Updated: 8/1/11

PART ONE

New Sensations

The possibility that Preston had more than his good looks in common with Claude came as a shock to Sookie. Especially, since he was considering seducing her. She was open minded, but not that open. Privately, she moaned at the irony that finally when she met someone who she got along with and that she was attracted to and who she couldn't hear that he would turn out to bat for the team.

"What is it Sookie?" Preston asked. His voice pulled Sookie from her reverie.

"Nothing." She blushed. "I am...it's just that...other than Niall." She took a deep breath. How do you ask someone what their preference is without actually putting the person on the spot? "I don't know any other fairy males except for my cousin Claude and…" her voice trailed off.

"No." Preston smiled realizing what had caused her countenance to fall. "I'm nothing like Claude."

"You're not?" Sookie wistfully asked.

"I'm not," he assured her.

"That's good." She breathed a sigh of relief. "Maybe that's why your mind gives off a slightly different color."

"What do you mean?"

"Every mind gives off an energy that I can see," she explained.

"Interesting; what does my mind look like?" he asked.

Sookie adjusted her position on the floor feeling more confident in her skin. She stretched her legs out, similar to Preston's. The chair and sofa were close enough that like Preston's feet, her feet were within easy reach of his hands.

"It's smooth, thick, and the color of amber," she explained absently rocking her feet so that every few seconds her toes glided along Preston's thigh. Through the towel, a sweet current of desire traveled up his leg. Her small feet were making it hard for him to concentrate on her sweet mouth. "People's minds also have a feeling and a flavor." Preston looked at her inquisitively. He wondered how her lips would taste. "I've never spoken to anyone quite this honestly about my quirk."

"Quirk?" he asked. He didn't agree with her self assessment. "It's a good gift."

"It's a dangerous one to have here," she pointed out. "Not in my home, but here in my world. Other people—vampires—they would kill me if they knew." Suddenly Sookie realized what she had done. She'd in so many words confessed that she sometimes could hear vampires. Her eyes widened; frightened of the consequences. Talking with Preston was so disarming; she didn't realize what she said until it was too late.

"Niall and your kin would hunt down and kill them and those attached to them," Preston said very matter-of-fact. What he didn't say to her was that he would hunt down the blood-sucking bastard who would even think about hurting her.

"Yes." Sookie nodded thinking it was extreme, but reactions among supernaturals generally were. "I would still be dead, and I like breathing."

"I completely understand." His expression was gentle. "Your secret is safe with me."

Sookie breathed a sigh of relief. It was as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. It was no longer just her frightening secret to carry alone. A part of her felt guilty and selfish for being glad to have someone to help her shoulder the burden. "If Niall trusts you to be around me and in my home," she said. "Then I'll trust you." Sookie didn't understand the depth and scope of her gift, but she was certain Preston would never tell anyone.

"Thank you Sookie." Preston felt honored. He wanted her to trust him. Absently, he touched her foot. She wasn't expecting him to touch her. Her breath hitched from the overwhelming sensation. She could see Preston's chest moving up and down matching her own frantic breaths. He squeezed her foot, massaging it, slowly. It felt like his fingers were touching her entire body. Preston glanced up and watched her face relax with pleasure. Hearing and seeing her respond to his touch emboldened him. He glanced down at his hand and allowed his fingers to glide to her ankle, lengthening his stokes as he deepened the pressure. Her skin was softer than he had imagined.

"What do other supernatural creatures look like?" Preston asked; his attention on her body where he was touching her.

"Vampire minds," she breathed. The sensations from his fingers tracing the contours of her bare skin were intoxicating. She fought against the temptation to close her eyes and moan. "Vampires feel like a pit of snakes." She spoke softly, struggling to concentrate on the words she was forming. "Cold and slick," she mumbled. The way Preston was making her feel at that moment was far from cold or slick. "Moving back and forth…across my mind." Her breathing grew shallower. "It's a very unusual feeling."

"Fascinating," Preston said admiring her small ankles. "What about shifters?"

"Warm," which was how he was making her feel, "like hot scarlet liquid," she breathed in deeply as he trailed his fingers past her ankle and barely inching up to the bottom of her calf, "thick like mud and rough like sand."

"Me? What do I feel like?" His hand and arm were on fire. The reality of touching her surpassed all his dreams.

"I don't know," she admitted feeling her pulse quicken as his hand glided more confidently; claiming her calf with his big hand. "I couldn't…." She felt light headed as he caressed her; massaging. Her whole body tingled, screaming, more. When she hadn't been able to read him earlier that evening she was initially disappointed, but now she was so glad she wasn't able to. "Your mind is silent. But," she paused; her eyes locked on Preston's. She felt the hem of her sleeping gown glide up her leg as his fingers moved to the back of her knees. He traced small circles. "I can sense your feelings."

"Maybe it's my gift."

Sookie nodded. "It could be." Her voice came out velvety and despite all her efforts to not whimper or moan she did. "Mmm," she breathed. Under his firm and confident touch, she felt her earlier resolve evaporate. She closed her eyes.

"What else could it be Sookie?" He wanted to see more of her legs.

"It…seems," she whispered. Her eyes were heavy as she watched her gown moving up her leg as his hand slowly inched its way closer to where her body was screaming for him to touch her. She felt the room spinning. The sensations from his touch were overriding all her other senses; including her thoughts.

"It seems like what?" he asked. Her soft skin made him want to feel the rest of her body under him. At the thought, he vibrated with lust. There was no one else he wanted, but her. He didn't want to frighten her away, so he kept this confession to himself.

