a/n Here's chapter 4, lovely readers! Thanks a million for the reviews - I love reading them!! I hope you all are having an awesome Saturday! (I speak in exclamation points a lot in RL, too.... sorry...)

a/n Once again, to the amazing Northwoman - you're the best beta a girl could ask for! I mean it!

Chapter 4

Eric's POV

To say that I wanted her is an unjust understatement. The erection she had influenced days ago had hardly been absent at all and it was back in full force now as she stood mere inches from me smelling of innocence and arousal. I knew I was treading on slippery ground with her, though, and I didn't want to push. Too much. I knew being a vampire was pushing it as it was, and I said so.

She nodded, her eyes widening. "I do like you, Eric," she said breathily. "I want to see you again, but I think I may be at my limit tonight. Walk me home?"

It was a question; like she wasn't sure I would. "Of course," I said, reaching for her hand. I needed her to feel safe with me if she was ever going to agree to keep seeing me, much less to working for Sophie-Anne.

We walked in silence for a few moments; she seemed to be working up the courage to say something when she finally blurted, "Do your fangs come out because you're hungry?" and looked back down at her feet.

I grinned. "Yes, and no. I am very old, Sookie, and I do not need much blood to survive." How to explain that the reason my fangs made an appearance tonight was the same reason for my raging hard on? "For vampires, arousal and feeding are intertwined; they usually happen together. So, while I am not necessarily hungry for blood, my body reacts similarly when other hungers surface."

Blood seeped into her face only a little slower than a look of understanding; her blush made her look even more delectable. I saw her eyes dart down toward my groin then back up again. "That hardly seems fair," she said. "Men have enough trouble hiding their feelings when it comes to that and now you've got two more little signs, right in your face."

I laughed. "I've honestly never thought of it that way." Most women don't take the time to look north again when I'm aroused. Then again, I was quickly learning not to measure Sookie Stackhouse by the same ruler I used for every other woman.

"You make me hungry, too," she said all in a rush. "Since you can't see mine, it's only fair."

I could only grin in response. I knew that she was turned on by her smell, of course, but hearing her say it… fuck. I don't think Fangtasia has enough blondes to keep me occupied until I can have the one I want. By this time we were back at her grandmother's house. I led her up to the steps and could feel her hesitate to walk away. She had gone up a stair or two, so she was looking me right in the eye when she turned around suddenly.

"Eric, I. . ." was all she got out of her mouth before I kissed her again. This kiss was the one I should have given her the last time, one I knew would leave her breathless. As I slipped my tongue between her lips, she sighed and leaned into me.

The feeling of her body pressed against mine, her small warm hands in my hair, the taste of her in my mouth was the best kind of torture. . . Keep it under control, Viking I told myself. Sookie Stackhouse is a lady, not a fangbanger. She will be worth every agonizing minute of patience. I had to keep the images of things I'd like to teach her out of my head.

She pulled back for breath and I looked into her eyes. "I will see you again, Sookie."

She nodded. "Do you want my number?" she asked.

I want your everything. "Yes. I will call you." Pam had said that's usually how it worked. I pulled my cell phone out and programmed in the number she recited. I kissed her again, soft and sweet this time. "I should go." And leave her wanting more.

She nodded. "Good night, Eric. I'll talk to you soon."

I turned and walked back to my Corvette slowly enough to let her enjoy the view. If there was something I knew I could do, it was entice a woman. She walked into the house as I turned the engine over and began the drive back to Shreveport.

On the way, I made several phone calls pertaining to Area business and returned a call from Sophie-Anne. "She has agreed?" the queen answered.

Not exactly to working for you. "She is open to the option. I will have her come to my bar for negotiations. Can you have some paperwork drawn up and sent over by the end of the weekend? I think it will make a stronger case."

"Sending my best sheriff wasn't a strong enough case?" she said unbelievingly.

"She is not aware of vampire politics, my queen; most humans are not, as you recall. I am hoping to introduce her to the idea at Fangtasia." I paused and then asked, "What if she refuses?" hoping it would lead where I wanted to go.

"Is that a possibility?" Sophie-Anne asked sharply.

"Like I said, my queen, I think it best not to push her. She could be a very valuable asset with the proper deal," I answered honestly. A deal worthy of her talents.

"Then offer her a deal she cannot refuse. If the terms drawn up in the paperwork sent to you is not good enough, you have my permission to amend it. Be reasonable." There we are – just what I was aiming for.

"Of course, my queen. I am always reasonable."

