A/N: You guys are A-fucking-mazing! I can't tell you how much each and every review you've sent means to me. It has pushed me to try really hard to deliver the best story possible. I am touched that so many of you have favorited the story or put me on alert. Thank you for having me! Oh yeah, and I have been trying to respond to every review. When you guys show me love, I like to show a little back. :D
Thank you to: Angie aka AmkP my fantastic beta. Without her, this would be smutty gibberish. Just a bunch of fucks and misplaced commas LOL
Disclaimer: I still don't own the characters. I do have a Bosu ball though, and it's amazing!
EPOV
***
I can't fucking believe it. After searching for her all this time, she just shows up out of the blue. Is this some big cosmic joke? If so, I must have really pissed off the goddess this time.
This past month, I have been growing bitter toward this woman who had taken up permanent residence in my thoughts. How many times had I thought of what I'd say when I caught up with her? And yet, now, with her dropped in my lap like some sexy present, I have no desire to say anything. I want to lay her down on the mat and fuck her senseless. I want to scream at her that she's mine while I pound relentlessly into her. The only thing stopping me - and it certainly isn't my job or all the people present, because I don't give a flying-fuck about either of those - is the fear that with my anger bubbling so close to the surface, my hard won control will snap and I'll do something unforgivable. If I give in to my carnal desires for this woman with the state I'm in, I could very easily hurt her; and I find the idea of her scared of me completely unthinkable. I need her to want me.
I realize I've been staring at her for quite a while, and still haven't uttered a word. Come on Northman, get your shit together!
"We have some unfinished business, Sookie."
Well it wasn't clever, and I sound like some cheesy Old West villain with a curly mustache about to tie her to the train tracks, but at least she knows she won't be getting off easy. She still looks stunned, and not a little flushed. Well, it's nice to know I have the same effect on her she does on me. Sookie shakes her head like there's a fly buzzing in her face and when she stills, her eyes narrow and she sets her shoulders in defiance. Now here's the feisty girl I remember. I find myself getting more turned on by the flicker of attitude. Not to mention, her new posture has thrust her breasts forward to press against the thin material of her tank top.
"What are you doing here?" She sounds suspicious.
I shrug. "I work here. But, since you've obviously followed me," I tease. " Maybe I should ask, what you are doing here? More importantly, are you my three thirty appointment, or not?"
"You work here? I thought you owned that Twilight bar."
"Yes," I reply, baiting her.
"To which one, Eric?"
"To both. Although, I'd hate to think you found my bar as sexless and uptight as all that."
She still looks suspicious, though she visibly relaxes. She leans back on her elbows, her legs still spread wide open. I can feel a magnetic pull from the tip of my dick to every point on her body. I fight the urge to fuck her like an animal, but with her in such a prone position, it feels like a losing battle. I consider reaching my hand down to offer her some help up, but touching her seems counterproductive to my 'not attacking her' plan. Instead, I take a step back and raise an eyebrow at her in question.
She closes her legs and jumps to her feet in a surprisingly graceful move. Although, I don't know why I'm surprised, when I've seen how this girl can move on the dance floor.
"Look, I don't think this is a very good idea. I think I'd better go, or schedule an appointment with somebody else." Why would she think I would let anyone else have her? She is mine, she will be mine.
"Canceled appointments hold the regular fee for the hour, plus a fifty dollar inconvenience fee. Miss..." I realize I still don't know her last name. If I did, we would be way past the point of awkward introductions. If fucking Pamela hadn't spent so much time flirting with my woman, she would have taken a better look at Sookie's ID and been able to at least tell me her name. Pamela has an amazing photographic memory that I jokingly refer to as 'The Vault'. She was able to repeat word-for-word her conversation with Sookie, but she couldn't remember something as simple as a last name, because she hadn't fucking looked at her ID.
"Stackhouse."
"Sookie Stackhouse." What an unusual name. It certainly fits the mysterious woman before me.
"Well, Miss Stackhouse, I suggest you and I start our workout." I cut her off before she can protest. "There's no use wasting your money, or my time. You obviously came here for some reason. Although..." I scan her head to toe. She's all toned muscle and soft curves. "I can't see why you think you are in need of my services."
She blushes a little at my obvious leer. Or was it the compliment that caught her off guard? Surely a woman as stunning as Sookie was used to leering and compliments.
