ignited. It was her, she had this distinct ability to make me feel like I was the king of the pride. Electricity flowed between us and I moved her, so that I could unbuckle my pants. When she stood up, her bottoms fell away and I was completely taken by her glorious body. Mine. That's all I could think about. I sat back down in the chair, she pulled my shirt off. Standing in front of me, she stopped for a second, as if she was taking me in as well. I smirked, because I'm a cocky bastard, and I knew she liked what she saw just as much as I liked what I saw.

She sat down and I guided her on to my aching cock. There were no words exchanged, but for the sounds of her moans and the occasional "Eric" she wailed passionately. I'll admit that my name coming from her lips did things to me, made me feel like a fucking king.

I guided her because despite the passion flowing between us, I knew her leg was hurting, so I did my best to take the pressure off of it. She was wild though, when she kissed me, she really fucking kissed me. It took my damn breath away.

"God, Eric!" she cried. I'd already figured out her tells. She was close, so when I reached down to touch my favorite spot on her body, the spot I knew she loved me to touch, she came hard. I was right behind her and I'm pretty sure I said a bunch of curse words mixed in with her name. I don't really know what I said, because I was lost in her.

"Fuck, lover. You're amazing." I kissed her sweetly. I'd never be able to work in that office again. I'd forever be consumed with images of her bouncing tits, and the outline of her lips as she came.

She got up and began to put her suit back on. I, however, couldn't move. I watched as she bent over to pick up her clothes. Her perfect ass and lean thighs giving way to her small waist and flat stomach. She was a fucking bombshell and she didn't even know it. My bombshell.

I heard the floor creaking above me and knew Pam was up. I quickly put myself back to rights, as did Sookie.

She bit her lip, which was so fucking erotic by the way, and looked at me like there was something on her mind. "What?" I asked and pulled her lip out the clutches of her teeth. It was killing me. I kissed her. "Nothing." she replied.

"You look like you're in deep thought. Talk to me." I said. I could hear Pam's footsteps coming down the stairs. I don't know how many times I told her not to stomp, but she never listened.

"I'm just happy is all." she replied. I was too, really fucking happy.

"Then why do you look so sad?" I asked. She was about to say something, when Pam came running in the room and jumped into Sookie's body.

"Baby, I told you to be careful around Sookie. She's still hurt." I admonished.

"It's okay, Eric, really." she said. I didn't want to argue with her, but I saw her flinch when Pam held her. In that moment, I felt like an asshole for fucking her in the office. I hoped that I didn't hurt her.

"I just need to finish up here and I'll go make us some lunch." I said. I don't think they heard me though, because Pam started chatting Sookie up about watching some cartoon.

Thanks to Sookie's beautiful brain, it only took me a couple of minutes to find the transposed number. by the time I saved everything and closed my laptop, Sookie had already started making lunch. Sometimes, the woman refused to let me do things for her. It was maddening.

"Let me help you." I said.

"It's okay, Eric. They're just sandwiches." She gave me an annoyed look. I huffed and went to the living room to find Pam watching a cartoon.

"Daddy, when do we getta go to Disney World?" Pam asked me. Fucking Disney commercials. But Pam really did deserve a trip like Disney. She'd been through Hell and it would great for her to be able to do experience something normal for once.

"Maybe soon, baby." I would have to start planning a trip. I would have to wait until that Breandan guy was caught though. It was just too risky to take a vacation while that psycho was still out there.

"Promise?" She said in that angelic little voice that tore at my heartstrings.

"I promise, sweetheart."

"And mommy comes too." she demanded. Of course. I'd never dream of going on a vacation without her. She was a part of us now, there was no going back, at least for me anyway.

"Umm hmm." I responded. Then it hit me. Sitting there with my daughter, talking about taking a vacation with her and her mommy. I loved our little family dynamic.

And I loved Sookie.

I looked over towards the kitchen and watched her making us sandwiches with a gleeful look on her face and a sparkle in her eyes. I loved Sookie.

She must've felt me watching her, because she looked up and our eyes met. I swear I saw love reflecting back at me. Everything in my world fell into place at that exact moment. I knew that I loved her.

I wanted to yell it out loud right then and there, but she deserved better. She deserved to be told on a fucking bed of roses or some other overly romantic way, that I had no clue how to even put together. I'd never loved anyone before, not really.

Aude and I were hot and heavy for a hot minute. We fell hard and fast, but I later realized that I didn't love her. I was incredibly infatuated by her, maybe even to an unhealthy level, but it wasn't love.

I'd agreed to marry her because she was pregnant with Pam and I felt that it was the right thing to do at the time. She wanted to wait until after the birth, because she didn't want to be a "whale in a wedding dress". I didn't really care. I was committed to her and to our family. I guess that is a form of love though, isn't it? It was enough for me then.

But with Sookie, it's different. I look at her and I feel different. Like if she were to walk away from me, I wouldn't be okay. I wanted to share everything I had with her. Experience life with her. Maybe even have more kids with her. I never felt that way about Aude, or anyone else for that matter.

In that moment, I had a plan.