I will not bore all of you with the reasons for my long absence. I hope chapter 13 is to your liking. It contains an extremely tender lemon so I beg all of you who were hoping for something hotter to forgive me…and stay tuned for next chapter ;)
My Secret O is the best friend and content editor in the universe and I wish we didn't live 7,000 miles apart :(
Charlaine Harris is the sole owner of the SVM; I just wish sometimes she was kinder to her characters…
Unexpected - chapter 13
We made our way to the car and I opened Sookie's door for her before moving to the driver's seat.
"Are you hungry?" I asked as we left the parking lot.
"Not yet. I thought we could explore the park a bit and then go to Rosa Bonheur. It's very informal, has drinks, food, music and dancing, and it's located right inside the park."
"Is the park open all night long?"
"Not really, it actually closes at 20:00 in the winter months," a mischievous smile played at the corner of her mouth as she answered my question.
"So we will have it all to ourselves then?" It was my turn to smile at the possibilities this discovery brought to mind.
"Yes, I suppose we will…do you object?" Her tone turned playful and my smile grew.
"Not at all, Lover, it will allow us to explore the park more…fully"
I parked on one of the streets surrounding the park and quickly opened Sookie's door for her. The street was almost deserted but I could hear music and lively conversation coming from just inside the park wall.
"Did you intend on getting us in the park or were you counting on me to do it?" I asked as we approached the closed gates.
"I wouldn't dream of having you break into the park on my behalf." She smiled and pulled me into a deep recess in the wall. The space was small and Sookie wrapped her arms around my neck. I leaned down to kiss her and my lips touched hers when I felt the rush of her power engulfing me as she transported us inside the park.
I kissed her deeply, lifting her up and moaning as her legs wrapped around my waist. I finally broke the kiss to allow her to breathe, taking in our surroundings.
We were standing inside a small Belvedere, fashioned after the temple of Vesta in Tivoli. The structure was situated on top of a cliff, affording a panoramic view of the city around it.
Sookie turned around in my arms to look at the view laying her head against my chest.
"This is one of my favorite spots in Paris." She said quietly.
"I can understand why…it's very peaceful. Have you been to the original Roman temple?"
"I have never been to Italy…but I hope to someday." We stood there for a while, watching the city lights twinkle below us and I allowed the soft sound of Sookie's breathing and the steady beat of her heart to wash over me, filling me with a sense of fulfillment. All was right in the world as I held her in my arms.
"Would you like to see the rest of the park?" Sookie finally asked, breaking the comfortable silence between us. I planted a soft kiss on her temple then moved aside.
She took my hand in hers, leading me to the other side of the small island where we crossed a bridge overhanging the small lake at the foot of the rocky hill.
When we reached the other side I turned around to look at the Belvedere from our new position, enjoying the sharp contrast between its classical, neat lines and light colored stone and the dark, sharp edges of the sheer rock face that supported it.
We turned right, soon reaching the entrance to a small grotto. A waterfall cascaded through a narrow opening in the rock at the far side of the rather high cavern. The grotto and the waterfall, like the rest of the park, were man-made but surprisingly that did not detract from their beauty.
"It's hard to imagine this was once a quarry." Sookie's voice seemed to linger in the cavernous space for a second. She had taken a few steps away from me to observe the cascading of the water.
"This area was distinctively less groomed when I was here last." I said as I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around her slim waist. Sookie closed her eyes briefly and I could feel her contentment at my touch.
"So you've been here before?" She asked, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
"Oh yes. This place has served many different purposes throughout the centuries. From the 13th century until the French revolution it housed the Montfacon gallows. The executions used to attract large crowds where a hungry vampire could always find a way to satisfy his hunger."
"Sounds lovely…" she said sarcastically and I smiled in response.
"During the restoration the area became the dumping ground for the garbage of the surrounding neighborhoods. It was really quite horrible before Napoleon III decided to turn it into a park."
"Were you here when the park was being built?"
"Yes, I was in Paris in 1866 when the park was still a work in progress and I took the time one night to examine what had already been achieved. It was an ambitious project and an impressive change from the area's previous state but what impressed me the most were the trees. Rare and exotic trees, some of which I have never seen before, as I had yet to make my way to North America, were brought from all over the world to populate the park. It was not an easy feat to accomplish and for a while it aroused great interest in France and beyond it."
Sookie sighed as she rested her head against my chest and we stood there a moment longer before leaving the grotto. We walked around the lake, admiring the trees draping over the water.