"I have an...event that I need to look good for." She looks uncomfortable.
"I doubt that will be a problem."
She blushes again. Does this girl have overactive capillaries or what? I have a strong urge to peek inside her shirt and see how far down the blush goes.
"Well, Sookie, I think we should do some preliminary measurements, and then sit down to discuss your goals and come up with a plan." I take a few steps toward the training office, and turn back to see her standing right where I left her.
"This is a one time deal. I'm won't be coming back, Mr..." I'm taken aback by her sudden professional attitude. I feel like I'm losing ground, fast. What is it with this woman? I can never predict what she's going to say. She just keeps coming from different angles.
"Northman," I supply.
"Well, Mr. Northman, we can work out together today, since you insist, but I think it'll be best for both of us, if we don't see each other again." Not see each other again? How can she possibly say that when all I can think of is her?
"Ms. Stackhouse," I mimic her cool demeanor. "I'm suggesting a purely business relationship." Yeah, right. "You have a goal, and I can help you achieve it. I have the highest success rate of any trainer in this gym, part or full time. I can help guide you with nutrition, and take your body to levels you didn't think possible. If you really think you're going to be hung up by some small thing that happened weeks ago, that's fine. Quit. But if you quit on me now, you're going to be setting yourself up in a pattern that will hinder your success." I cross my fingers behind my back, hoping it covers all the lies I've spouted. I meant all the things about achieving her goals, but I was lying through my teeth when I made it sound like our meeting meant nothing to me.
I look at her in what I hope is a disconnected, 'I don't give a fuck way.'
Please stay.
Please stay.
Please stay.
I chant the mantra in my head, knowing the universe owes me one.
She takes a step toward me, and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Okay, Mr. Northman, you have a deal. But, I mean it when I say this will be in a strictly professional capacity."
I nod. At least she's staying. As the relief floods through me, and I'm sure she isn't running away, my anger bubbles up, again. Why had she run from me that night?
I close the door behind us when we enter the training office. I don't particularly trust myself behind a closed door with this woman, but clients generally prefer privacy when while filling out the questionnaire. Sookie sits down across the desk from me.
"Full name?"
"Susannah Stackhouse." It doesn't fit her as well as Sookie, but it explains why there are no Sookies in the phone book.
"Age?"
"Twenty five."
"Miss Stackhouse, how would you describe your current activity level?"
"Pretty high. I swim in the lake when I can and I jog every other day. I workout along with the 'Slim in 6 Pack' video five days a week. I enjoy working in my garden. I love to dance." She blushes again when she adds the last part. Yes, our dance had quite an effect on me as well.
"Is there any physical aspect to your job?"
"I do lift a lot of heavy books. So, I suppose there's some amount of exercise in that, though I've never thought of my job as labor intensive." She laughs at her own private joke.
"What is it you do, Miss Stackhouse?"
"I'm a librarian at the High School." Fuck. Me. A librarian? I get a sudden image of Sookie in a partially unbuttoned white shirt tucked into a tight fitting pencil skirt. Balancing on ridiculously high heels, she slaps a ruler on her hand in a scolding manner. I wonder idly how she'd look in a bun and square rimmed glasses. She's like a walking wet dream. A twenty five year old, hot as fuck, librarian who can dance like a video vixen and do the splits. Mine. It's an errant thought, but one that's been crossing my mind a lot lately.
I try to school my voice, but it comes out gravelly anyway, "That's very good, Miss Stackhouse. Do you participate in any other physically exerting activities?" I raise an eyebrow and the implied question hangs in the air. Are you with somebody or not? I know I've crossed the professional line, but the thought of another man touching her has me seeing red. She looks shocked for a moment, but meets my eyes defiantly.
"No, Mr. Northman, none." She blushes so fiercely I fear she'll pass out from cranial pressure, but boldly keeps eye contact.
"That's very good to hear, Miss Stackhouse. Very good to hear. Now, let's take some measurements, and get started."
I open a drawer and pull out a tape measure. As I come around the desk, Sookie stands from her chair. I look down and see her nipples are still straining against her shirt.
"I'm going to measure at nine points on your body. The best way to track progress is through inches, rather than weight."