"Which is certainly one of the reasons you're still alive after a millennium," she said shrewdly then disconnected. She liked to keep me in my place, but only enough to remind me she was older and wiser. Sophie-Anne was one of the best vampire monarchs in the US; she had to be to keep New Orleans under control. I knew she trusted me to broker the deal with Sookie, and I trusted only myself to give her the terms Sookie would undoubtedly earn.

When I stepped into Fangtasia, Pam met me in my office. "How was your date, Master?" She had been having quite a good time teasing me about my evening with Sookie.

"My evening was lovely. Sookie's grandmother is charming – she could give you a lesson, that's for sure," I said, sitting in my desk chair and powering up my computer.

Pam rolled her eyes. "I have breasts – I need no charm," she retorted, which I supposed – all things considered – was true. "Did she at least let you kiss her this time?"

Oh yes. I nodded, remembering the feel of her warm lips against my cooler ones. "She gave me her phone number, too," I said, too late recalling this would be more fodder for mockery.

Pam scoffed. "How many phone numbers do you want? I guarantee you could get at least a dozen by just walking out into the bar, Eric. What is it about this girl?" she demanded, her eyes flashing. Pam sees no need to court the favor of only one when she might have the favor of very many.

That very question puzzled me. What was it about Sookie Stackhouse that made me feel centuries younger? "She is an assignment from the Queen, Pamela," I answered. The official line is sometimes the best, no matter its validity.

Unfortunately, Pam didn't buy that one little bit. "Yeah, right," she muttered. "Do you want another blonde tonight, Master?"

No, I want a particular blonde. I shook my head. "How long before I can call?"

Amazed, Pam just shrugged. "I would imagine that 1:00 am is too late. Master, I do not want you to come to harm because of a stupid girl; you are too. . ." she began, but cut off when I growled low in my chest, standing and pounding my fists on my desk.

"Sookie is not stupid," I spat. "You will not speak of her in such a manner, Pamela, and will show her every respect you would show anyone in the employ of your queen, and your sheriff."

Pam lowered her eyes and whispered, "Yes, Master." After I sat back down and calmed myself, she added in a mutter, "She better be worth it, Eric. You deserve the best."

"She may very well be the best, Pam," I said, feeling every word resound in my head. It had been more than 1000 years since I had felt so alive.

Sookie's POV

Gran didn't even say a word when I reentered the house and walked to the couch in a daze. I sat down and leaned back, closing my eyes to help me remember the vampire's mind-numbing kisses. After a few moments of silence, I said, "He's nice, don't you think, Gran?"

She looked up from the quilt squares she was making. "Oh yes, Sookie. He was very gentlemanly. And so handsome! Do you think you like him, dear?"

Mostly I just thought about him taking off my clothes. "Maybe," I said. "It's too early to tell – I barely know him." Which meant it was way too early to be removing clothes.

"Do you think you'll let him bite you?" she asked calmly.

I blushed, remembering his explanation of the appearance of his fangs earlier. "Gran, how would I know? That seems scary," I said, hoping to cover up my flush.

She nodded. "I don't think he'll hurt you, Sookie. You deserve a real nice man; and one you can't hear," she added, gesturing toward her head.

I grinned and winked at her. "Are you telling me to get involved with a vampire, Gran?"

She laughed, her eyes twinkling. "I'm telling you that you deserve to be happy, same as everyone else. If it's a vampire makes you happy, then so be it."

"You know, I read in the newspaper about some people saying that vampires are evil and that God wants us to kill them all," I said. Apparently, there were big groups of these people concentrated here and there, causing all kinds of trouble for the sunlight challenged.

Gran furrowed her brows and shook her head. "Seems to me that if they're here, God must have created them. And Jesus teaches us to love, not hate and kill," she said.

"I think you're right, Gran," I said as I got up; I was tired and my time with Eric had given me so much to mull over. I kissed her on the cheek. "I'm going to go take a shower. Good night."

"Good night, Sookie."

I walked into my room to grab some pajamas, then down to the end of the hall into my bathroom. I turned the shower on, knowing it would take a few minutes to warm up. As I stepped out of my dress and slid my panties down my legs, I remembered the feel of Eric's hands on my waist, my neck, my face; the feel of his lips against my own. I closed my eyes and envisioned his face right after our kiss on the steps, looking like he was holding back. I pulled the hair tie out my hair, shook it out over my shoulders and stepped into the hot stream of water.

There were many things I needed to think about: the opportunity and task of using my telepathy to make money – money that would help repair our roof and pay our property taxes; working at Sam's bar – I had to pull a double tomorrow and needed a good night's sleep before it; my brother's debauchery and the trouble it was bound to get him in. But, as I slid my hands down my wet body, I decided that could all wait.

Eric had earned my thoughts tonight.

a/n has Eric earned your thoughts (or at least a review or two)?? :-)