We turned left to make our way up through the trees until we reached the top of the hill. Sprawling lawns and well maintained flower beds covered this side of the slope flanked by a small wooded area on the right.
"You must be cold…and hungry. I'll fly us to 'Rosa Bonheur' if you show me where it is." She smiled, pointing at a small structure on the other side of the lake.
"I was not aware those still existed."
"What, Guinguettes? It seems they've been making a comeback."
"So it seems." I said as she wrapped her arms around me jumping up so her legs could wrap around my waist. I wanted nothing more than to peel off the soft layers of her clothes and bury myself inside her, but I could feel her shivering slightly, reminding myself that she felt the cold much more keenly than me.
"You will have to fly us back outside the park since the restaurant is fenced off, to prevent the guests from wondering the park after hours…" Sookie said and we both smiled.
I flew us down the hill, landing in the shade of the large wall of the park and we made our way to the gate where Sookie let the security guard inspect the content of her purse before we were allowed to proceed inside.
The restaurant had been very closely restored to its 19th century appearance. The small two-story building in the back was painted red and adorned with white window frames while the lower, rectangular building in front of it had white walls and columns, topped with a forest green, trellised frame. The one obvious concession to modern standards had been to connect the space in between the columns with windows and a door, which traditionally would have been left open.
Once inside I was pleasantly surprised to see the place retained much of its traditional atmosphere, a lively combination of a pub, restaurant and dance venue. We were quickly led to an open table and I could feel Sookie's relief at the pleasantly warm temperature inside.
Sookie ordered a light meal of soup and bread accompanied by a glass of wine and I chose a bottle of O Negative from a new brand I was not familiar with. The place was full but not crowded and had a very relaxed and informal air.
"It's nice isn't it?" Sookie asked as I was looking around.
I nodded, smiling at her obvious enjoyment. I took her hand in mine, caressing the soft skin of her wrist and palm and couldn't help the satisfied smile brought on by the small shiver that ran through her in response.
"Lovely." I said as my gaze finally alighted on her beautiful face. She smiled, returning my gaze, and we were silent for a few moments until the waitress returned with our order.
The blood I had ordered had a distinct aroma of herbs which was unusual, but tasted surprisingly nice.
Sookie seemed to be enjoying her food and I watched, mesmerized, as she slowly warmed up by absorbing the soup's heat, her complexion taking on a rosy glow.
"You truly are beautiful." I smiled at her, leaning across the table to caress the side of her neck with my fingers.
"Thank you." She said softly, lowering her gaze slightly.
"Should we ask for the check? It feels a little crowded here all of a sudden…" She asked quietly and I could feel her lust.
"Of course." I raised my hand, getting our waitress' attention and letting her know we wished to leave.
I paid, helping Sookie back into her coat and we quickly made our way back to the car. I turned on the heat so Sookie would be comfortable.
"Will you be staying with me tonight?" I asked, suddenly anxious that she might wish me to return her home.
She nodded emphatically and I relaxed in my seat. We drove in silence for a moment, my hand caressing her thigh.
"We have been spending an unusual amount of time together these past few days and I find myself reluctant to part with you, even for an evening," I said basking in the warmth of her smile. "There is an important event I am supposed to attend Friday evening and I was hoping you would agree to accompany me." I glanced in her direction.
"I would love to. What kind of event are we talking about?"
"It is the annual winter party given by Etienne Leblanc, one of my oldest friends and the vampire Sheriff of Paris." Sookie raised a shapely eyebrow in question. I interpreted it as a request for more information, so I continued.
"Invitations to Etienne's parties are extremely sought after. The guests are always interesting and the entertainment is unique."
"So most of the party guests are vampires?" She asked and I could feel her trepidation even though it didn't register on her face.
"Yes. But other supernaturals are invited, as well as some human companions. I doubt that any of the fae will be present though which is why if you decide to accompany me there are some precautions I would like to take." She gestured for me to continue.
"I would like us to exchange blood before the party. It is the only way I feel I can ensure your safety amongst my kind. Not only are you the most beautiful and enchanting woman I have ever met, which is sure to garner you significant attention at the party, you are also Niall Brigant's great-granddaughter. I fear that the combination would lead someone at the party to act rashly. If we were to exchange blood then everyone would have to recognize that you are mine and I would be well within my rights to eliminate any kind of threat to your safety." Sookie was silent for a few moments and I could tell from the turmoil of her emotions she was unsure about her response.