I step closer to her body and grab her hand in mine. The same electric energy I felt that night meets me as our skin touches. I run my hand up her arm to her elbow.
"First your forearm." I take the measurement and record it on a chart.
"Now, your biceps. Flex your arm." She brings her arm up and flexes with her fist pointing outward. "Calm down there, Arnold." I wrap the tape around her flexed muscle, "Now, relax." She relaxes the muscle and I record her measurement.
I hand her the pen. "Do you mind recording the next few for me, Miss Stackhouse?" I lower myself onto one knee, then the other. I'm so close to her, and from this proximity I can smell her arousal. It's fucking sweet and potent. I want to bury myself between her thighs. I place my hands lightly on her hips, and look up to see her looking back down at me. "Are you ready, Miss Stackhouse?" I can see her throat working to swallow and her pink tongue darts out to wet her dry lips. She nods, and I can hear her breath hitch. "Your calf, next." She looks...disappointed. Good. I feel like taking some revenge.
I run my hands down her legs and sit back on my heels. I pick up one of her feet and set it on my thigh. I skim my fingers back up her ankle to her calf, lightly massaging. I adjust the tape and call out, "Thirteen inches." Sookie turns to the paper on the desk and marks the number in the appropriate column. She looks back at me when I run my fingertips along the sensitive skin behind her knee. I hear her let out a little gasp and her foot twitches closer to my straining cock. I knead the flesh just above her knee, eliciting another gasp. I measure and she records.
Only this time, she never even looks at the paper. She just reaches over and writes a number, missing the box by miles. I continue my journey north and hear her breath coming in short spurts. Or is it my own? I travel up the smooth skin of her thigh and the scent of her arousal is overpowering at this point. I boldly run my hands higher than necessary, skimming the tops of her tight little shorts. I find the skin on her inner thigh is particularly sensitive, and when I massage her there she moans again, louder this time. I gulp audibly. I have never been this turned on. I take the tape in my hands and as I adjust it on the roundest part of her thigh I brush against her mound. I can feel the moisture on my knuckles. I try to control myself and somehow call out the measurement. Sookie reaches the pen to write on the paper, but records the number on the wood of the desk instead.
Fuck, what this woman does to me!
I make my way back down her leg, massaging the areas I know have the greatest effect on her. After setting her foot back on the ground, I grab her firmly by the hips and set myself back on my knees. I inch closer to Sookie, and pull the measuring tape behind her. Since professionalism has obviously gone out the window, I run my hands along that perfect ass of hers to find the right spot. However, on Sookie's ass, every spot is the right spot. My face is inches away from her glorious breasts and my hands are roaming along the high, tight back of her. Remembering, at least briefly, that we have a job to do, I record the number. I set up the same way for her hips and this time I make sure to take advantage of her low shorts to graze my fingers along the strip of skin between her tank and shorts. She's so soft and warm. When I bring the ends of the tape to the front for the count, I briefly dip my fingers into the front of her shorts. She loses balance for a second and places her hands on my shoulders to steady herself. I record the measurement and look up at her. Her eyes are like saucers.
I go back to trailing my fingers on that exposed swath of skin and gently push up her shirt to reveal a little more of the tan planes of her stomach. "Is this okay?"
Her tongue makes a reappearance, wetting her lips, again. Remembering how her tongue moved with mine during our kiss, leaves me panting.
"Yes, please." She nods.
"Please, what Miss Stackhouse?" I haven't moved further up, though I desperately want to. I can't help teasing her, just a little. After all, she's left me wanting for a whole month.
"Please...don't stop, Eric." I love hearing her say my name.
I push the bottom of her shirt up higher and dip my thumbs into the 'V' her abs have made at her hip line. I run my fingers over the lines of her muscles and wonder, once again, why the hell she's here? She's very toned, but still soft in all the right places. She's just the right mix of strength and softness, and she's mine. There goes that word again...
I pull the tape around to her front and line it up with her navel. She has a cute little innie and I can no longer resist the urge to put my mouth on her. Never losing eye contact, I make it clear what I'm about to do. I move closer and when my lips meet the skin just above her belly button, I hear her let out a low sigh. I steal a glance at her and see she's thrown her head back in ecstasy. I drop the tape and move my hands to her back, pulling her closer.
