I DO NOT OWN THESE CARACTERS, I only play around with them. Reviews are ALWAYS welcome, And I am in need of some serious beta-help! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

I am SO screwed, Sookie thought. So, so SCREWED. Her boss, Eric Northman, was by far the most beautiful and sexy man she had ever seen. Everything about him was perfect, from his short, blond hair all the way down his considerable height to his bare feet (huge as they were). She took him in, all of him, and felt her cheeks flush as he did the same to her. He was wearing a snug-fitted short-sleeved black shirt and dark blue jeans, hung low. His gaze dropped, and as he turned from her motioning her to follow, she got a perfect view of his equally perfect ass. Another mental shake later, she managed to command her body to start moving, and she trailed him into a living room, dominated by a stone fireplace with a blazing fire going on. The walls of the room were painted in eggshell-white and the couches were leather, dark and expensive. Without a word, he directed her to sit in one couch, as he sat down in an armchair opposite her. While the soft leather of the couch seemed to swallow her up, he looked like he could rule a country from his seat. She was tired, jet-lagged and hungry as hell, and sitting opposite this gorgeous man didn't help her ability to form coherent sentences, or ever single words for that matter. Sookie had no idea of what to say, so she stayed silent. Eric locked his eyes to hers again, and she felt like a big-eyed doe staring into the headlights of an approaching car.

"So you made it here ok?" Eric's voice sounded hoarse when he finally spoke. "How do you like Sweden so far?"

"So far" she answered him "I like it a lot. Everyone's been real friendly and helpful. Thank God most seem to speak English. I bought a dictionary before I left Bon Temps, but I'm afraid my knowledge of Swedish is pitiful, to say the least."

"You'll get the hang of it, I'm sure. As my assistant you will obviously have to learn eventually, but much of my business is conducted in English, so the language will be no issue. I wouldn't have settled on an American assistant otherwise." He paused, and swept his gaze over her body and returned to her eyes. "Pam holds you in high esteem."

She wasn't sure of what to answer to that, so she just nodded with a smile. "Mr. Northman could I…"

"Eric."

"Um… Eric" she could feel herself blush just by saying his name. What was it about him? Sookie felt like she was about to lose it, so she gave herself another mental shake before continuing. "Mr. Northman, Um, Eric, I was just wondering… Where exactly will I be working?"

"Here, of course" He didn't seem surprised by her question. "Look, Sookie… May I call you Sookie? I know that this might seem a bit odd to you, but I do most part of my business from here, because I like it here. This house is both my home and my office, and it will be to you too." He looked a bit sheepish as he added "I know we are far out, but everything we need is right here. Janne is my only other employee living here, well… um… not in the house, he's got… I mean, he lives in a cottage a few minutes in to the forest…" Eric's voice seemed to faint a bit and he seemed to be… Blushing? Could that be? Sookie was bewildered. What is he…? Then it daunted on her. Her boss had just told her that they would not only be working together at this house, they would both live here… alone. No one else. Just her and the big blond Viking God. Yikes.

After some small talk, he bid her to follow him around, for the grand tour of the villa. He showed her the office-areas first, where she would have a large space just outside his office, which was just huge and impressive all the way. He made sure she understood how to handle the different computer programs, fax and telephone lines. He proceeded up to her part of the house, opening the door to the sitting room next to her bedroom. "This is your area, to use at your own comfort. There's a plasma-screen hidden behind that panel" he pointed with a large, large hand. Was everything big and huge with this guy? Sookie couldn't help but wonder and she felt herself flush yet again. I wonder if something else is big as well? And I wonder if killing that wonder right now would not be the smart thing to do? Suddenly, Sookie could feel the world around her spin and shift, and the next thing she knew, she was laying on the floor, huge arms safely wrapped around her and staring into a wide ocean of blue eyes.

"Sookie? Sookie, what happened? Are you ok? Say something, damn it!" Eric's voice was full of concern, and his palm cupped her cheek, stroking it gently.

"What? Uhmm… What happened? Did I faint? I have never fainted in all my life!" This was so embarrassing. Sookie could feel her heart rate and blood-pressure pick up immediately, as she realized she was in the arms of this gorgeous man. Her boss. HER BOSS! She scrambled up on her feet as quick as she could, but of course her head spun again. Before her knees could buckle once more, Sookie felt the strong and firm and hot arms of Eric pick her up, wedding day-style and sweep her off her feet. Eric carried her through the villa, into an area they had yet to visit, the kitchen. As everything else here, it was huge and exquisite. He carefully sat her down in one of the chairs, and knelt beside her.

"I'm so sorry, Sookie." Eric's soft eyes met hers as he held one of her hands. "I should have fed you before. I mean… I should have made sure that you got something in your system before you had to tour the house. You haven't eaten in a while, right?"

Again, Sookie was lost in his gaze, and for the love of everything holy, she could not form a response to his question. The scent of him, while he carried her, and now, as he sat close by her side, was almost intoxicating. She could do nothing but stare in to his eyes and try to restrain herself from leaning in those last couple of inches to inhale even more of this delicious man. Even at her weakened state she could feel herself getting damp and her core contracting with anticipation. She wanted to raise her hand and run her fingers through his hair. She wanted to taste those delicious lips and the wanted the feel of his hands on her. She wanted him.

With a power of will she hadn't known she possessed, she restrained herself, and dug up an answer.

"I think… Maybe on the plane… At least one of the planes. Can't remember. Sorry."

"Stay here, don't dare to get up. I'll fix you something to eat." Mr. Northman, The Boss, surfaced as he stood and walked to the fridge. Sookie felt herself get lost at the sight of him as he rummaged around the kitchen, getting a pots and pans from the cabinets and drawers. It was like watching a wild beast, all male and vigor, just barely concealed under the surface of the man. He seemed to occupy the room, spacious as it was. She had to remind herself to breath once in a while, or she would faint again. How was it possible to feel such a craving for a man she had just met? A man she hardly knew, and more importantly, a man she was going to work for? Boss, remember? Get a grip, Sookie! What if he noticed? He would have me out of here in the wink of an eye!

"Normally, Janne does all the cooking for us, breakfast, lunch and dinner. There's always food ready, and feel free to take whatever you want, meals are embedded in your pay, as well as board, as you know." He presented her with a plate with what could pass as scrambled eggs, she supposed. He must have noticed her questioning look, because he looked a bit sheepish as he added "I'm not much of a cook, I confess. Without Janne, I would survive on sandwiches alone." He smiled, a genuine and cute smile tugging only the left part of his wonderful lips. "I hope it's edible, at least."

Hungry as she was, she could and would have eaten a horse, but the eggs tasted fine and she ate them fast. After devouring her food, she looked up at Eric to thank him, finding him staring at her, his gaze almost starving. He was taking her face in, as if he was not only looking at it, but stroking it at the same time. His eyes seemed deeper than before, still blue as ice, but fiery at the same time.

"What?" Sookie's voice came out thin and shivering, and she could not turn away from his stare. When he didn't answer, she could feel herself blushing once again, and she couldn't help wondering if this was to become her usual skin tone during her stay in Sweden. "Eric, what?"

He shook his head almost invisibly and turned to face the darkness outside the kitchen window. She could see his reflection and the look of grim resolution on his face. A smirk appeared, and he cocked an eyebrow as he turned to face her again.

"Ready for bed?"