"You do not have to give me your answer now. You have until Friday to decide."
"Thank you. I appreciate your patience. I need to consider the implications and I don't want to make a hasty decision. Speaking of serious decisions…what is the dress code for this party?" She smiled playfully.
"I believe it is a black tie event." I said, smiling at her change of subject. I could not but appreciate her for wishing to deliberate before she made her decision. If she chose to accept my offer we would be one exchange away from forming a permanent bond, a prospect I was oddly excited about. It would behoove her to consider thoroughly whether this was something she wished to do.
"Oh, I don't know if I have anything…" She started saying then suddenly burst into laughter, shaking her head. It was my turn to raise a questioning eyebrow.
"My Gran gave me an early Christmas gift yesterday, a beautiful evening dress and a necklace." she stopped to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye and I looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to explain.
"She is extremely intuitive and always seems to have some inclination regarding things that haven't taken place yet. She said she had a feeling I might need them soon."
"That is a useful gift. Does that mean she approves of our…relationship?"
"She didn't seem to object when I told her about you. I couldn't quite decipher her reaction, but she did encourage me to acknowledge my…feelings…" She said, seemingly uncomfortable.
"Your grandmother sounds like a fascinating woman; I hope to meet her someday."
"I think I would like that." She smiled at me, resting her hand on mine.
"Oh, I need to call Claudine!" She exclaimed suddenly.
"Who is Claudine?"
"She is my cousin. She wants to become an angel but in the meantime she takes her job as my fairy god mother very seriously. She also runs a small and very exclusive boutique and carries the most amazing one of kind fashion miracles."
"It sounds like you and Pam have a lot in common. I think you would like her. She is very serious about her fashion and has all of her clothes from the past 350 years in storage, in mint condition." Sookie looked at me wide eyed, and I felt her shock and excitement.
"I've always been fascinated with historical fashion but there is so little of it left, I would love to see Pam's clothes sometime!" I chuckled at her enthusiasm.
"You can ask her when she gets here on Thursday. Pam is always ready to talk about clothes."
"I can't wait to meet her. Is she coming for the party?"
"Yes. She and Godric will both be attending. Pam never misses one of Etienne's parties but it has been a while since Godric graced one with his presence. I suspect his wish to meet you is the true reason for his arrival."
"Wow…what if he doesn't like me?" I could feel her apprehension at the thought of meeting my maker.
"That is not possible. Godric wishes for me to be happy and this is the happiest I have been in a millennia. He could not find fault with you for there is none to be found." I said, drawing near to the curb and parking the car near the entrance to my building.
I quickly helped Sookie out of the car and into the building. She was struggling with doubts and misgivings and I intended to do everything within my power to alleviate her distress.
When we were finally inside my apartment I took Sookie's coat from her, steering her into the large, plush sofa in front of the fireplace. I kneeled before her removing first one boot then the other.
As I massaged her feet, working my way up to her calves I could feel her tension dissipating and her muscles relaxing.
"Mmmm…" she moaned appreciatively, resting her head against the chair's back. "I could get used to this…" she said, closing her eyes.
"I was hoping you could. It is part of my plan to keep you here, with me, until further notice." I said, disguising the real extent of my wish for her to always stay by my side with a playful smile.
I slipped my hands under the hem of her dress, slowly running my fingers up the sides of her thighs to her waist where I found the edge of her warm tights pulling them down her legs in one swift motion, along with her panties.
Sookie's soft moan and the sweet scent of her arousal told me she approved but she remained perfectly still allowing me to continue my exploration of her delightful body.
I returned my attention to Sookie's now bare legs relishing the feel of her warm, smooth skin. I continued to massage her muscles until I could feel every last bit of tension released.
I picked her up effortlessly moving us both to lie on our sides, facing each other on the very large sofa. I kissed her slowly, reverently, content for now to allow our lips to be the only point of content between our bodies. I could not recall ever being moved to such extents by a mere kiss. Kissing Sookie at this moment felt like the only thing I could ever wish to do and I was unable to stop even if I wished to do so. I could not bring myself to see or feel anything but her taste, her scent, the delicious warmth radiating from her body barely touching mine, and I could feel my whole being rejoice in our touch. Sookie's hands went up to tangle in my hair and we both gasped when I finally pulled our bodies closer skimming her shoulder with my hand while the other trailed down her back to her utterly perfect and luscious ass.