"Logical…" Sookie's voice trailed off as Preston's hands slid from the back of her knee to the inside of her thigh. "Jesus," she murmured incoherently. She drew in a breath, slightly parting her legs. He massaged the lower portion of her thigh. She was throbbing so much between her legs it almost hurt. She wanted to cry as Preston rubbed her sensitive skin; lengthening his strokes one measured movement at a time. Please, she quietly begged. She wanted him to go higher.

"Logical?" Preston asked knowing that he would soon reach a place that would cause any man, human or not, to go insane. He told Niall he would stay out of her bed, but not away from the world that was hidden between her creamy silk legs. He'd never wanted anyone as much as he wanted; needed her.

Sookie's eyes locked on Preston's. She watched him as he moved to his knees, closing the distance between them. His hand seductively moved between the back of her knee and up her thigh; teasing her with the anticipation of ecstasy.

"Preston," she whispered as he leaned closer. She wanted him to kiss her.

"Yes?" he breathed breaking their gaze to watch her mouth. Since the first time he saw her, he'd dreamt of her mouth. Fantasized about the softness of her lips and the things he wanted to do to them.

"I really…" she stopped. He leaned forward and finally closed the small gap remaining between them. At first he brushed his lips against hers; his other hand gently touching her cheek. Tentatively, they kissed, testing the sensations. "We don't really know each…" she kissed him again. His lips were soft and firm. "What about…?" He pulled her bottom lip between his, lightly sucking it. It wasn't enough. Sookie parted her lips welcoming him inside her.

Confidently, Preston tasted her with his tongue. The air twirling around her; she'd never been kissed by a fairy like this. Her mouth erupted with new sensations and flavors. Slow and purposefully he stroked and tasted her mouth. She filled his mouth with her soft muted moans. The pleasure of his kiss was concentrated in her mouth, but she felt everything he was doing to her over her entire body.

Her fingers laced through his hair drawing him closer to her. She wanted more. Accepting Sookie's invitation, Preston deepened the kiss. He was sure he sensed the divine, the Summerlands in her embrace. Sookie was more exquisite than all of his dreams combined. Her mouth; her tongue; were a wonderland; an endless pool of warm silky pleasure. He moved between her legs and she parted the way for him. His other hand, the one that wasn't cupping the back of her neck, glided up her thigh. Her skin was so soft; so warm. He wanted to ravish her.

Sookie reached her arms around his back. He felt amazing. Each kiss and caress wasn't enough. Preston broke their kiss, trailing wet moist kissed along her jaw and down her neck. He nibbled the sensitive skin beneath her ear. A strangled whimper flowed from between her lips. Her breathing grew louder, shallower, and rapid. Her soft moans that followed were all the encouragement he needed. Her returned to her mouth and plundered her with his kiss. His strong hands slid beneath her gown on either side and he drew her toward him until she pressed against him. Holding her by her hips he guided her to the floor laying her underneath him. A sharp breath rushed out from deep inside Sookie's chest.

Preston drew back enough to see her beneath him. The long waves of her wheat and golden colored hair framed her face. Her eyes, the color and depth of the great oceans, were glazed with desire. Preston was in awe. Only a poet could do her justice. "You're so beautiful."

She could have said the same thing about him. "What happens tomorrow?" she asked. Her voice was thick with longing.

"Your great-grandfather is coming for Christmas."

"That's not what I meant." As much as she wanted this to happen, she also didn't want to feel let down tomorrow.

"Niall said I wasn't to have contact with you after tonight."

"What?" she snapped. Instantly, a different emotion began to build up inside of her, replacing her lust. She pressed the palms of her hands against his chest. Preston saw the change in her eyes. "So what, you thought you would have your fun and move on?" She pushed harder against him. "Get off of me Mister," she rasped.

"It wouldn't be that way." He tried to calm her, which by the expression on her face, he knew didn't work. With some coordination he moved to free her from underneath him. The effect of their kissing was evident on his hard body.

"Put your towel on," she cried out pulling herself off the floor. "I think you should go." She stood up straightening her back. Preston recognized the stubborn streak. Not that he had any doubt before, but she definitely was Niall's progeny. He watched her march to the front door and open it. She wanted to kick herself for letting Preston weaken her earlier resolve not to sleep with him. With a sweeping motion of her hand she said, "Out."

Preston secured the towel around his waist and walked toward her. Feeling her legs would betray her, Sookie tightened her grip on the door knob. "This isn't over," he told her with a smile, which upset Sookie to no end. Preston's eyes settled on her damp swollen lips. That mouth, he thought, was the sweetest place he'd ever known. The knowledge filled his chest with an ache. Unannounced and unexpectedly Preston wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her.

Despite herself, Sookie's arms went around his neck. He felt wonderful to her. A soft erotic moan echoed in her chest. Before she could swim to the surface and protest, Preston released her. She swayed. He held her by her waist for a fraction before releasing her. He enjoyed seeing the intoxicating effect his kiss had on her.

"You're amazing," he said.

"This." She hated how breathless her voice sounded. "This doesn't change anything." Her words came out weak that she doubted their validity.

Preston walked out, stepping down the stairs and onto the lawn. Sookie watched, longing to tell him not to go, ever, but she would rather die than give him the satisfaction. After all, she wasn't the kind of girl who took a roll in the sack for the sake of it; at least not at that moment.

Preston turned to see her seething at him. The night breeze gently rustled her hair.

"She's wonderful," he freely confessed. "Sookie Stackhouse," he called out at the top of his lungs, "I love you."

Sookie gave him a questioning look, her brow arching. This hadn't been the reaction she had expected. She was now convinced, "he's crazy." Then she wondered if it was a fairy trait. She bit her lip and closed the door.

Inside her house, she leaned against the door, and smiled. ~