Chapter 14
SPOV
It was almost dark out when I heard the day man. He was driving and about to round the corner at the Compton property and was headed straight for Gran's. I looked down at Hunter whose mouth was covered in chocolate frosting from the cake we baked together and smiled.
"Let's get cleaned up, buddy. Mr. Burnham's almost here with your new things. Then I have to leave for work."
He looked up at me, eyes wide as saucers, and exclaimed, "Wow! You can hea wewwy faw!"
"You will too if you keep practicing like I taught you." I said, carefully picking him up so I wouldn't get any chocolate on my clothes and walked over to the sink.
I had on a pair of black slacks, a white button down shirt and was wearing my only pair of black pumps. My outfit was completely different from yesterday's pretty dress, carefully matched accessories and up do, but I ran out of appropriate dresses. Also, I figured since I was officially Eric's financial consultant, I might as well look the part.
The knock on the front door sounded just as we finished.
"Can I help you?" I heard Gran ask.
B: Why am I talking to Betty White? I want to see the slut my Masters are fucking.
"I have a delivery for Sookie Stackhouse."
S: Hunter, I'm going to need you to raise your shields like I taught you.
"Coming!" I said, placing Hunter on my hip and speed walking to the door.
B: Oh, I bet you will be, sugar tits. God, those are some Class A tits. I wonder if the Masters will share her if I ask nicely.
"Sookie Stackhouse?" The pig asked.
"Yes," I replied, readjusting Hunter so he was covering my chest.
H: Why, Aunt Sookie?
S: Because Mr. Burnham's thoughts are vile and inappropriate.
"We spoke earlier. I'm Bobby, here with your orders."
B: She needs to put the little shit down. I see fuck all with him in the way. I wonder who she fucks first. Maybe they all fuck her at the same time.
S: Now, Hunter!
I heard the door to his little mind slam shut.
"I know. Just bring everything inside." I ordered testily.
Gran looked fit to be tied but I squeezed her hand gently and shook my head. Understanding immediately dawned in her eyes and she turned to stare angrily at Bobby.
Fucking trailer trash slut, ordering me around. Who the fuck does she think she is? Fang banging whore needs to keep her trap shut and legs open. Alls she good for.
I gritted my teeth and waited for him to be out of hearing range before telling Gran, "His thoughts are so nasty I could puke!"
"Why don't you head to work now, dear. I'll tell him where everything belongs."
Daddy and Pam were less than a twenty minute drive away and less than half of that if they ran over. Their blood was also still in her system so they'd be able to detect if anything was wrong.
I looked at my watch. Bobby took longer than expected and I was running behind schedule after waiting for his arrival. "I need to get going anyway. Call me if you need me."
Gran patted my hand, "Don't you worry about me. Have a great night at work, sweet heart."
I placed Hunter down on the sofa, gave him a kiss on his head and ran into my room. After quickly running a brush through my hair, I grabbed my black purse and hurried out the kitchen door.
The drive to Shreveport was uneventful and before I knew it, I was pulling into Fangtasia's parking lot. I scanned the lot for hidden danger before unlocking my car and heading inside the bar.
The same group of girls from yesterday were here today and other than slight variations in their outfits, they looked pretty much the same; big hair, low necklines, lots of leg and sky high heels,
I spotted Belinda sitting on a stool doing nothing again and dipped into her head as I made my way over to her.
"Hey, Belinda."
Do I know her?
"How do you know my name?" She barked.
I checked the other women's minds but no one seemed to remember seeing me last night. I guessed the vampires glamoured them to forget what happened.
I gave her what I hoped was a genuine smile and said, "I'm Mr. Northman's financial consultant and will be observing the going ons at Fangtasia for the foreseeable future."
Why is she telling me this?
"What do you want?"
Another waitress, Ginger, looked up from sweeping and said, "Don't mind her. If you need help with anything or got any questions, just ask me. I been working here the longest and don't mind helping none."
"Thanks Ginger, I'll be sure to keep that in mind."
I mulled around for a bit and eventually ended up at the bar, washing the glasses and wiping the counter top. The girls didn't seem to be bothered by me intruding on their territory and in fact seemed glad that they had an extra hand. Belinda, on the other hand, was worried that I'd be waitressing later and splitting their tips.
