Packing

Two days later, I was managing to preoccupy myself with busy work, as I made arrangements to return to the UK. Booking flights, sorting out a hotel and of course, the dreaded packing of the suitcase, which I'd deigned suitable for tonight's task. Especially considering how I probably wouldn't be able to sleep again this evening.

Since the night I'd hidden from the vampire peering in through my windows, I'd struggled resting. The figure hadn't been Eric and it hadn't been Bill. Neither of them would have been looking though my windows; they were both invited. I had a horrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that told me I knew exactly who had been violating my privacy. Stephan.

I'd managed a couple of hours sleep yesterday in the daytime, when the vampires were dead to the world, but other than that I'd been relying on caffeine to keep me awake enough to react should I be attacked in my own home.

It had turned to dusk around an hour ago, and I dreaded the onset of night to come. Neither Eric nor Bill had contacted me, which in truth wasn't all that uncommon, especially Bill, with his preoccupation with his 'work' of late. I bottled the irrational feeling of envy which suddenly overcame me and pondered another question that had been weighing on my mind. Considering the circumstances, Eric, or Pam at the very least, should have been in touch. I still had the bulk of the substantial wad of cash that Eric had left for me in Dallas, and I'm ashamed to say it was burning a hole in my pocket. I was longing to return it to him, though a part of me screamed that I was just longing for him. I hadn't had anymore dreams, and even if logically that was because I hadn't slept, sadistically I missed them.

I grabbed the phone and ordered myself a pizza. There was an ace little pizzeria that did home deliveries a few blocks over, or so Mrs Wilson had told me this morning, when she'd insisted on helping me tidy up the house, so I figured I'd try one before I returned to England.

A little while later, just as I was getting to a crucial part in the Tetris chaos of my suitcase packing, the doorbell went. I looked at the suitcase disdainfully, sighed at it and left it where it lay on the bed to retrieve my pizza. As I grabbed my purse from my bag on my way, the doorbell impatiently rang again.

"Ok, ok I'm coming," I spoke loudly as I opened the door, my face dropped as it swung ajar.

"So soon lover, but I haven't even begun?" the pleasure was written all over his face.

I let out a stifled sigh and rolled my eyes. He looked entirely delectable tonight, with his new hair. He wore flip flops, jeans and a green tee under his black leather jacket.

"Not inviting me in?" Eric asked with a smile.

"You're already invited, you know that," I replied coolly, turning on my heal leaving him at the threshold and returned to my packing. I heard the front door close and Eric followed into the bedroom after me.

"So this is where you sleep," he said as I folded and placed clothes in my little case.

I stopped what I was doing and turned to him, "What are you here for?" I said rather shortly, as he leaned in the doorway and grinned at me, "Seriously Eric, I've got a lot to do."

He stepped forward towards the end of the bed, "You have had a visitor," he stated. I looked at him questioningly, "I can smell a vampire's scent outside."

I nodded, "When I walked home from Fangtasia the other night, he was on the porch looking though my windows."

"Stephan?"

"I think so," I paused, "Should I be worried Eric?"

He leaned over to stroke my cheek, as I looked up at him with concerned eyes, "Not yet. He is looking into you because I would not let him at the bar."

"I thought maybe it was you, or Bill, but you're both invited so…"

"Don't worry yet lover," he said softly and leaned in to brush his lips against mine. I returned his advances for a brief second before my senses took hold of me and I reared back from him. He frowned at me.

"Have you released the guy in your dungeon yet?" I asked changing the subject abruptly.

He rolled his eyes and took to inspecting my keepsakes on the dresser, "Yes. This evening actually."

"Good. You get what you needed?"

"In a matter of speaking."

"That's very cryptic Eric."

"Sookie stayed the day at the club. She discovered him," he replied casually.

I raised an eyebrow, "Oh…What are you doing here with me if she's at the club. Surely you should be convincing her that she should be yours?" The sarcasm was out of my mouth before I could wonder whether it was a good idea.

Eric paused from his prying, placed down the picture of myself and Jack on our wedding day, and blipped over to me, "What was that, Evie?" he asked firmly, his eyes fixed on my face.

I held my ground, "I just mean that you're fond of her so why are you here, if she's there?"

His hand caressed my arm as he let the tension of the moment build, "Sookie is Bill's," he replied eventually.

I looked at him insolently, "I'm sure that's never stopped you before."

My comment brought a smile to his lips, "For somebody so young, Evie, you have a certain wisdom about you."

"Hmm," I smirked, "Is it that why you never answer my questions?"

"I couldn't possibly know what you mean," he retorted and pulled me to him. Cupping my face in his hands, he kissed me, and I relented. I hated to admit it but I needed the company tonight; his company, his touch, his caress, the safety of his presence. Alarm bells went off in my head, telling me I had to stop this before I got in too deep but then our lips pressed together, his tongue explored my mouth, found mine and began dancing. I ran my tongue along his teeth and felt the beginnings of his fangs growing. I felt a stir in my nether regions as a hand slipped down my back and tucked into the waistband of my jeans.

The doorbell rang.

Eric groaned as I pulled away from him and he reluctantly released his grip. I trotted to the door with a small victory smile, grabbed my purse and cautiously retrieved my pizza from a tall, lank haired, spotty teenager, dressed poorly in his cheap nylon uniform. Eric was in the kitchen as I returned, locking the front door after me.