Her skin is soft and she's burning up. I kiss my way down her stomach, lingering briefly over the peaks of her hips. I make my way further down, keeping my hands on her hips. I reach the junction of her thighs and her smell is intoxicating. I indulge myself by nuzzling there, rubbing my nose over that most sensitive spot.
"Ohhhh...." She grips my shoulders tighter.
I move my right hand to rest on her thigh where her shorts stop. Gently pulling the fabric away from her skin, I smooth my fingers inside. Sookie's hips start to move, bringing her closer to me. I move my hand higher until I reach her heat. I graze my fingers through her curls and move them back along her slit.
"Sookie, you're so wet."
"Mmmmmm"
I gently press my finger to slip inside her, but even though she's so wet, I can barely nudge into her softness. Christ, she's tight! When I finally penetrate her with my finger, she lets out a guttural moan.
"Look at me," I demand.
She meets my blue eyes with hers. She's so beautiful, all flushed and excited. Her eyes are dancing with delight. Whatever qualms she had about me were clearly gone. I turn my finger inside her and search for the spot just inside and to the front. I curl my finger against her in a 'come hither' gesture and I feel a slightly raised bump. I flick it with my finger, as I press the heel of my hand against her clit, and I feel her clench around me.
"Holy shit!" She exclaims and I realize I've never heard Sookie curse It sounds hot coming from her now husky voice. As I'm looking at her, her face scrunched up with pleasure, her body writhing against my hand, I recognize an opportunity.
"Sookie, would you like to come?"
"Hmmm?"
"I asked, if you'd like me to bring you to orgasm."
"Yessss. God, yes! Don't stop."
I still the motion of my hand. She tries moving to fuck herself on my finger, but I firmly grab her hips to stop the movement.
"Eric!" it sounded half angry, half desperately turned on.
"If you want to come, Sookie, you'll have to tell me why you ran that night."
Something flashes in her eyes. Apparently, she isn't going to make this easy. I start making slow, lazy circles with my thumb on her clit to nudge her along.
"Well then, Mr. Northman." Fucking shit! The cool demeanor is back, but it isn't very convincing with her pussy milking my finger. "You can just keep your orgasm. I have a workout to get to." She pushes my shoulders and I reluctantly removed my hand, rocking back on my heels. We're still for a minute or two, just staring at each other and working to catch our breath.
My mind is reeling. How can this woman exist with so many emotions inside her at once? One second she's about to cum in my hand, and the next she's detached and distantly polite. I rub my hand on the carpet to clean her essence from my finger. I have a strong urge to lick it clean, but decide I have pushed Sookie far enough for one day. I shouldn't have pried and teased her the way I did. I'd be fucking her on the desk right now, instead of picking up the tape to finish her measurements. I make a move to lift the tape to measure her chest when the it's snatched from my hand.
"I can finish from here, Mr. Northman." She pulls the tape around her body and studies it. "Thirty two." She sounds authoritative and sexy as hell, but I can't help but laugh in disbelief. She is rather petite, but a thirty-two chest she isn't.
"You have to line it up with your nipples." I gesture from one to the other.
"Thank you, for pointing my nipples out to me, Mr. Northman. That's very helpful," every word drips sarcasm.
She readjusts the tape to lay over her hardened peaks. "Thirty-seven." I record the number and see that we've finished the chart.
"Are you ready to start, Miss Stackhouse?"
"Lead the way, Mr. Northman."
We start with a warm up on the treadmill. Sookie jogs a brisk eight minute mile and hops off slightly flushed, but no more than she was in the office. She's in very good shape, indeed. In the training pit, I set Sookie up with a circuit that activates legs, arms and core. I start Sookie out with wall sits, curls and planks. The next circuit consists of lunges, push ups and bicycle kicks. The final circuit includes squats, both deep and half, tricep dips and work on a Bosu ball.
Sookie does twelve repetitions of each step for each circuit, before continuing to the next. She has already gone through each circuit a full three times and is about to finish up her fourth and final run. She's currently balanced in a perfect line on the round side of the Bosu ball. Her ass is the only thing in contact with the ball, and as a result, every muscle in her body is having to work to support her. Sookie's arms are extended above her head, close to the ears, with her shoulders dropped back. Her legs are also extended and hovering about a foot from the ground.
