Chapter 8 –
I found out Bill wasn't kidding about the office needing some repairs. Alcide, true to his word and Bill's, told me he'd do all the work for free. I wondered if Bill was making him pay for showing up in my bed naked, or if he just liked screwing with the big Were. For his part, Alcide told me he could have it operational in two weeks and then come back and do touch-ups after I moved in and worked out how to set up shop and decorate.
The one thing that made him raise one sexy, arched brow was my request for a custom made sign.
Lucky for him, he had the good sense not to ask too many questions. He'd have the sign ready night after next.
The spa treatment ROCKED! If I'd known how wonderful facials and foot rubs felt, I would have gotten one years ago. Plus, Sam had me request one of the closeted two-natured aestheticians so I wouldn't have to work so hard staying out of her head.
That was thoughtful.
I got home late in the afternoon and spent some time tidying up the house. I slipped into a sexy sundress and fiddled with my hair. I wanted to do it up, but then I remembered how much Bill enjoyed having it drape over my shoulders. He could brush it himself again, if he wanted. Thinking about that made me think about our first time, my first time, and made me all hot and bothered again.
God I hope he does something about that!
I decided to grab a glass of tea and wait for him on the front porch. I had a little fondue pot of warm water and I set the bottle of Royalty in it so it would warm. He walked out of the woods at human speed, which I found to be a bit disappointing. I mean, I'd have run to him at Mach 3 last night if I could have. Still, I guess I understood his caution. I'll admit that from his perspective, which I'd considered a lot today, I could be pretty unpredictable. Maybe that's why he liked me, though I'm sure the boobs didn't hurt, or the Fae blood. I sighed. He loved me because I'd always accepted him without fear or judgment, at least until things went wrong between us. I wondered why he never gave up. I'd have to ask him that.
"Good evening, Sookie. How are you feeling?"
"Fine. Better than fine, actually. Why don't you have a seat? Sam brought over some Royalty as a way of saying thanks."
Bill walked over and sat down next to me on my porch swing. He grabbed glass and took a long draw, obviously enjoying the taste. I got a little lost in watching him swallow. After savoring his beverage, he looked at me carefully. "You're relaxed. Sam thanked you as well?"
One arched brow rose and I braced myself for a fight. You smell like him. It echoed through my brain, the jealous mantra of a territorial Vampire. Mine! Of course, the thought of him with Lorena, or worse, with Sela, had given me a taste and then some. I held my breath and waited. Then Bill did the most amazing thing.
He laughed.
I stared at him, dumbfounded.
"What?"
"I'm just surprised, is all. I thought you'd be . . . mad."
He chuckled again. "Sam mentioned something about a spa trip, a card, and lifetime designation as employee of the month. You thought I'd be jealous."
"Yeah. You kinda have that M.O., you know?"
"I know. I've been working on it."
I felt a little bit warmer inside and out. "Good to know. Guess you're never too old to grow, huh?"
"No, you never are. So . . . truth or dare, Sookie?"
"What? Oh no you don't, Bill Compton! I believe it's my turn!"
"I call bullshit on that, Sweetheart. I did, if you recall, give into the dare you issued with your eyes and body. It's not my fault your boss called." He gave me a wicked, wicked smile that smoldered like pure sin laced with the smug bastard's ill-gotten triumph.
"That's so not fair!"
"Chicken."
"Am not!"
"Then man up or shut up."
"I'm a woman!"
"I am very, very well aware of that."
"Fine! Dare!"
He gave me a huge, fangy grin. Finally, finally I just knew he was gonna let me have it. All of it. Any which way I wanted it and some ways I probably hadn't even thought of. I could see the hard outline against his tight pants and I swear my mouth watered.
"Close your eyes, Sookie."
"Bill?"
"Yes, darling?"
"What in the holy hell are we doing out in the middle of the woods this time of night, and why do you have a boom box? And, Jesus Christ Shepherd of Judea, are you wearing waders?"