"You mind?" I asked, "I'm starving."

"Go ahead," he answered, observing me carefully.

I went to grab a can from the fridge and noticed the Tru Blood bottles still there.

I picked one up and waved it at him, "I don't suppose you want one?" He shook his head no.

I shrugged and swapped it for a Coke and took the first swig with some vitamins from the cupboard, then perched myself on the kitchen side and tucked in to my double pepperoni with extra pineapple.

"So," I said, finishing a mouthful, "Why was Sookie at the bar all day?"

"She was injured," Eric answered, watching me eat every bite, "Mauled by something large with claws. Oh yes," he added as an after thought, "Be careful when you go out."

I raised an eyebrow, "Gee, thanks for letting me know."

Eric smiled at me, and I could tell he was thinking about something else, probably her. Jealously washed over me again.

"She ok?" I asked, though I wasn't over bothered at the response. Logic told me that she was fine…and with Bill, hence Eric's presence here with me tonight. I was becoming more and more aware that I was second choice.

"Yes fine. She has agreed to go to Dallas," he said, "To use her skills to find Godric for me. Bill has gone with her."

"Find Godric?" I frowned, somewhat surprised. It was only days previous that I had done exactly the same with Eric.

Eric simply looked at me, with that knowing expression on his face.

"But you know where he is? He's with the Fellowship of the Sun."

"Means to an end, Evie," he answered.

I rolled my eyes, "What the hell does that mean?"

Eric kept quiet, which exasperated me all the more.

"Uh," I moaned dejectedly, slipping down from the kitchen side, "Everything I say to you has to be a question."

Eric moved over to me and stood so close I could feel the coolness radiating from him. My heart skipped. I sighed, as his hands found my waist, "I really don't have time for your games, Eric. I have to pack."

He responded by pulling my hips to him and I could feel his excitement straining against the fabric of his jeans.

"Do you seriously just come here for a meal and a fuck?" I asked as he started fluttering kisses on my neck. His hand encircled my throat and a shiver waved through me as the bizarre combination of arousal and fear grew within, moistening my centre, fuelling my fire.

"Eric," I sighed, "Answer me."

He infuriatingly remained silent but replied in his own way, as I felt his fangs graze my neck in the spot he knew would make me tremble. His grip tightened, he pressed firmly against me and, without further warning, sunk his teeth in deep. I let out a heavy breath as he fed and the sensation of total helplessness encompassed my being. I was completely at his mercy again.

I couldn't help myself, "Eric," I moaned again. He withdrew fang and licked his lips, leaving yet another brand. His hands swiftly took care of my belt, which swished through the loops on my trousers with ease and clattered to the floor.

"Eric, come on, not tonight," I said, without too much conviction, as he undid the button and eased the waistband over my hips. My request, though, fell on deaf ears and he carried on pulling them down. I caught his busy hands in mine, preventing him from going any further. Our eyes locked, the intensity he exuded made my half hearted defiance all the more difficult. But I resolved he would not win, not tonight.

"You can't keep using me."

"I am not," he said, barely audible.

"But you do," I insisted, "I'm not a stand in for that fucking mind reader. I'm sure there's a dozen fangbangers at the club right now that'd fulfil your needs tonight. Go fuck one of them."

Eric shifted his hands, allowing me to pull my jeans back up. I had just begun to pull the zip when he grabbed my arms and slammed me fiercely onto the kitchen table, knocking the air right out of me.

"Tell me no," he hissed, fangs glistening with remnants of my blood, "Tell me you don't want this," his hands effortlessly pinned me to the wooden table, preventing me from rising.

Defiance and spite surged though me, "Glamour me," I spat. He glared down on me, surprisingly calm faced though I could see I had angered him.

"Go on, glamour me….oh wait…you can't," I mocked; I could feel my pulse beating hard, my heart thumping with adrenaline against my rib cage.

Eric's blue eyes glazed over and I felt him try to push his influence on me, forcing me to concentrate and bend to his every will. My mind fought him and succeeded. I immediately felt a pang of sympathy sweep through me as we both realised the malice of the situation.

"Evie," he whispered sincerely, and I almost wished I could fall under his spell, but my mind wouldn't let me.

Before I could process another thought, my jeans were cast aside and Eric had released himself from his denim prison. Ripping my underwear off, he eyeballed me boldly and positioned himself between my legs.

I couldn't hold his gaze as he slid his length completely into me with remarkable ease, and began plunging into my depths. I'm ashamed to say, the situation had excited me far more than I'd realised. Rough, lustful and yearning, had not been words I'd have used to describe my sexual endeavours up until Jacks death, but since moving here I'd discovered I had much more to learn about myself, especially in regard to sexual encounters.

Suddenly his speed increased, and his pace became frenzied. His shameless need for release was evident as I came violently, bucking against him. A low growl emanated from within his chest and Eric erupted within me, and fought the urge not to bite again. Energy spent, he removed himself from within the confines of my thighs.

I remained where I lay on the table and could only imagine in what state I looked. My mind as numb as my body.

Eric stared at me quietly as I sat up shakily. Our gaze met and I was privy to what I assume was Eric without his guard up, a fleeting moment that left as briefly as it had come. A moment of sincerity, where I saw his frustration, confusion and disillusion come to pass.

Without another word, the air moved, and he was gone.