"Again," I instruct.
"I can't," she spits out through gritted teeth. Her face is red and she's worked up a good sweat. Sookie has proven to be a challenging customer. Since she's already in such good shape, I've had to develop a much more rigorous workout than I give to most clients. But, I know Sookie can do this. I promised to push her to the limits. So as much as she challenges me, I challenge her right back.
"Come on, Sookie, just two more."
"I can barely stay where I am. If I lift one more time, I'll fall off."
"No, Sookie, look at me." She turns her neck stiffly and her blue eyes pierce into me like sharpened steel. She's pissed. Good. I can use pissed. "Again. I wouldn't ask you to do it, if I didn't think you could. I won't ever set you up to fail. But, the more you fuck around just hovering on the delicious, grabable ass of yours, the more energy you're wasting. Again."
I can see the fire light in her eyes. Her legs and arms tremble as she contracts her core, bringing her body up into a fold. She touches her fingertips to her ankles and slowly lowers them to hovering again. She's shaking even in her resting state.
"Again. One more, Sookie. You can do this!" I see a single tear roll down her cheek as her arms and legs make their ascent. They touch briefly at the top and Sookie's whole body is shaking with the effort. She makes it back to hovering and her body goes limp. She is laying, back arched and arms and legs thrown about wildly. She slowly twists her neck to look at me and her eyes are lit up with victory. Her mouth breaks out into a huge fucking grin and another tear escapes. I hope it's the last one. I don't think I could handle seeing this strong, fierce woman cry.
"Thank you, Mr. Northman." It's barely an exhausted whisper. She's drenched in sweat and her chest is heaving from her exertions. I've never wanted anyone so much in my entire life.
"You're welcome, Miss Stackhouse. We'll finish up with a stretch and you're free to go."
Sookie and I share a companionable silence as we move from stretch to stretch. I try to keep the leering to a minimum, but this girl is really flexible.
We're both in the final nose to knees position when Sookie decides to speak.
"Eric?" I'm more than a little shocked to hear my first name. She straightens up and looks embarrassed, though I don't know why. "Eric, I'm aware that there's some attraction between us. What happened at the bar and in the office was...amazing. I know I've been giving you mixed signals, but honestly, I've never felt anything so intense. But, you have to understand that these things can't keep happening. I enjoyed our workout today and I would like to come back, but I need you to be on your best behavior. Can you do that, Mr. Northman?"
I know I've already lost the argument when she goes back to Mr. Northman .
"Yes, Miss Stackhouse, I can do that. But, you have to promise to stop groping me at every turn."
She tilts her head back and lets out that amazing laugh. "Same time, next week, Mr. Northman? Can I hope today's workout was the worst of it?"
"This is only the beginning," I promise as much to her as to myself.
Sookie looks like she's about to collapse at the knees. Perhaps, I had worked her too hard?
"Ex..excuse me, Mr. Northman?"
"I said, this is only the beginning. Today was a warm up compared to what I have in store for you. I think you'll be amazed what you're body's capable of, Miss Stackhouse."
She looks relieved as she makes her way to the women's locker room to shower. I turn back to the training office to finish filling out the appropriate paperwork to file Sookie Stackhouse as my newest client.
I push back in my chair thirty minutes later, having everything completed. I get up from the desk and see Sookie walking towards the exit. She's wearing a wrap dress that accentuates her toned muscles and defined curves. She's dried her hair to fall in waves down her back. She's fucking gorgeous. Maybe, now that she's had a shower, she'll be amenable to more conversation. There's so much I want to know about this woman.
I wind my way through the gym toward her, but when I get to the front desk, she's out the door. I follow her out as she's walking up to a silver Mercedes. She hasn't seen me yet, and before I can call out to her, I catch the reflection of a diamond glinting in the sun on her left ring finger. The sight stops me dead in my tracks.
Why the fuck didn't she tell me?
How weird...Sookie dodesn't seem excited about the wedding. She had her ring off again, fooled around with her personal trainer and she called her wedding an...event. Hmmm...I wonder why she's still with Bill then?
If she's in such great shape, why did she hire a personal trainer?
And what about poor Eric? What will he do with his new found information?
Tell me what you think. If you liked it or hated it, I'd love to hear about it!
Thanks for reviewing,
Sarah :)