Once my eyes had adjusted to the darkness, I realized that Bill fucking Compton had not, in fact, carried me back to his house so he could fuck me until I fainted. He'd carried me, Vampire speed, to one of the wider creek beds in the woods out back of our land and he'd put on waders.
He pointed to a pair next to me on the bank and said, "You can put on a pair, too, if you like, but I'll bet we're going to have to get wet anyway. Maybe we should just go naked."
"Bill, um, I'm all about skinny dippin' honey, but that creek is full of gators, snappers, and probably a few water moccasins. I'm not immortal, you know?"
"Turn on the music."
"What?"
"Sookie, I love you. I love you more than life itself, or in my case, existence. But you are working my last good nerve and that is a very dangerous thing to do to a vampire. You wanted me to laugh with you more, you wanted us to have more fun, and you took my dare. Turn. On. The. Goddamned. Music."
Oh my. Commanding Bill. I could definitely cream my panties for that. I walked as daintily as I could over uneven ground and hit play. I had just pulled my shirt over my head when I heard the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band wailing for all the damned woods to hear.
Shinin' through the trees
Crickets are singin' and lightning bugs
Are floatin' on the breeze baby get ready
Across the field where the creek turns back
By the old stump row
I'm gonna take you to a special place
That nobody knows baby get ready
You and me go fishin' in the dark
Lyin' on our backs and countin' the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moonlight
We'll be fallin' in love in the middle of the night
Just movin' slow
Stayin' the whole night through
It feels so good to be with you
I froze.
I fell over.
I laughed so fucking hard I thought I'd pass out. Or piss myself. I wasn't sure. When he stood over top of me with a shit-eating grin and a big ass catfish latched onto his arm, I lost it all over again.
"You liked the show. I thought you might enjoy noodling yourself. It's pretty crazy," he said, looking at the ginormous fish attached to his arm, "but I have to admit, it works better than the homemade stick rods I used to fish with."
"William Thomas Compton. I love you. I'd have to love any man or Supe who would go to such lengths to win me over!"
His grin got a lot wider and fangier. He tossed the catfish aside and grabbed me not so gently so he could pull me against his cool, hard body. His gaze burned into mine, but he didn't move. He waited. He was waiting for me.
"Bill, kiss me."
"Ask me, Sookie."
"Bill, will you kiss me?"
"Beg me, Sookie."
His voice dripped with sensuality, and though I have a lot of pride, I sensed that my humiliation was not what he sought. He wanted to know how badly I wanted him, needed him. He needed to know that before he'd put his heart back on the line.
"God, Bill, please. I need your lips on mine. Please kiss me, please, please . . ."
It was only a whisper, but it was enough. He swallowed the last of my pleas with his cool lips that soon turned to fire as they slid across mine. God, could he kiss. He teased my lower lip with his tongue and his fangs, grazing sensitive skin without breaking it. God, I was dying. When he slid his tongue into my warm and waiting mouth, I swear I felt it in my toes.
I ran my fingers through that dark hair as I tried to pull him closer. Kissing was heaven. Kissing Bill made me feel like I'd either explode or I would melt into a puddle at his feet.
Pretty soon, kissing wasn't nearly enough.
I wrapped one leg around him and tried to press myself against him, my aching center seeking sweet friction, but then I remembered what he still wore. As horny as I was and had been for more than 24 hours, I just couldn't help my fit of giggles. I mean, seriously, you can't get all hot and bothered when your man is sporting waders.
I thought he might get mad at me, but to my surprise he joined me in a fit of laughter. It was dark, but enough light came from the moon and the boom box display that I could not mistake the transformation on my vampire's face. He seemed so . . . free. I'd never, ever seen him laugh with such abandon.
It was beautiful.
"Let's pack up and get back to my house," he said between chuckles.
The look in his eyes let me know that my wait was most definitely over.
A/N – And your wait, dear fellow Bill-Shippers, is almost over as well. Next chapter. I swear.