I was in the middle of cutting garnishes when the vampires arrived. Daddy and Eric wore jeans and tees while Pam was dressed to the nines in a pretty black lace gown with a bustier top. Her hair was swept up in an elaborate up do, and her lips and nails were an eye catching blood red that emphasized her milky white skin.
Like the previous night, I greeted everyone with a nod. Unlike the previous night, Eric's eyes actually warmed upon seeing me before he gestured for us to follow him to his office. Daddy zipped over to give me a kiss on the top of my head and walked with me down the hall to the office.
I looked around for signs of a dead Long Shadow but saw nothing with my untrained eye. Unsure of where to sit, and frankly not wanting to after what I gleamed from Dawn's memories, I leaned against the door and crossed my feet at the ankles.
Pam, who was standing by the desk, gave me a once over and shook her head in disappointment.
"I tell you you have a clothing stipend and this is the best you can do? Sookie, Sookie, Sookie... Have you learned nothing from our years together?" She tsked.
I managed to stop an eye roll and replied, "I'm sorry, Pam. Next time I'll be sure to remember that dressing to please Pamela is higher priority than helping a two year old get settled in."
She nodded her approval. "I'm glad you see the error of your ways."
"Bobby brought everything over?" Daddy, sitting on the couch, looked up at me and asked.
I crossed my arms against my chest and huffed, "No clue, I didn't hang around long enough to find out."
"What'd he do?"
"He didn't do anything. It's the nasty things he was thinking that made me get out of Dodge ASAP."
"About you?"
"Me, y'all, him, all of us." I looked at Pam and asked, "Can glamour make someone less of a dick?"
An evil glint lit her eyes as she replied, "No, but I can glamour away the use of his dick."
I shook my head. "I don't see how that'll keep him from thinking inappropriate things around a telepath."
Eric, busy tapping away on his computer, offered, "Your father will glamour him to see the woman he respects most in his life instead of you." He then looked up at me, "The boy who now lives with you, you are fond of him, yes?"
I nodded.
"Then I advise you to make his father surrender his parental rights. Humans are... fickle. It would not be out of the realm of possibilities for him to try and reclaim the boy at a later date."
My eyes widened. I never even thought of that. "How do I do that?"
"A lawyer will contact you tomorrow with details." Eric replied, then turned his attention back to his computer.
"Thanks, Eric." I said gratefully.
He nodded, completely absorbed by whatever he was doing.
"How's Hunter settling in?" Daddy asked.
"So far so good. He's a great kid. And so smart too." I had a lot more I wanted to tell him, such as how I taught Hunter how to build a shield around his mind that Daddy taught me to build when I was a little girl and how quick he took to learning how to use it. But I couldn't. The knowledge of Hunter's disability was his to share, not mine. "When are you leaving?"
Daddy glanced at Eric who was still buried in his work and replied, "Soon, I wanna make sure you'll be alright before I take off with Pam."
I waved my hand dismissively, "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. You should really get going, it's getting late and almost his bedtime."
Daddy cast one last glance at Eric then got up, caught Pam's hand in his and walked over to the door. I moved out of the way, reassured him again that I was going to be fine without him, and watched them leave.
After five minutes of standing around and unsure of what to do now since Eric was still attached to his computer, I turned to leave when he ordered, "Stay."
Eyes narrowed, lips pursed, I quickly turned to glare at him. "You did not just ord-"
My words were cut off when his hand suddenly covered my mouth.
Head bent so we were at eye level, his blue eyes locked on mine as he murmured, "Wait," then zipped back to his seat, fixed his hair and resumed his work.
Next thing I knew, the door was shoved open behind my back, knocking me forward a few steps. Daddy and Pam zipped inside, Daddy with concern and suspicion on his face while Pam's looked positively gleeful. They took one look at Eric, who was still typing away unperturbed on his computer, and me, who they obviously dislodged from my position against the door, and the expressions on their faces swapped; Daddy's turned gleeful while Pam's became suspicious.
"What the hell?!" I yowled, rubbing my back.
"Forgot to kiss my baby girl goodbye." Daddy lied, then bent to do just that.