Our kisses became fevered as I rolled Sookie on her back, freeing her from her dress and bra before swiftly disrobing myself and covering her small frame with my own. Sookie's warm hands trailed down my back as I kissed her again, slowly, passionately, feeling dazed and yet completely focused on the emotions I was experiencing. Sookie's small hand moved between us to position me at her entrance and I tried for a second to delay but was powerless to resist her wet heat. I looked into her deep blue eyes as I thrust inside her slowly and we both shivered with uncontrollable pleasure and desire. I was overwhelmed by the intensity of the emotion flowing between us as I caressed her face, her hair and every part of her body I could reach, our moans and sighs filling the room. It was as if our souls were touching and not simply our bodies. The sounds of our pleasure reached my ears as if they were coming from afar as wave after wave of emotion crashed over me. As we made love I surrendered myself completely, letting everything else beside my love for Sookie fade into the background. Sookie's orgasm, followed closely by my own returned me to my senses but we were so utterly engrossed in each other that it was only after Sookie's breathing had returned to normal that I noticed the change in our surroundings. The room around us disappeared completely, replaced by a star filled sky the likes of which I have never seen. The air was warm and a light breeze carried a sweet flowery scent on its wings. I had no clue as to where we were but could detect no immediate threat to Sookie or mine's well being. Sookie was silent but I could see a tear slipping from the corner of her eye and feel the turmoil of her emotions. I rolled to my back and embraced her in my arms, kissing her temple and running my hands down her back in an attempt to soothe her.
"älskling, gråt inte; vi är säkra." (Sweetheart, don't cry; we are safe.) I whispered, feeling her relax slightly in my arms.
"Eric…I don't know what to do…I have no control over this but I think I might know what's causing it and I'm afraid it will change things between us."
"There is nothing you can say or do that will change the way I feel about you." She sighed in response, burying her face in my chest before raising to a sitting position her eyes searching my face as if looking for something. Seemingly satisfied with what she found she inhaled deeply and I could feel her resignation.
"I've fallen in love with you. I didn't mean for it to happen; I didn't even think it was possible. I know we've just met, and I know you're only here for two weeks but…I love you and I think this has something to do with my feelings for you. It seems the stronger they get, the stronger this becomes." She said quietly, gesturing around us.
I felt her emotions: apprehension, relief and above all love swirled like the contents of a kaleidoscope inside me. It was as if she had finally allowed herself to feel, releasing the tight control she had been exercising on herself. When she took my blood I thought I caught a glimpse of her love but it was very brief as she soon fell asleep and I did not dare to hope her feelings truly matched mine so soon. I would have never pressured her, accepting whatever she chose to give at the pace she chose to give it, but I was elated that she seemed to feel as strongly about me as I did her. Sookie turned her face away from me and I suddenly realized that I had yet to respond to her statement. I sat up, taking both her hands in mine and drawing her gaze into my own.
"älskade…" (Beloved) I lifted her hands to my lips, kissing her fingers softly.
"I am over a 1,000 years old and I did not know I could feel this way. If what I feel for you is not love then I know not what is. I have not spoken these words in a very long time and never have I meant them the way I do now for I love you and now that I know what it feels like to be with you cannot bear the thought of returning to my former existence without you. I understand that you feel like you have no control over your magic but you are not alone. We will find a way." Sookie leaned forward resting her forehead against mine and I lay back down pulling her with me so I could wrap my arms around her. We stayed like that for hours, watching the starlit sky, until the effects of her magic faded and the room returned to its previous appearance.
"We will think about this tomorrow. It is time for both of us to rest." I said, lifting her in my arms as she nodded her consent carrying her to the bed and pulling the covers on top of us. I listened to her breathing and heartbeat even out as she fell asleep. I was so full of emotion I almost believed rest was impossible but as always, when the first rays of sun appeared in the sky, the ancient magic that animated my kind pulled me into my day rest. I fought it just long enough to whisper in Sookie's ear, hoping somehow my words of love would carry into her dreams, then I rested my head on the pillow and closed my eyes allowing the deepest sleep to carry me into oblivion.
*A guinuette is an open-air restaurant/bar/dance venue that was extremely popular in France in the 19'th century and up until the 1960's. It really is experiencing a come-back and the Rosa Bonheur is a real live guinguette located in the lovely Buttes des Chaumont park.
Even if inspiration is slow, it is still fueled by your reviews…