Pam's gaze swiveled back and forth between me and her maker then, scowling, she took Daddy's proffered hand and they zipped away again.
Combined, those two were over two hundred years old but they sure as hell didn't act like it. Lesson learned, I stepped far, far away from the door and walked over to examine the contents of Eric's bookshelf.
Head to the side reading the spine of a book, I was down on my haunches and completely focused in my task of deciphering Eric's reading habits when I found myself suddenly airborne.
I yelped and threw my arms around the nearest thing, which incidentally was Eric's neck.
"What are you doing?" I asked, unnecessarily since it became obvious when a mischievous smirk appeared on his face right before he leaned in and kissed me.
My arms tightened around his neck as my lips responded to his on them. Like last night, Eric spared no mercy and kissed me demandingly. I found my back against the door again as he spread my legs and wrapped them around his waist. My breath hitched at how good it felt to feel him against me, and my panties dampened. His fangs clicked into place and my pulse quickened.
God, it was so sexy to know I could elicit that kind of response from his body.
One hand under my ass, the other cupping my face, he ground into me. I gasped and his tongue swept into my mouth, exploring its depths. Tentatively, I touched my tongue to his and he slowed to match my pace. His soft lips lessened their pressure against mine and he allowed me to take the lead. My tongue flicked against his then slipped out to lick his lips. I sucked on his lower lip roughly and he gave my ass a firm squeeze. My tongue slipped back inside his mouth and licked the tips of his fangs. He growled. I felt it vibrate against my core and whimpered. His demanding nature took over and our movements grew frenzy. I sucked on his tongue as he ground himself harder against me and we both moaned.
My heart was beating a staccato rhythm, I wanted more. Eric seemed to be on the same page because he ripped open my shirt, buttons flying everywhere, and trailed kisses down my neck, across my collarbone, and on the swells of my breasts.
He groaned and turned to walk us over to his desk. Mouth sucking on a particularly sensitive spot on the side of my neck, he lowered my back onto his desk. My legs still locked above his hips, he ground into me, pushing my body against the desk.
Something about this stuck me as wrong, but too caught up in a sexual high, I ignored it and enjoyed the feel of his length against my hot core.
Eric flicked his tongue against the thin lace covering each of my nipples and pulled my bra straps down. He lowered the lace cups and lifted his head to look at my uncovered breasts.
"Perfect," he murmured.
He lowered his head to my breast, wrapped his soft lips around my nipple and sucked hard. I felt his fangs scrape against my flesh and moaned.
"Eric," I breathed; back arching, head thrown back in ecstasy.
He ground against me, pushing me higher on the desk and again, my mind protested the move.
It finally hit me why when my flaying arms knocked something glass onto the floor, shattering it.
Unlocking my legs from his waist, I placed my hands against his chest and pushed.
Too lost in his lust fueled haze, Eric didn't even notice and continued to lavish attention on my breasts.
"Eric," I said, shoving his chest hard now.
"Hmm?" He hummed, mouth full of breast, the sound vibrating down to my core.
I shivered and had to shake my head to regain focus.
"Get up," I said, holding his head still with both hands.
"Mm... Why?" His questioning blue eyes looking up at me.
"Because I want you to stop."
That got his attention.
He pushed himself up and gazed down at me with heat in his eyes. "Lover, you look delicious sprawled across my desk like a virgin offering."
Ignoring the presumptuous nickname, I quickly climbed off the desk and began fumbling with my bra. Eric, instead of helping, ran a finger down my side, brushing against the curve of my breast. I gently slapped his hand away and slipped my arms through the straps.
God, I was such an idiot! I almost had sex with a guy on his desk that he'd fucked plenty of other women on. I wasn't upset with him; he never presented himself as something other than what he was. I was upset with myself, for allowing myself to be just like the others; just another face, just another body, just another name. I wanted - no, I deserved better than that.
I held my shirt closed and turned to face him. Nibbling my bottom lip, I started to ask if he had a shirt I could borrow, then hesitated because I realized said shirt would've been left behind by one of his previous conquests. Remembering he had a gift shop, I walked over to my purse and pulled out a twenty dollar bill.
"Eric, can I buy a Fangtasia shirt from your store?"
His eyes danced in amusement. "Why do you need my permission?"
My face flushed and I looked down at my shoes. "I uh.. I'd appreciate it if you got it for me. I'd rather not have the other employees see me like this."
He straightened from his perch against his desk and pulled my hands down from their steely grip on my shirt. Hands pushing apart the shirt, he ran his fingers down the sides of my body - traveling slowly from my breasts, to my ribs, down to my waist, and finally to the flare of my hips.
He yanked my hips forward and my body fell into his. "I let my desires get the best of me," he paused to lift my chin up. Eyes searching mine for something, I didn't know what, he continued, "When I take you as my lover, it will be in my bed. You deserve more than a quick and easy romp in my office."
My heart sighed. He understood. I swallowed and looked down, afraid to let him see the relief, gratification and something else in my eyes.
Eric dipped his head and placed a soft kiss on the corner of my mouth.
"I'll be back." He murmured against my lips, and disappeared.
He returned just as quickly with a women's black Fangtasia tee and helped me put it on after he happily removed my dress shirt.
Grabbing a notepad and pen from his desk, he handed them to me, said, "Write down what you hear," and opened the door.
He strolled past his adoring customers and onto the dais where he sat on a huge throne befitting a king. It was showy and over the top but the masses loved it judging by their cheers and squeals. Ignoring them all, I scooted into an empty booth and began sifting through everyone's thoughts.
Lust.
Envy.
Gluttony.
Sex.
Sex.
Sex.
It was like a roll call for the deadly sins.
One fang banger crawled onto the dais, licked Eric's boot then quickly scampered away.
I wanted to barf.
Other than the people having sex in the bathrooms and the vampires feeding on them, nothing happened for over half an hour.
Then, I heard it.
My head jerked up to look at Eric. His eyes were already on mine and looked at me questioningly. I looked at the notepad and quickly jotted down what I heard.
This was bad. Real bad. I had no illusions that if the knowledge of what I'd heard got out, I'd be a dead woman walking.
I looked back at Eric, my eyes begging, pleading with him to either come over or summon me to his office. I knew he wouldn't turn me away if I went up to him but I wasn't suicidal. I knew doing so would draw unwanted attention to myself when I, more than anything else, needed to stay invisible and under the Queen and other vampire's radar.
Eric stood and gestured for a tiny female vampire to take his spot on the throne. She did not look pleased. Then he made his way back to his office.
I waited five minutes, scribbling something else I'd heard, and tried not to appear too anxious as I made my way past several vampires and down the hall to Eric's office.
My heart was pounding by the time his door closed behind me.
"Can anyone hear us?" I whispered.
Eric got up from behind his desk, locked the door, then strode over to his stereo and turned the music on loudly. I belatedly recalled thinking that Pam was right; he did listen to rap music because Jay-Z was telling me that "ladies is pimps too" and that I should go and brush my shoulder off. I had no fucking idea what that meant but I suddenly had this insane urge to toss some salt over my shoulder and do as he said.
Taking my hand, Eric led me to the couch and pulled me down onto his lap.
"What did you hear?" He murmured against my ear.
Instead of answering him, I picked up the notebook and handed it to him.
I knew what it said.
That some of his vampires were having sex in the bathroom stalls with his customers. That most, if not all, of his customers imagined either having sex with him or someone else having sex with him. That more than five of his regulars were unhealthily attracted to him. That more than a dozen of them tried stalking him to find his resting place. That Belinda was considering skimming from the cash register again.
And I knew, from the way his eyes shot up to stare at me, that he now knew that I heard a vampire's thoughts.
And I also knew, from the way his arms tightened slightly around my hips, that he now knew that the vampire I'd heard was sent from the Queen to procure me.
A/N: did I just write what you think I did?
*ducks and hides behind the Viking*
E: The fish knows what it's doing, leave it alone. You will enjoy what she has planned for the procurer.
what? You don't believe him?!
*pokes big bad vamp*
psst, down here, big guy! She says she doesn't believe you!
E: *flashes you panty melting smirk* The fish will write it, and you will enjoy it. Why? Because how else will you see my Gracious Plenty in this fic? *wags eyebrows*